In the wake of several high-profile sexual assault cases in the U.S., President Donald J. Trump has proclaimed the month of April to be National Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month.“We recommit ourselves this month to establishing a culture of respect and appreciation for the dignity of every human being,” Trump said in a March 31 statement.
He goes on to cite Department of Justice statistics which reveal that, on average, there are more than 300,000 instances of rape or other sexual assault committed every year in the U.S.
“Behind these painful statistics are real people whose lives are profoundly affected, at times shattered, and who are invariably in need of our help, commitment, and protection,” the president said.
“My Administration, including the Department of Justice and the Department of Health and Human Services, will do everything in its power to protect women, children, and men from sexual violence. This includes supporting victims, preventing future abuse, and prosecuting offenders to the full extent of the law. I have already directed the Attorney General to create a task force on crime reduction and public safety. This task force will develop strategies to reduce crime and propose new legislation to fill gaps in existing laws.”
The statement comes at a time when the nation is reeling from several high profile rape cases including the alleged rape of a 14 year-old girl during school hours at Rockville High School in Rockville, Maryland.
Another case involved a 15 year-old Chicago girl whose gang rape by a 14 year-old and his companions was live-streamed on Facebook.
As the president reminds, “we all share the responsibility to reduce and ultimately end sexual violence. As a Nation, we must develop meaningful strategies to eliminate these crimes, including increasing awareness of the problem in our communities, creating systems that protect vulnerable groups, and sharing successful prevention strategies.”
The aim is to reduce the prevalence of sexual violence on our streets, in our homes, and in our schools and institutions, he said, citing recent research which has demonstrated the effectiveness of changing social norms that accept or allow indifference to sexual violence.
“This can be done by engaging young people to step in and provide peer leadership against condoning violence, and by mobilizing men and boys as allies in preventing sexual and relationship violence. Our families, schools, and communities must encourage respect for women and children, who are the vast majority of victims, and promote healthy personal relationships.”
Not surprisingly, the pronouncement brought instant derision from the president’s critics who were quick to cite his playboy days as a reason to question the sincerity of his motives.
As Breitbart reports, Huffington Post editor Emma Gray wrote an article headlined, “Accused Sexual Predator Proclaims April National Sexual Assault Awareness Month.”
CNN commentator Ana Navarro tweeted: “When I read Trump declared April, ‘National Sexual Assault Awareness Month’, I thought it was an April Fools joke.”
Nonetheless, the president remains adamant that all Americans must recommit themselves to “establishing a culture of respect and appreciation for the dignity of every human being.”
He adds: “Together, we can and must protect our loved ones, families, campuses, and communities from the devastating and pervasive effects of sexual assault. In the face of sexual violence, we must commit to providing meaningful support and services for victims and survivors in the United States and around the world.”
President Barack Obama was the first United States president to proclaim April as Sexual Assault Awareness Month.
April is also sexually transmitted disease awareness month in the United States, another initiative started in 2009 to promote education about STDs, which are currently considered to be at crisis levels among American youth.
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