Sexual Assault Awareness Month and Child Abuse Prevention and Education Month

April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM) and Child Abuse Prevention and Education Month.

In 2009, President Barack Obama was the first United States President to proclaim April as Sexual Assault Awareness Month, but the movement started long before 2009.

There are no exclusions to sexual violence. No Race, Culture, Gender or Country are excluded. During “War Times” crimes of sexual violence are escalated to a rate that is indeterminable. During “War Times” countries, cities and villages are plundered. Women and children are sexually abused, and traumatized, and left for dead or wishing they were dead.

All of who we are, mind, body and soul, are violated, damage and terrorized during abuse despite the kind and more so if one endures for long periods of time.

Our purpose during April does not change. Our goal is always to publish information that is accessible, enlightening and illuminating.

What to expect during April-

• Historical information about the movement that changed laws by Emily Vaughn B.A., M.A., M.F.C.C. taken from “And He Restoreth My Soul”.
• Sex Trafficking by Ann-Michelle Ellis, Coordinator of County of San Bernardino Coalition Against Sexual Exploitation Children’s Network also known as CASE.
• “Silence” by Brian K. Woodson, Sr. Founding Pastor of The Bay Area Connection in Northern California and a contributor to “And He Restoreth My Soul”

In Rising Sun and other cities you will see crosses of those who didn’t live through the violence experienced in their homes or outside of their homes, etc. Please take a moment and remember them for this is why we fight.

In closing, we thank the new writers who contributed to the website over the last year and to the new followers who have added their names to the And He Restoreth My Soul Project website.

Shalom,

Darlene J. Harris

For your information:
Child Abuse Statistics

-A report of child abuse is made every ten seconds;

-More than four children die every day as a result of child abuse;

-It is estimated that between 50-60% of child fatalities due to maltreatment are not recorded as such on death certificates;

-Approximately 70% of children that die from abuse are under the age of 4. See the following website for resources and status (http://www.childhelp.org/pages/statistics/)
Rape and Sexual Assault Statistics- About Victims:

– 44% of victims are under age 18

– 80% are under age 30 Reporting to Police:

– 60% of sexual assaults are not reported to the police – 97% of rapists will never spend a day in jail About Rapists;

– Approximately 2/3 of assaults are committed by someone known to the victim – 38% of rapists are a friend or acquaintance See the following website for additional information http://www.rainn.org/statistics