Page 10. Whitby Free Presa, Wednesday. May 19,1993 t . s . . - .. - t 4 t Page 10, Whitby Free Press, Wednesday, May 19, 1993 Sexual Assault Prevention Month HIELP IS AVAILABLE Cheryl-Ann MacKean You may notice a number of women adding 'What Part of NO! Don't You Understand' buttons to their clothing. The month of Ma is Sexual Assault Preventiori Month. Some devastating statistics have been gathered by the Dur- ham Region Sexual Assault Care Centre (SACC) in Whitby. * one out of every three women will be sexually assaulted; * one out of every six men will be sexually assaulted; * the number of teens who are victims of date rapes increased approximately 40 per cent in 1991. During the month of May SACC hopes "to help the victims of sexual assault become aware that there is help available to them and to help build the awareness of the community so that they will become involved," By Cheryl-Ann MacKean A new program has been deve- loped by the Rape Crisis Centre in Oshawa. 'Partners Program' was desig- ned for people mdý'o are in a "loving, intimate 1 relationshiv with someone who has survived sexual assault. The program is not only for husbands of women who have been violated but also for women who are involved with men who have been victims of incestuous behaviour or sexual assault. "We believe that it is impor- tant for people in these types of situations to have support avail- able for them. "It is important not to privat- ize yourself," says a Rape Crisis Centre counsellor who preferred not to be identified. The progran will be "self- says Shirley Burnett, program coordinator at SACC. SACC, located at 105 Colborne St. W. in Whitby, was establ- ished as a regional program sponsored by Whitby General Hospital in 1987. Initially, the program was meant to provide emergency medical care and follow-up crisis counselling to individuals of all ages who had been recently sexually assaulted. Over the past five years, the demand for SACC's services has increased so dramatically that they have developed a follow-up counselling program with the support of the Ministry of Health. SACC has a roster of profes- sionally trained nurses and phy- sicians who are on call 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, to pro- vide medical and support ser- vices to recent victims of assault directed," meaning that the group will determine its own goals and strategies. The first meeting of the group is this week and the group must decide how many times they should meet, what types of rules they must have, for example, rules of confidentiality. The group also had to decide whether or not members would be willing to give one another their phone numbers. A Rape Crisis Centre counsel- lor will act as an advisor for the group. The counsellor will make observations and answer any questions that group members may have. The group is open for anyone to join. I f interested call the Rape Cri- sis Centre at 725-2241. of all ages. The follow-up and long-term counselling services moved from Whitby General Hospital to their present location in July of 1991. The medical aspect of the pro- gram is at the hospital. SACC provides a full rar s of counselling services including in- dividual, family and group ses- sions for recent victims of sexual assault as well as victims of childhood sexual abuse. Right now, SACC has two groups which offer counselling. One is for incest survivors, and the other is a teen group. Recently, SACC gained 14 volunteers who all just comple- ted training in counselling ser- vices. For Sexual Assault Awareness Month, SACC volunteers will be doing public speaking at schools and providing client support. SACC offers counseling ser- vices to residents in the Whitby area, as well as Port Perry, Uxbridge, Ajax, Pickering and Oshà wa. Each case is looked at indivi- dually. "People have a tendency to disbelieve the trauma that a rape victim goes through. We hope to break through the denial," says Burnett. "It's not a shameful thing...FIven if it's with your partner, boyfriend, husband, whatever...If you're forced into ex, then it's rape." Funding limitations have led to limited staffing resources for counselling, so that only new clients that SACC is now able to take are sexual assault victims who have been assaulted within the last month and who require follow-up counselling. SACC is unable to accept any new clients for individual coun- selling, and they already have a list of people waiting for group services. This is unfortunate and due to lack of funding. However, people who are in desperate need may also call the Oshawa Durham Rape Crisis Centre (725-2241) and the Scu- gog Rape Crisis Centre (985- 8850/579-8006). Both of these locations have counselling services available with a shorter waiting period. SEVERAL downtown stores decorated their shops and entrances in keeping Nith the spirit of 'International Week.' At Ieft, Ms. Emma Designs owner Pat Barre adjusts a giant floral centrepiece. Barre is wearing a Ukrainian dance costume and decorated her store with handmade costumes, some of them antiques, lent to her by the Ukrainian Women's Association of Canada. Above, hairdressers Rose Nadon and 'Shaun' enjoy a bottle of wine as they check out the menu at Strands' replica of a French sidewalk cafe. Photos by Mark Reesor. Whitby Free Press New..p..g..m is for.p..r..... Awareness workshops at Henry May 25 By Cheryl-Ann MacKan T-shirts bearing the Rave Crisis Centre logo will serve as a sybol for SexualAssault Prevention Month in May. e logo states: 'I am not my gender I am not my role I am not my nationality I am not a human being I am a spiritual being having a human experience A friend Purple ribbons pinned over the heart will also be .a representation of the hurt, anger and shame felt by the victims of sexual assault and concerned people who want to prevent other assaults from occuring. A number of activities have been held and more are planned. On April 22 a representative of the Rape Crisis Centre spoke at Donevan CVI in Oshawa, along with 25 other speakers, as part of a sexual assault committee. During the 'Stop The Violence' presentation, Laurel Hanson talked to staff and students about social or acquaintance rape, better known as 'date rape.' April 29 was Mental Health Awareness Day and the Rape Crisis Centre was at Five Points Mall in Oshawa. A variety of agencies made the community aware of the importance of mental health. On May4Ajax High School held a forum concerning aspects of sexual assault. Along with Hanson, presenting at the forum were two women from the Denise House in Oshawa and a lawyer. The lawyer discussed the legal issues of rape and the Denise House representatives focused on the violence relating to rape and battered women. "I always speak about gender roles, stereotyping, how oppression works, identifying oppression, sexual assaults, myths and realities," says Hanson. On May 25 there will be 13 speakers at Henry Street High School where workshops for students will also hheld. Among the speakers will be Hanson, representatives from public health and an affirmative action consultant from the urham Board of Education. "Our intention is to make the students aware and informed of sexual assault," says Elaine Brown, staff co-ordinator at Henry.