In a ceremony held Friday, West Plains Mayor Mike Topliff issued a proclamation to Kenya Cook, an advocate at Christos House for domestic and sexual violence, marking April as Sexual Assault Awareness Month in West Plains. The declaration is part of a broader initiative to confront the growing issue of sexual violence in Howell County and the surrounding regions.
The proclamation seeks to shine a spotlight on the public health crisis posed by sexual violence, which affects individuals across the entire community, irrespective of age or gender. According to recent data compiled from Missouri programs, support was extended to 6,756 victims of sexual assault last year including adults, youth, and children. Additionally, nearly 8,000 requests for aid went unmet due to resource constraints.
Cook highlighted the disturbing trend that domestic violence has surged locally, stressing the urgency for increased support and awareness. She also pointed out that sexual assault disproportionately affects young people, with 1in 3 female victims and 1 in four 4 male victims experiencing their first assault between the ages of 11 and 17.
The text of the proclamation calls for a unified community approach to combat sexual violence. "We, as advocates, professionals, volunteers, and community members concerned with the crimes of sexual assault, including rape, other forms of sexual violence, and sexual harassment, are committed to devoting April to these issues. There is compelling evidence that we can be successful in reducing sexual violence in Howell County through prevention education, increased awareness, and holding perpetrators accountable," the proclamation states.
It further reinforces the community’s resolve to support national, state, and local efforts to tackle this pervasive issue. "We reaffirm our commitment, strongly supporting the efforts of every citizen to actively engage in public and private efforts, including conversations about what sexual violence is, how to prevent it, how to help survivors connect with services, and how every segment of our society can work together to better address sexual violence," it continues.
The Missouri Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence noted the coronavirus pandemic has exacerbated the situation, with a decrease in available resources and an increase in the need for services. This has been particularly acute across Howell, Oregon, Shannon, Texas, Wright, Taney, Christian, Webster and Stone counties, among other communities in the coalition’s southwest region.
The largest demographic affected by domestic violence in the region includes women and children, with 80% of the children served being 12 years old or younger and 54% of the adults served between the ages of 25 and 45.
The ongoing efforts to curb domestic and sexual violence are not only a testament to the resilience of the communities involved but also a call to action for more to be done. For those looking to contribute or seek help, Christos House and the Missouri Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence offer resources and information at christoshousemo.org and mocadsv.org, respectively. These platforms provide crucial support and advocacy for change, striving for a future where such violence is eradicated.
