Sexual Assault Awareness Month

This month-April- is a month of Sexual Assualt Awarenes. It’s not just a women’s issue. Read Share Your Story 5 and see how man is abused. However, the cases of the women seems peculiar. Nearly one third of all adult women in the United States are sexually assaulted in their lifetimes, usually by someone they know, according to the Bureau of Justice Statistics. According to the organization Men Can Stop Rape, the numbers vary from study to study, yet most studies suggest that 10 to 20 percent of all males will be sexually violated at some point in their lifetimes. That translates into tens of thousands of boys and men assaulted each year alongside hundreds of thousands of girls and women. Sexual assualt means forced intercourse, usually rape, and is different from sexual abuse, which includes any kind of forced sexual act, including touching and kissing. Whether it’s abuse or assault, Hispanics are less likely to report what happened. Language barriers, cultural factors, and a fear of deportation are some of the factors that keep Hispanics from reporting sexual assault.

In Africa, the cases of Sexual Assualt, although they are special breeds of their own, are mostly under-reported. It’s not just current abuse that is underreported; many victims who were abused as children are still suffering in silence well into adulthood. Most therapists agree that whether you were abused as a child or an adult, it’s important to talk about it and get support.

Additional Resources:

1. If you or someone you know needs immediate assistance, call the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network’s National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-4673 or 1-800-656-HOPE (English & Spanish).
2. To read more about sexual assault against Latinas and what is being done about it, or to find links to studies and related articles, visit the Arte Sana website (English & Spanish).
3. The Women’s Justice Center has a bilingual website with information for victims, as well as policy and advocacy information.
4. For information on immigrant rights related to sexual assault and resources for immigrants, visit the Family Violence Prevention Fund (English) or download information in Spanish.
5. To find out how you can help educate both men and women on domestic violence, sexual assaults, and abuse, visit Casa de Esperanza (English & Spanish).
6. Information for male survivors of sexual assault can be found at Men Can Stop Rape (English & Spanish).
7. Even if you haven’t been abused, you can get involved in the growing movement to change the attitudes of young men and encourage them to use their strength to prevent sexual assault against women. Find out how you can support the Strength Campaign.
8. The National Latino Alliance provides information in both Spanish and English.
   Updated: March 2007