ATG NEWS RELEASE: April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month

Posted on Apr 7, 2017 in Latest Department News

HONOLULU – April 1, 2017 is the start of Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM). Sexual Assault Awareness Month in Hawaii is part of a nationwide campaign to raise awareness about the issue of sexual violence. This year’s SAAM theme, “Engaging New Voices,” aims to engage the greater community in prevention efforts. We know that one month isn’t enough to solve the serious and widespread issue of sexual violence but the attention April generates is an opportunity to energize and expand prevention efforts. There’s no better way to expand the scope of SAAM than by reaching out to a broader audience.

The Department of the Attorney General, Department of Health, and the Hawaii Coalition Against Sexual Assault have an ongoing partnership to prevent all forms of sexual violence. During the month of April, various community partners involved with the Department of Health’s community mobilization efforts will be hosting activities statewide to bring awareness to the issue of sexual violence.

On April 13, 2017, Governor Ige will proclaim April 2017 as Sexual Assault Awareness Month in Hawaii and recognize eight recipients from the community who are actively engaging men as allies to prevent sexual violence. Recipients were nominated by their peers, the Department of Health Sexual Violence Prevention Community Action Teams, and include: Honolulu Theatre for Youth & T-Shirt Theatre, Men of Strength at University of Hawaii – Hilo, Roxanne Aburamen, Juan Almont-Done, Hyimeen Histo-Akiona, Malakai “Mo” Maumalanga, Coach Wendell Say, and Paul Tonnessen.

According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s 2012 Fact Sheet on Sexual Violence, 1 in 5 women reported being victims of rape during their lifetime. The prevalence for sexual violence other than rape is 1 in 20 for both men and women in their lifetimes. Instances of sexual violence occur at a higher frequency between the ages of 18-24 though this issue occurs at all age levels for both genders. The fact sheet also highlights that among nationally surveyed high school students, 10.5% of Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders reported having been forced into sexual intercourse at some point in their lifetime. This was the third highest demographic in the nation underlining the need for early prevention efforts here in Hawaii.

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For more information, contact:

Joshua A. Wisch

Special Assistant to the Attorney General

Phone: (808) 586-1284

Email: [email protected]

Web: https://ag.hawaii.gov

Twitter: @ATGHIgov

Valerie Mariano

Branch Chief, Community and Crime Prevention Branch

Crime Prevention and Justice Assistance Division

Department of the Attorney General