April is Sexual Assault Prevention Month. This year’s theme — “Prevention is Possible,” strives to help individuals and communities understand they can help stop sexual assault before it happens. Every community member is affected in one way or another by sexual assault.

Hearing about sexual assaults that occur in our community makes us afraid for our own safety or angry that it is happening to our neighbors and friends. We are also affected by the financial costs of medical and mental health treatment as well as the cost of the criminal justice system. Preventing sexual assault is key to minimizing the safety and financial costs to our community.

Individuals can help change the social norms that contribute to sexual assault by speaking up when others exhibit disrespectful behavior towards women or men and by avoiding sexist behavior that objectifies or stereotypes community members. It is important to not participate in victim-blaming and for the community to support the criminal justice system when they work to hold the offender accountable for their crime.

Sexual assault is not a private matter; it is a public health, human rights and social justice issue.

For more information please give Crime Victims Resource Center a call 507-437-6680.