As we embark on Sexual Assault Awareness Month (2017), you will hear many important facts and information about sexual assault, its impact, its prevalence, and how we can begin working toward prevention. This year, at HEART, we would like to raise awareness on why victims don’t tell. Disclosing sexual assault is a complicated and personal decision. Often, victims tell and are not believed or are blamed. Other times, they don’t tell because of the numerous emotions they may be feeling. We hope that you find this video informative, and that you will share this video with your family and friends. Most of all, we hope that it challenges you to think about the role you can play in supporting sexual assault survivors moving forward. It is important to think about the role we play as bystanders in making our communities safer for our victims. The next time you wonder why victims don’t tell or why many years passed before they did tell, remember the grim reality that only 2% of those who offend actually make it to jail. And remember that often times, the answer to “why don’t victims tell” is actually that they did. It’s just that they weren’t heard.

https://youtu.be/a0apc3FMRHA?si=iWlW__pariE6q5r1

Tags: Barriers to Reporting, Campaign, Sexual Violence 101

According to the CDC, 1 in 4 girls and 1 in 6 boys experience sexual violence before the age of 18. And yet, nearly 68% of these cases go unreported. Research shows that in communities of color, there is an even greater likelihood of not disclosing incidents of sexual violence. The unfortunate reality is that too many survivors are suffering alone, and in silence, and too many of their abusers get away with it. This document is a visual depiction of the barriers survivors face in disclosing their sexual assault. On the back, you will find a more detailed description of each type of barrier.

Tags: Barriers to Reporting, Sexual Violence 101

The following resource defines commonly used terms related to sexual violence.

Tags: Sexual Violence 101

The allegations of sexual violence against religious leaders are an important opening to educate the public about the realities of sexual violence. The specifics of each case are different, but our role as advocates is always to support survivors and help everyone understand sexual violence. These actions are a grievous breach of trust. When a faith leader in any mosque, synagogue, church or other house of worship commits harm against someone, he/she breaks the bonds of trust and honesty with that community. He/she has abused the responsibility they have been given by the community and should be held accountable for his/her actions. During these instances, it is important for us to reflect on how our faith and values guide us. It is important for us to not act out of fear or past loyalty but rather to act in the spirit of our tradition, which asks us to enjoin good and forbid injustice.

Tags: Avenues of Support, Healing, Sexual Violence 101

Content warning: Sexual violence.

This video is one of three that were created for Sexual Assault Awareness Month (2019), by spoken word artists in the DC area, in collaboration with The Sanctuaries. This spoken word piece is titled "98 seconds."

Tags: Campaign, Domestic Violence, Rape Culture, Sexual Violence 101, Spiritual Abuse

How should we teach children about their sexual anatomy? Nicknames for sexual anatomy can often do more harm than good. This HEART to HEART video gives parents the information and language to educate their children about their body.

Tags: Comprehensive Sex Education, Muslims & Sex Ed, Parenting and the Sex Talk, RAHIM, Stigma