Governor Roy Cooper Declares April As Sexual Assault Awareness Month Proclamation Encourages Everyone to Embrace Their Voice

Governor Roy Cooper has declared April as Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM) in North Carolina. In honor of this year’s theme, “Embrace Your Voice,” Gov. Cooper and First Lady Kristin Cooper are encouraging citizens to stop sexual violence before it happens by promoting safety, respect and equality within their communities. The purpose and goal of SAAM is to raise public awareness about sexual violence and educate communities on how to prevent it.

“Prevention of sexual violence is critical and we also need to make sure survivors are supported in their healing and seeking justice,” said Gov. Cooper.

The NC Council for Women & Youth Involvement supports victims and survivors of sexual violence across North Carolina by offering resources on sexual assault, human trafficking and on family violence prevention services. The Division also administers funds for prevention and intervention programs to stop the cycle of violence in our communities.

The Department of Administration’s Secretary Machelle Sanders said these programs are essential to the state to support survivors of sexual assault as well as educate others to facilitate change.

“The sexual assault statistics around our nation and state are unacceptable,” she said. “It is critical that we continue to promote advocacy and support programs that educate our communities. It is an important time for everyone to embrace their voice on this issue.”

According to the North Carolina Coalition Against Sexual Assault, 1 in 5 North Carolina women have been sexually assaulted at some point in their lives. While, 1 out of every 10 men will experience rape within their lifetime. In 2016, the North Carolina Rape Crisis Centers answered over 24,000 hotline calls from survivors of sexual assault or their loved ones. Free and confidential services are available across the state to all North Carolinians who experience sexual violence. These centers provide services 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and 365 days a year.

For more information, please visit the NC Council for Women & Youth Involvement statistical brief page.

###