April is National Sexual Assault Awareness Month
Each month, I like to highlight important topics of awareness. The month of April is National Sexual Assault Awareness month. Our state is working tirelessly to take preventative steps against sexual assault. One of the best ways to prevent it is by talking about it and raising awareness. Sexual assault is the most under-reported crime, so it is vital that we all work together to raise awareness, not just during the month of April, but continuously.
Sexual Assault Awareness Month is an annual national campaign that works to educate communities on prevention as well as raise awareness. There are many steps parents and students can take to help prevent sexual assault, and these steps can be found at Rainn. Sexual Assault Awareness Month has helped educate communities all over Texas on personal safety and sexual assault prevention. Raising awareness of sexual assault is a key step in prevention, so it is important to communicate the warning signs and prevention steps with not only adults but kids too. It is important to educate our youth and not be afraid to discuss sexual assault and its consequences.
Sexual assault can happen to anyone, which is why it is so important to look out for your friends, speak up about sexual violence, and take steps to increase personal safety. Learning the warning signs of sexual assault is also crucial to helping someone who has gone through this traumatic event, especially because it is not always obvious when someone has experienced sexual assault. There are different types of warning signs depending on the age of the survivor. To learn more about the warning signs of sexual assault, visit Warning Signs.
Texas is committed to preventing sexual assault as well as raising awareness and is working hard to put an end to sexual assault. We are continuously working hard to not only raise awareness but prevent and lower the number of sexual assault attacks. Texas provides an abundance of resources for information on sexual assault awareness and prevention. For more information on Texas sexual assault statistics, please visit Hope Alliance.
In addition to participating in the national campaign to raise awareness of sexual assault, Texas asks rape crisis centers, colleges and universities, and communities to join the Texas Association Against Sexual Assault’s (TAASA) sexual assault awareness initiative that is designed to raise awareness and promote prevention-based actions across Texas. TAASA launched its Turn Texas Teal initiative, which encourages sharing the campaign across social media, to amplify survivor stories and calls to action. The Turn Texas Teal initiative helps people speak out against sexual assault and share their stories and strength. It also creates a way for people to collectively work together on ways to end sexual assault. For more on how you can help #TurnTexasTeal this month, please visit Sexual Assualt Awareness & Prevention Month.
If you have questions regarding any of the information mentioned in this week’s article, please do not hesitate to call my Capitol or District Office. Please always feel free to contact my office if you have any questions or issues regarding a Texas state agency, or if you would like to contact my office regarding constituent services. As always, my offices are available at any time to assist with questions, concerns or comments (Capitol Office: 512-463-0672, District Office: 361-949-4603).
– State Representative Todd Hunter, District 32
Rep. Hunter represents Nueces (Part) County. He can be contacted at todd.hunter@house.texas.gov or at 512-463-0672.
