Preventing Sexual Assault Year Round

by in Uncategorized
April 13, 2015

April is designated Sexual Assault Awareness month, and across the nation programs and workshops are offered and campaigns are conducted, all with the goal of educating the public about responding to and preventing sexual assault. However, making our lives and others’ safer in homes, on campuses, in workplaces, in all institutions, and wherever we are is something we must be mindful of and work at 365 days a year.

The ancient Chinese philosopher Lao Tzu said: “The journey of one thousand miles begins with one step.” That insight applies to practically anything we want to accomplish, such as ending sexual assault. Each one of us has the ability to take that first step, whether it’s by learning how to reduce our personal risks, or by helping to prevent the assault of someone else, or by reporting the assault, or by not tolerating or ignoring environments or situations that permit it. In fact, there are myriad ways that we can and must make our environments sexual violence-free, but persistent and consistent efforts are required each and every day.