Awareness key to prevention, healing process
The rising number of sexual assaults reported in San Benito
County is an indication that heightened awareness has worked, and
also that more awareness of the topic is necessary.
Awareness key to prevention, healing process
The rising number of sexual assaults reported in San Benito County is an indication that heightened awareness has worked, and also that more awareness of the topic is necessary.
You can make assumptions about the trends shown in this week’s story about Community Solutions’ “Time to Stop Rape” event.
Maybe there are more assaults occurring locally. Maybe the outreach done by local organizations has helped better inform people about their options. Or perhaps several higher-profile assault crimes in recent years have given others the comfort to step forward and report their perpetrators.
Whatever the cause, it signals a serious problem that deserves attention from a wide scope of community leaders, whether they be from local law enforcement, the schools or groups such as Community Solutions or Emmaus House.
Several Community Solutions programs address the issue, both from a counseling side for victims and in programs to prevent sexual assaults.
Aside from the “Time to Stop Rape” event held April 1 at the Briggs Building, the organization later this month, for instance, is hosting an event catered to men in a free workshop engaging them in dialogue about ending violence against women.
And there has been plenty of reason lately to take notice of the issue.
Along with the increase in overall reported cases in San Benito County, there have been an unusually high number of higher-profile assault crimes in recent years, such as the rape conviction of former sheriff’s Sgt. Michael Rodrigues, possibly contributing to more victims coming forward.
Community Solutions gets it right with the event’s theme. It is time to stop rape and all types of sexual assault, and it will take a lot of attention and dedication to stem this tragic reality.
The numbers speak for themselves, and even one sexual assault in San Benito County is too many.
