Sexual Assault Awareness Month

The month of April looks to draw attention to an issue common in society

There will always be taboo topics society doesn’t want to discuss, let alone dedicate an entire month to creating awareness for.

While sexual assault awareness month may not be the most talked about in both current and past years, the glaring reality of the need behind such a campaign is all too real.

According to the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN), the nation’s largest anti-sexual violence organization, every 98 seconds, an individual within the United States is sexually assaulted.

While each state has its own law and definition of what sexual assault looks like, the knowledge that this high percentage is only looking at the American population is staggering.

In America, we have cell phone reception and wireless internet connection nearly everywhere we go.

There are cameras, brightly lit street lights, pepper spray keychains and rape whistles, yet there is still an unawareness, still voices that don’t speak of the devastating moment that changed their life forever due to the brutality and horror of sexual assault.

While this issue affects individuals from all different backgrounds and walks of life, the National Sexual Assault Database cites 90 percent of sexual assault victims are female.

Of the cases reported since 1998, more than 17.7 million American women have been recorded as having been sexually assaulted.

Let me say again, those are only the cases reported.

So what are we doing about it?

During this month of awareness, you may see posters and stickers advocating for sexual assault awareness as well as numbers for emergency hotlines and support groups.

Safety workshops and seminars focusing on the art of self-defense and raising environment awareness take place all across the country.

Nationally the RAINN program facilitates programs for specific topics and areas of need.

Information and helpful tips for college students, families and children are all made available on their website.

But it’s still not enough.

The reality of those who have already been affected and continue to be from the emotional scars of sexual assault need to know they’re not alone.

It can be difficult knowing where to begin to help someone who is so deeply hurting, but it will hurt them more if no one ever reaches out.

Begin by caring — the rest will follow.

For those whose voices have been silent far too long, you matter, your story matters, and your future is not defined by your past.

So reach out and speak up — because you matter.

longie is an opinion writer.