This week the public is being provided a lot of information about sexual assault violence as this is Sexual Assault Awareness Week in the province. This effort is a good and worthy one, as people need to know the extent of this problem in today’s society — but it is not enough. The violence of sexual assaults, not to mention the bigger issue of domestic violence which can encompass a whole lot of other behaviours that violate a person’s safety or well-being in many different ways, needs to be addressed all year round. It needs to be met head-on, as clearly there are people who either think nothing of it or aren’t aware of the destructive nature of their actions.
According to Statistics Canada, one in three females will be assaulted at some point in her lifetime. Think of the girls and women in your life, and imagine that: one out of every three will be assaulted in a sexual way, a violation of her dignity, of her as a person, and of her body.
This is not acceptable behaviour at any time, and has to change, but unfortunately it takes a change of the attitudes and mindset and learned behaviours of the assaulter, and this does not happen overnight.
Sometimes the change is forced when the person is charged and brought to justice, but the huge over-reaching problem is that 91 per cent of sexual assaults are never reported to the police, so a whole lot of people are getting away with violent behaviours that only they and the victim know about. Part of the reason for this is that 85 per cent of sexual assault victims know their attacker, and may be a person who exerts a certain amount of power or influence over them, or may be exerting pressure through threats of violence.
Again, this has to change, but this is a change that has to be forced on the perpetrator by the victim making that brave step to tell someone, such as a trusted friend or relative, and with that friend or relative going to the police.
Domestic violence is a similar picture, but is even more widespread and prevalent, and can often lead to sexual assault, or worse, can lead to severe injury or death. This all points to the overall problem that there are some who do not respect or value other people, and only think of themselves and their own issues. It is a complex problem with many factors, but as with any journey, it starts with the first step, and that means each one of us needs to play a part and help ensure that a change takes place, and the violence stops. — Greg Nikkel
