From Tracie: April Is For Speaking Out

Monday, April 01, 2013

April Is For Speaking Out

The statistics tell us 1 in 4 girls and 1 in 6 boys will be sexually assaulted before they turn 18 years old. I am one of those girls. Sexual assault and abuse is a serious epidemic, in this country, and all over the world.

April is Sexual Assault Awareness and Child Abuse Prevention Month

The most important thing you can do in April is speak out.
Tell your stories - write about it on your blog, speak about it at a church or community event, share your story with friends. (If you are want to share your story in a safe, anonymous way, you can submit it to Band Back Together.)

Share blog posts and articles where other people are telling their stories. Share prevention and awareness materials.

Change your picture on facebook. Tweet.

Talk to your kids and teens about sexual assault and abuse.

Sexual Assault Awareness
In the 1980's, April was selected as the month for Sexual Assault Awareness Week. In 2001, teal became the official color for sexual assault awareness, and the first Sexual Assault Awareness Month was observed nationally.

Get Involved In Sexual Assault Awareness:

Child Abuse Prevention
In 1983, April was the proclaimed the first official Child Abuse Prevention Month and the Blue Ribbon Campaign began in 1989.

Get Involved In Child Abuse Prevention:

It is important to remember that not all child abuse is sexual, and not all child abuse is violent.

What is happening in your area?
Please leave links or info in the comments about anything you are participating in for sexual assault awareness or child abuse prevention this month. I will be updating this post throughout the month.

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If you have been the victim of sexual assault and need help, or you want to help a loved one, you can contact RAINN or call the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE.

If you suspect that a child is being abused, or if you are a child or teen who is being abused, you can contact Child Help or call the National Child Abuse Hotline 1-800-4-A-CHILD.

14 comments:

  1. You're so brave. Love you!

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  2. 1 in 4 girls and 1 in 6 boys. My God.
    Thank you so much for writing about this very VERY important topic. You are awesome. -The Dose Girls

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  3. God bless you as you continue to triumph and hold victory on your life and purpose Tracie!!!! Shared.

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  4. http://singedwingangelspad.com/forgiving-myself-forgiving-my-abusers-childhood-sexual-abuse-awareness-month/ I haven't done one in a while. New platform, new followers. Sometimes I think no one wants to hear about it anymore. But I can't get there because someone somewhere needs to know there is survival and hope period..

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    1. That is a great post, Angel. I have those same feelings sometimes, like everyone looks at my blog and says,"oh look, here comes another depressing post about child abuse" but I also have the emails from people who say that it touched their lives and made a difference. So I keep writing. And you keep writing. And as we continue to speak out, we do change things - one word, one story, at a time. Thank you for being a part of that. It is huge.

      Hope is real. Healing is possible.

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  5. I'm so glad that you share your story so bravely! It's what first drew me to you ... I stayed for your heart! =)

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  6. Those statistics are truly scary.. but eye-opening. Thank you so much for your voice; it's people like you who make a difference and open the platform for people to "speak out." Stopping by from SITS :) Have a great weekend!

    xo,
    Stephanie
    Diary of a Debutante
    www.stephanieziajka.blogspot.com

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