Prosecutor Eastwood Highlights Sexual Assault Awareness Month

  April marks the 25th anniversary of Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM), recognized nationwide through a campaign led by the National Sexual Violence Resource Center titled “Looking Back, Moving Forward.” For a quarter century, communities across the country have worked to promote prevention, accountability, and survivor support.

According to the Indiana Coalition to End Sexual Assault and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, three in five Hoosier women (60%) and one in four Hoosier men (25%) experience sexual violence during their lifetimes. An estimated 63% of sexual assaults are never reported to law enforcement.

Boone County Prosecutor Kent Eastwood said sexual assault includes a wide range of behaviors involving unwanted sexual contact.

“There is no single solution to the problem of sexual assault,” Eastwood said. “But there are meaningful ways to educate our communities about prevention and appropriate responses to sexual violence. Teaching children about body safety, consent, and how to report concerns to trusted adults is critical.” Eastwood also emphasized the importance of continued advocacy and survivor support. “We must continue to advocate for and support survivors of sexual violence at every opportunity,” he said.

To immediately report sexual abuse, call 911 or your local law-enforcement agency. To report child sexual exploitation, including explicit images, videos or online abuse, submit a report to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children at: https://report.cybertip.org