Dear Editor: April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month, a time to recognize the impact of sexual violence and highlight the resources available to support survivors in our community.
Nationally, 45.1% of women and 16.9% of men have experienced contact sexual violence in their lifetime. In Alaska, those numbers are even higher with 66.7% of women reporting having experienced contact sexual violence within their lifetime.
If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, help is available and you have options. Sitka has a specially trained sexual assault response team comprised of nurses from SEARHC, officers from the Sitka Police Department, and advocates from Sitkans Against Family Violence.
For recent assaults, this team is available 24/7 to provide support and conduct evidence collection exams, which can help preserve evidence if a survivor chooses to pursue criminal charges. For adults 18 and older, there is also the option to report anonymously. This allows a forensic exam to be completed without immediately involving law enforcement, preserving evidence in case the survivor decides to report later.
If the assault happened in the past and is outside the timeframe for a forensic exam, support and reporting options are still available.
To speak with a confidential advocate, call (907) 747-3370 or text (907) 623-7820.
You are not alone—we stand with survivors.
Natalie Wojcik, Executive Director and staff at
Sitkans Against Family Violence
