April is Sexual Assault Awareness month. Sexual assault is child sexual abuse, incest, stranger rape, acquaintance rape, marital rape, sexual harassment and sexual exploitation by clergy or therapist. Sexual assault is a reality for both genders, any culture and any age group. Sexual assault is a crime that happens to one out of three women and one out of eight men in their lifetime. Sexual assault is not the victim’s fault, is not because of chemical use, or about sex. It is about achieving or maintaining power and control through sexual means. Sexual assault sometimes can be prevented by being aware of our surroundings, using good judgment in dating situations, knowing basic self-defense tactics, and the dynamics of sexual violence. Some other preventive measures include societal intolerance of any kind of sexual violence in our homes, communities, workplaces, schools and places of worship as well as community education regarding sexual violence.It is important to remember that sexual violence incidents cannot always be prevented, but if we talk about it, the survivors will feel more free to reach out for help and the perpetrators will have fewer places to hide. Raevette LoonanSouthwest Crisis Center, Luverne
