The month of April has been designated as sexual assault awareness month in which community groups and organizations raise awareness on the importance of early intervention and prevention.

Sexual assault is defined as an assault of a sexual nature that violates the sexual integrity of the victim. According to Stats Canada, approximately 1 in 4 North American will be victimized in this way, and only 6% of cases are reported to police.

Over 80% of complaints that are reported are made by women, the same figure represents the proportion of assailants being friends and family of the victim.

Well known to the Southwest community as an advocate for ending sexual violence, most specifically towards children, Sheldon Kennedy (along with co-founder Wayne McNeil) formed the Respect Group in 2004 to empower people to recognize and prevent bullying, abuse, harassment and discrimination (BAHD) through interactive, online certification.

"We do 125 investigations a month, 98 percent know their abuser, 47 percent of these kids are abused by a caregiver or parent," says Kennedy.

Sexual assault has come to the forefront of Canadian media headlines in recent weeks and months with the trial involving former CBC Radio host Jian Ghomeshi.

The media personality publically went on trial for four counts of sexual assault and one count of choking. He was aquitted of all charges at the end of March, but will head back to court in June to face more charges.

"Where we need to get to is understanding the clear impact, the impact of a crime such as sexual assault," reports the former NHL player. The impact is real even though we may not be able to see it. This isn't just a justice issue, a social services issue, this is a health issue and it is a major issue across our country."

In his own past, Kennedy faced the prospect of not being believed and silenced as his abuser was viewed as larger than life in the hockey world.

According to Stats Canada, only 2-4% of sexual assault claims are false.

"We put a lot of responsibility on young kids to come forward being in manipulated, almost tortured situations to come forward and I think we need to take more responsibility as a community to keep eyes out and ask questions," says the Respect Group co-founder.

"We look at kindergarten kids that are traumatized and fearful, you think of them and think about domestic violence cases how difficult and scary and full of fear a lot of men and sometimes men feel in a violent relationship. They're adult to adult, let alone kid to adult."

More figures from Stats Canada on sexual assault:

  •     11% of women have physical injury resulting for sexual assault
  •     60% of sexual abuse/assault victims are under the age of 17
  •     80% of sexual assault incidents occur in the home
  •     17% of girls under 16 have experienced some form of incest
  •     83% of disabled women will be sexual assaulted during their lifetime
  •     15% of sexual assault victims are boys under 16
  •     Half of all sexual offenders are married or in long term relationships
  •     57% of aboriginal women have been sexually abused
  •     1/5th of all sexual assaults involve a weapon of some sort

In Swift Current, the Southwest Crisis Services is one resource locals can contact with a crisis line available and staffed by trained volunteers who can provide support, information and referrals, at no cost, to all residents of the Southwest.

Help is available at:

Safe Shelter:
(306) 778-3386

Crisis Line:
(306) 778-3386
or
1-800-567-3334

Outreach
(306) 778-3386
(for residents of Southwest Saskatchewan)

Resources are online at http://www.swcrisis.ca/home.html