15th Annual Sexual Assault Awareness Month Prioritizes Prevention, Promotes Understanding of Sexual Assault as a Public Health Issue

ENOLA, Pa., March 31, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- This April, the National Sexual Violence Resource Center (NSVRC) will kick off its annual campaign for Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM), marking the 15th anniversary of the observance. At a time in which sexual violence has come into the national spotlight unlike ever before, the 2016 campaign, "Prevention is Possible," will build on the momentum of last year's far-reaching SAAM campaign on college sexual assault and illustrate the integral role that individuals, communities and the private sector play in prevention.

"Sexual assault is a serious and widespread public health issue that affects all parts of society, and its prevention requires many voices and roles," said NSVRC Director Karen Baker. "This year during Sexual Assault Awareness Month, we're calling on individuals, communities and the private sector to get involved in promoting safety, respect and equality to stop sexual assault before it happens."

Knowing that the cultural shift necessary to eliminate sexual violence once and for all requires significant collaboration, NSVRC is partnering with groups across the country throughout this year's SAAM campaign – including The White House's "It's On Us" campaign, Peace Over Violence, the Office of Women's Health and the U.S. Surgeon General.

ABOUT THE CAMPAIGN
Sexual Assault Awareness Month is an awareness and prevention campaign observed every April. This year's theme is "Prevention is Possible." Join the campaign by accessing free resources at nsvrc.org/saam. Resources are available in Spanish at nsvrc.org/es/saam.

ABOUT NSVRC
The National Sexual Violence Resource Center (NSVRC) leads the U.S. in helping individuals, communities and service providers prevent and respond to sexual violence by creating research-based resources in collaboration with issue experts. NSVRC also works in partnership with the Poynter Institute and Berkeley Media Studies Group to inform the media on how to report on this complex issue. NSVRC was chartered in 2000 by the Pennsylvania Coalition Against Rape through a cooperative agreement with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Every April, NSVRC leads Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM), a campaign to raise public awareness about sexual violence and educate communities on how to prevent it.