Victim advocates and leaders of the Pennsylvania Coalition Against Rape light the capitol in teal to kickoff Sexual Assault Awareness Month

HARRISBURG, PA - April 4, 2022 - Today, advocates from the Pennsylvania Coalition Against Rape (PCAR) gathered at the Pennsylvania Capitol to celebrate the start of Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM). The purpose of SAAM is to both increase awareness of the prevalence of sexual assaults in Pennsylvania and the nation as well as offer public education on how to prevent sexual violence.

With gratitude to Lieutenant Governor John Fetterman and the Department of General Services, the Lt. Governor's balcony has been lit in teal as the color of recognition for SAAM to make this year's campaign more visible to the public.

This year's campaign theme focuses on "Building Safe Online Spaces Together." Advocates are concentrating on virtual interactions as we continue to increase communications through devices and also see increasing need for awareness on how to have online communities centered on respect, inclusion, and safety. Educational materials for this campaign will help others understand the ways we can work together to end sexual harassment, assault, and abuse online and offline.

"We know that we will absolutely continue to have more and more interactions electronically - whether that be for work, school, or socializing," PCAR CEO Karen Baker said. "With that, we need to have conversations on how to make sure that those are done safely and respectfully to prevent harm and to support any survivors of past harm that may be re-traumatized."

Local sexual assault centers throughout the Commonwealth are holding local events throughout the month of April. We urge community members to join their local center. We all play a role in preventing sexual harassment, abuse, and assault.

"Every day our center works hard to provide valuable services to survivors in need and share with the public how we all have a role to play in making our communities safer. Unfortunately, sexual violence is far too common and is something that we continually need to talk about until we are clearer as a community that the abuse and attitudes behind the violence will not be tolerated in any form. Online spaces are a newer mode of communication for many of us and this is the right time to have these conversations," added Mary Quinn, President and CEO, YWCA of Greater Harrisburg.

Senator Lisa Baker (R-Wayne) also joined PCAR to announce the beginning of Sexual Assault Awareness Month. The senator spoke as a legislative champion for sexual assault prevention legislation and chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee that has advanced many key bills including a bill this session to create a Task Force on Child Pornography (SB 87) and a bill that increases penalties for the crime of institutional sexual assault (SB 704). Sen. Baker added, "I am proud to stand by and support survivors of sexual assault and grateful for opportunities to engage the public more in how we can work together in our community to prevent further harm. I strongly encourage everyone to take a moment to learn more about how we can make online activity safer and more respectful for us individually and everyone we care about."

Information on Sexual Assault Awareness Month is available at https://www.nsvrc.org/saam and local events throughout Pennsylvania are available on PCAR's website at www.pcar.org.

We encourage anyone that may need help from experienced and caring professionals in your community for free and confidential help please contact a sexual assault center by calling 1-888-772-7227 or visit www.pcar.org.

About PCAR:

PCAR works to end sexual violence and advocates for the rights and needs of sexual assault victims. We partner with a network of rape crisis centers to bring help, hope, and healing to people in all of the Commonwealth's 67 counties. Last year, rape crisis centers provided services to approximately 30,000 victims. Each year, rape crisis centers teach over 300,000 Pennsylvanians how to stop sexual violence in their communities. Over 50,000 professionals are trained by rape crisis centers to enhance the Commonwealth's systemic responses to victims.