Hawaii Gov. Josh Green has proclaimed April as “Sexual Assault Awareness Month” as part of a nationwide campaign to raise awareness of sexual violence, according to a release from the governor's office.
A statewide sign-waving was planned Tuesday, including an hourlong event at the Hawaii Capitol, as well as other locations and times across the islands, with the theme of “Foundations for the Future,” aiming to envision a time without sexual violence through healthy relationships and safer communities, the release stated.
The state Department of Health and partner agencies are planning statewide trainings, events, and activities to bring awareness to the the forefront of primary prevention efforts.
“Sexual violence is common and starts early,” said Joanne Higashi, coordinator of the Health Department's Sexual Violence Prevention Program, in the release. “Stopping all forms of sexual violence before it begins is the goal of primary prevention activities.”
Approximately 1,714 Hawaiian adults and children received specialized services from sexual assault centers and 2,472 calls were made to the state’s sex assault center hotlines in 2022.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has reported that more than half of women and almost one-third of men have experienced sexual violence involving physical contact during their lifetime.
In addition, one in three women and about one in nine men have experienced sexual harassment in a public place, the release added.
Sexual Assault Awareness Month is "our opportunity to recognize that sexual violence is preventable and impacts everyone in our community regardless of age, gender identity, sexual orientation, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, or disability,” said Paula Chun, executive director of the Hawaii Coalition Against Sexual Assault (HCASA).
HCASA is among the partner agencies, the release said, along with the Community and Crime Prevention Branch of the Department of the Attorney General's Crime Prevention and Justice Assistance Division and the University of Hawaii Prevention, Awareness and Understanding's Violence Program.
Also participating are the Sex Abuse Treatment Center of Kapi‘olani Medical Center for Women & Children, The Child and Family Service Maui, Molokai Child Abuse Prevention Pathways, YWCA Hawaii Island, YWCA Kauai, and the Waiʻanae Neighborhood Place, the release stated.