Mayor Hall proclaims April Sexual Assault Awareness Month

Shoreline Mayor Will Hall, on behalf of the City Council, has proclaimed the month of April Sexual Assault Awareness Month.

Sexual Assault Awareness Month calls attention to the fact that sexual violence is widespread and impacts everyone. Now, more than ever, individuals who have been victims of sexual violence are speaking out and saying “enough”. We must support them and those who are unable to speak out.

The statistics on sexual violence are staggering and show that we must do more to address this issue in our community. This is especially true with our youth. Young people experience heightened rates of sexual violence.

• In Washington State, 45% of women and 22% of men report having experienced sexual violence in their lifetime. 
• In King County, 6,657 adults and children received sexual assault services at accredited Community Sexual Assault Programs last year alone. 
• Nationally, 1 in 5 children under 18 are sexually abused. 
• In King County last year, 2,000 sexually abused children and youth received services from the King County Sexual Assault Resource Center. 
• In 2016, 18% of 10th graders in Washington reported that they had been made to engage in unwanted kissing or sexual contact.

We must work together to educate our community about sexual violence prevention, supporting survivors, and speaking out against harmful attitudes and actions. Prevention is possible when everyone gets involved. The first step is increasing education, awareness, and community involvement. It is time for all of us to take action to create a safer environment for all.

The City of Shoreline joins advocates and communities across the country in taking action to prevent sexual violence. April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month, and each day of the year is an opportunity to create change for the future.