April is Sexual Assault Awareness month. The Western Illinois Regional Council has several events scheduled throughout the month to bring awareness, beginning with the ‘Start by Believing’ campaign. Public Relations Manager Jamie Roth shares this year marks the 20th anniversary of Sexual Assault Awareness month:
“The ‘Start by Believing’ campaign is a campaign that advocates against victim blaming. We will be doing a pledge campaign where we ask businesses and local law enforcement to pledge to ‘Start by Believing’ is someone discloses to them. We will be doing a coffee cup sleeve campaign with some local coffee shops in the area that have our crisis hotline number on there, as well as, the ‘Start by Believing’ slogan. April is going to be a very busy month. It is the 20th anniversary of Sexual Assault Awareness month. We will be doing social media campaigns. Make sure to look for Victim Services on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.”
Roth also reports April 15th will be their Take Back the Night event with Western Illinois University. All victim services offered through the Western Illinois Regional Council are 100% free and confidential.
