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Many people know March as the month to celebrate women but just a few people know that the following month sensitizes people on sexual assault. The tweets on the subject of Sexual Assault Awareness Month are just small compared to that of International Women’s Day.
Brief History of the Sexual Assault Awareness Month
April from the onset was not the Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM). It was celebrated in October in the early 1980s. The month is used to sensitize the public about sexual assault, and its various representations and teach individuals how to prevent sexual violence. SAAM originated from the United States but countries have been April as their SAAM.
The 1970s witnessed tremendous efforts to push the awareness of sexual violence in the United States. The Bay Area Women Against Rape was opened in 1971 as the first national’s rape crisis center with immediate victim services. Following this development, Pennsylvania Coalition Against Rape was formed.
In 1975, there were protests against rape and sexual assault with coordinated movements across Europe and the United States. Women feared going out in the night because of the violence they might encounter then.
National Coalition Against Sexual Assault (NCASA) in the late 1980s polled sexual assault coalitions for a preferred date for a national Sexual Assault Awareness Week. It was then that a week in April was selected to canvass people and sensitize them about sexual violence and its prevention. SAAM was observed nationally for the first time in 2001.
In 2001, it was recognized by the National Sexual Violence Resource Center. But in 2009, Barack Obama was the first president to officially proclaim April as Sexual Assault Awareness Month.
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Other things to know about SAAM
States, tribal and community-based organizations, rape crisis centers, government agencies, businesses, campuses, and individuals plan events and activities every April to raise awareness for sexual violence as public health, human rights, and social justice also the need to strengthen prevention efforts.
The first Tuesday in April marks the SAAM Day of Action. Everyone is enjoined to participate in action to prevent sexual violence. According to Wikipedia, the theme, slogan, resources, and materials for the national SAAM campaign are coordinated by the National Sexual Violence Resource Center each year.
The color blue was polled and decided on by sexual violence coalitions in the US to be the preferred color for sexual awareness and prevention in 2000. The teal ribbon, in adoption, is a symbol of sexual awareness and prevention.
SAAM Activities in Nigeria
The Federal Government of Nigeria has not officially declared April as SAAM but most NGOs partake in the cause. There are not many details on the campaign in Nigeria but Nigeria is on average disseminating information about sexual assault and prevention.
The web just has a few records of articles and campaigns about SAAM in Nigeria. It may be safe to assume activities on SAAM are going on without putting it on the internet. The federal government should endorse April as SAAM so that more movements and activities would be embarked on to sensitize the public on sexual violence. For a country that has a 1 in 3 women physical assault rate, our defenses are too weak.
Sexual Assault and Violence are taking many forms in Nigeria ranging from cyberbullying to offensive catcalling to even physical violence. There should be measures put in place to curb the increasing advent of sexual assault or violence.
There are free online courses on Sexual Assault and Gender-Based Violence placed out by organizations and even the UN. Individuals and organizations should make it a necessity to sensitize themselves on this issue so that they may not be perpetrators even without knowing.
SAAM 2024 THEME
The theme of SAAM for this year is, ‘Building Connected Communities’. A strong and connected community would promote health, safety, and respect. Connected Communities would be a safe ground for victims to receive help and support. Also, it would help prevent sexual assault before it ever happens.
So in commemoration of this campaign, feel free to wear a teal ribbon and also sensitize people about sexual assault and violence. We have to make this world a better place!
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