As we step into the fourth month of the year, we realize that this month is a significant one, for it has been marked for the past few years as Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM), an annual campaign designed to raise public awareness about sexual assault and educate communities and individuals on how to prevent sexual violence.
The theme of the 2017 SAAM campaign is, “Engaging New Voices.” The theme stems from the thought that the movement to end sexual violence is more effective, when all spheres of society are involved.
On this occasion, President of the United States of America, Mr Donald Trump, issued the following statement. “As we recognize National Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month, we are reminded that we all share the responsibility to reduce and ultimately end sexual violence. As a Nation, we must develop meaningful strategies to eliminate these crimes, including increasing awareness of the problem in our communities, creating systems that protect vulnerable groups, and sharing successful prevention strategies.”
At Centre for Social Research, we have been working towards raising awareness on, and preventing sexual assault against women, for many years now. Our Gender Training Institute, conducts gender sensitization sessions for corporates, academia, police and other professionals, aiming to create a culture of gender sensitivity. Similarly, through our collaborations with Facebook and Twitter, we aim to create a safe and secure online space for women, free of abuse and sexual violence. So, this April, we look forward to furthering this cause through our blogs, videos and activities.
If you feel that you would like to contribute a video or a blog, do share it with us at writewithus@csrindia.org.