SEATTLE — April marks Sexual Assault Awareness Month, a time to recognize sexual violence as a "public health, human rights and social justice issue," according to the King County Sexual Assault Resource Center (KSARC).
The agency supports survivors by meeting them where they are, helping them understand their options and guiding them through that process.
"Every survivor's story is different, everybody chooses their own path, and at KSARC we work to empower those individuals with enough information as possible so they can make those decisions," said Kate Krug, chief executive officer. "We want to share with them what that process may look like, what they can expect from it, what the timing might be and we want to talk about safety protocols- do you want a protective order?"
In addition to working with survivors, KSARC helps people understand how to support someone who discloses an assault. The Center also provides training on consent and staff a 24/7 resource line.
KSARC will hold two events to connect with the community this month. The agency will host "Navigating Justice" on April 24 an online seminar examining legal case outcomes for 408 sexual assault victims and sharing stories illustrating victim experiences in the criminal justice system. "Deconstructing Law & Order: SVU" will also be on April 24 in a public event at Bellevue College.
Meanwhile, the City of Seattle recently announced the launch of a Seattle-specific version of a "Seek, then Speak" portal. It offers a way for survivors to find out information about their rights and resources available to them, and to organize information about the assault they faced in case they want to report it in the future.
The Seattle "Seek, then Speak" portal can be accessed here. The KSARC hotline can be reached at 888-99-VOICE.