Never Blame the Victim Key Messages:

The province of Saskatchewan and the City of Saskatoon have declared May 15-19, 2017 as Sexual Assault Awareness Week.

Evidence shows that fewer than 9 out of 10 sexual assaults are unreported to police. These proclamations by the city and province take a stand with an ongoing commitment to public education and awareness of sexual violence.

The YWCA Canada creative campaign “Never Blame the Victim” draws attention to the ways in which survivors of sexual violence are subjected to judgment instead of support.

Instead of accusing the survivor of provocative actions, the blame for sexual violence rightly lies solely with the perpetrator. There is still much work to be done to adequately support survivors in healing and to create an environment where sexual assault is understood as unacceptable in all circumstances.

The Saskatoon Sexual Assault & Information Centre (SSAIC) and YWCA Saskatoon endeavor to support women who are survivors of sexual violence by providing free resources for those who need them.

SSAIC offers free counselling to survivors of sexual assault and their loved ones, public education, and a 24-hour crisis and information line for survivors of sexual violence.

YWCA Saskatoon provides a first come, first served crisis shelter for women and children who need a safe place to stay, along with confidential counselling and wrap-around supports and referrals.