Efforts to end Child Abuse and Sexual Assault/Violence take place all year long. In April, those efforts take center stage as April is known nationally as Child Abuse Prevention Month & Sexual Assault Awareness Month.
Child Abuse Prevention
The first proclamation of Child Abuse Prevention Month was in 1983. The main goal was to increase the nation’s awareness of a crime that is often kept in the shadows or behind closed doors. In 1985, the Child Advocacy Center Model for Child Abuse investigations was created. It brought together professionals from various disciplines as a way to not only provide a more holistic approach to supporting the children and families at the center of these cases, it also provided a more centralized, collaborative approach to investigating and prosecuting child abuse and neglect cases. This model is still used across the country today.
In 1989, after the death of her grandson due to child abuse, Bonnie Finney tied a blue ribbon to the antenna of her van to symbolize her grandson’s bruises. Blue ribbons have since become the national symbol for Child Abuse Prevention and a reminder to communities everywhere how important it is for us to come together to protect children.
North Carolina is 1 of 18 states/territories that is a “universal mandated reporter” state. In North Carolina, if you have suspicion that a child is being abused physically, sexually, or emotionally by a parent, guardian, custodian, or caretaker you are to report such suspicion to the Department of Social Services. If the individual harming the child is someone other than a parent, guardian, custodia, or caretaker of the child, a report should be made to local law enforcement.
Sexual Assault Awareness
The campaign to end sexual violence now known as Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM) was first nationally observed in 2001; however, the efforts of countless advocates to end sexual violence has been going on since the 1940s and 1950s. Such efforts were spread alongside the numerous movements for social change and equality of the civil rights era. Prior to SAAM, awareness events were commonly organized in April during what was then called “Sexual Assault Awareness Week.”
The continued social activism around sexual assault continued into the 1970’s when San Francisco opened the nation’s first Rape Crisis Center in 1971, and then seven years later held the first “Take Back the Night” event in the United States.
SAAM as we have come to know it – with the teal ribbon in April – was created in 2000 when the new National Sexual Violence Resource Center and Resource Sharing Project polled various sexual violence coalitions about what they wanted as their symbol, color, and month for awareness activities. By the mid 2000’s SAAM increased the inclusion of prevention materials in their campaigns. The basis of the prevention materials is to increase discussions around changing behaviors and promoting respect.
The longest sexual violence prevention and education campaign in history that has international ties is “Denim Day.” The Italian Supreme Court in 1998 overturned a rape conviction in the case of an 18-year-old victim and 45-year-old driving instructor. The justices felt that the victim must have assisted the assailant in removing her jeans because of how tight they were; therefore, the Court determined that consent was implied and the act was consensual sex … not rape. This became begrudgingly known across Italy as the “jeans alibi.” Since 1999, Denim Day asks participants to wear jeans on “Denim Day” to protest against and bring awareness to the misconceptions around sexual violence, sexual assault, and rape.
Information is power. Throughout the year, efforts from everyday community members to help end Child Abuse and Sexual Violence is appreciated. Take a few minutes to learn more about these topics and reach out to your local organizations to see how you can join in the fight in creating safer communities for us all.
Mecklenburg County, NC Resources:
Child Abuse Prevention:
– Pat’s Place Child Advocacy Center: 704-335-2760
– Department of Social Services: 704-336-3000
Sexual Assault Awareness:
– Safe Alliance: 704-332-9034
National Resources:
– National Sexual Assault Hotline: 1-800-656-4673
– ChildHelp National Child Abuse Hotline: 1-800-422-4453
Written by: Tiffany A. Byrd
