Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Avalon Centre Release On Rehtaeh Parsons
Avalon Centre Release On Rehtaeh Parsons
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PRESS RELEASE
Avalon Sexual Assault Centre Concerned about the Prevalence of Youth Sexual Assault in NS
Forimmediaterelease April10,2013 HALIFAXAvalonSexualAssaultCentrewishestoexpressourdeepestsympathiestothefamilyof RehtaehParsons.Itisahorrendoustragedythatayoungwomanof17whowasavictimofsexual assaultfeltshehadtoendherlifetoendhersuffering. Whendidsexualizedviolence,sexualharassment,andstalkingbecomebullying?asksIreneSmith, ExecutiveDirector.Whatwearedealingwithisrevictimization.Thesenegativesocialresponses, lackofaction,orsystemicdelayswhensomeonehasbeensexuallyassaultedorseeksservicescan leadtotragediessuchasthis. Unfortunatelythissituationisnotuncommon.Thesadrealityisthatalltoooftenwehearfromyouth andyoungadultsthatareafraidtoreportanyformofsexualizedvictimizationbecauseofthemultiple hazardsandnegativesocialresponsesthatmayfollow.In2011/12theAvalonSexualAssaultNurse Examinerprogramattendedto119immediatesexualassaults.SixtyThreepercentofthevictims werefemalesbetweentheagesof13and25.Oftenthesecasesinvolvedalcoholandmultiple perpetratorsandfrequentlyvictimsindicatedthattheassaultwaswitnessed,photographedor videoed.Asaresultmanyexperiencedfurtherharassmentandrevictimization. Thisisbecomingsocommonthatitsalmostasifwearenormalizingthisbehavior.Thefocusoften inthesesituationsbecomesaboutthebullyingandperceptionsofvictims.Wearedesensitizedtothe realityofsexualizedviolenceinthelivesofyoungwomenandgirls.Whenawomanissexually assaultedsheiscalledaslut;buttherearenoconsequencesforthepeoplewhocommitsexual offences.Whatmessagedoesthisalsosendtoboysandyoungmen?Smithfurtherinquires. ThefirstevercomprehensiveprovincialneedsassessmentSufferinginSilencewasreleasedin2008. ItidentifiesthatthereisnocomprehensiveresponsetosexualassaultinNovaScotia.AvalonCentre hasbeenadvocatingwithalllevelsofgovernmentforadequatesexualassaultresourcesinHRMand provincewide.Untiladequateresourcesareinplacetoappropriatelyaddresssexualizedviolencein ourprovincethesetragicstorieswillcontinue. 30 Formoreinformationortoarrangeinterviewspleasecontact:IreneSmith,4224240(office) TheAvalonSexualAssaultCentreisafeministorganizationworkingtoeliminatesexualassault/abuse, andtochangethecurrentsociopoliticalculturethatfosterssexism,socialinjusticeandotherformsof oppression.