PRESS CONFERENCE – Mayor Taylor reads Sexual Assault Awareness & Prevention Month Proclamation

Each year during the month of April, government agencies, community-based organizations, rape crisis centers, universities and individuals participate in Sexual Assault Awareness & Prevention Month (SAAPM), a campaign to raise public awareness about sexual assault crimes and educate the community on how to prevent it.

“Sexual assault is a crime that significantly impacts the City of San Antonio. The Rape Crisis Center responds to 2 to 3 new assaults every day and 50 percent of those incidents are against minors,” says Miriam Elizondo, Executive Director of The Rape CrisisCenter.

In Texas, 1 in 5 men and 2 in 5 women will be sexually assaulted in their lifetime.  According to the U.S. Department of Justice Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) statistics for San Antonio, there were 1,190 sexual assaults reported to law enforcement.  Yet a 2015 statewide research report by the University of Texas at Austin shows that in Texas, only 9.2% of victims are reporting their assaults.

The Rape Crisis Center in San Antonio provides intervention, counseling, and advocacy services to children and adult victims of all forms of sexual violence, which impacts both men and women, domestic and foreign-born, regardless of status. The Center also provides these services to those who choose to not report or whose assault happened many years ago.

“We must not only work to support those impacted by crimes of sexual violence, but work towards preventing this from happening to anyone else. This is why The Rape Crisis Center is passionate about providing education to our youth and the greater San Antonio community.” says Elizondo.

San Antonio Mayor Ivy R. Taylor will join Elizondo and San Antonio Police Chief William McManus to make a public statement of support and solidarity with the community in the fight against sexual violence.

“The City of San Antonio is committed to continuing our efforts of supporting the Rape Crisis Center so that it can assist those who’ve been affected by sexual assault,” says Mayor Ivy R. Taylor. “Sexual violence is preventable and I urge San Antonians to be part of the solution.”

A press conference will be held on Monday, April 17^th at 10:30 AM on the front steps of San Antonio City Hall at 100 Military Plaza, where Mayor Taylor will read the Proclamation to bring attention to Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month.

For more information on the Rape Crisis Center and the services being provided to victims of violence, visit www.rapecrisis.com or call Chloe Power at 210-293-9922 to register for an information session or tour.