Wisconsin National Guard Public Affairs Office
Denim, hands and blogs are some of the tactics the Wisconsin National Guard will use to help raise awareness of Sexual Assault Awareness Month.
"We are looking to educate people on the importance of this serious issue during the month of April," said Capt. Kristin Boustany, the Wisconsin National Guard's sexual assault prevention and response coordinator. "We will be partnering with the community to present sexual violence as not just a major public health issue, but a human rights and social justice issue as well."
Boustany said her office will take part in two "Take Back the Night" events - April 19 at the University of Wisconsin in Madison, and April 27 at UW-Milwaukee - by providing an information table about military resources for service members who are sexually assaulted. They will provide the same information at a "Wrap Around the Capitol" event April 23, where participants will link hands around the state capitol building in Madison. Inside the capitol, a "traveling Pants" exhibit will feature a collection of blue jeans decorated by sexual assault survivors, with messages about healing and the right to be safe.
The "Hurts One, Affects All" message will continue this year, Boustany said, emphasizing the importance of intervention as well as the impact sexual assault has on mission readiness.
"The saying, 'One Fight, One Team' is especially true when it comes to sexual assault," she said. "Whether the assault occurred on duty or off duty, or whether the perpetrator was a service member or a non-service member, sexual assault results in casualties that impact a unit's strength and readiness. Preventing sexual assault is everyone's duty."
If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, call Capt. Kristin Boustany at 1-608-469-2627 or the Department of Defense Safe Helpline at 1-877-995-5247.
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