Safe Haven: Sexual assault crimes affect us all

By Frances Ruth Harris
MILFORD — One in five women and one in 71 men will be raped at some point in their lives, said Morgan Keller, outreach advocate for Safe Haven of Pike County, in her presentation to the county commissioners.
She continued with the devastating statistics:
One in six boys and one in four girls will experience a sexual assault before age 18.
Someone is sexually assaulted in the United States every two minutes.
Perpetrators of sexual abuse target the most vulnerable members of our communities, including children and the disabled.
More than half of sexual assaults are not reported to the police, demonstrating that while our society has come far in supporting victims, there is still much work to be done.
Keller thanked commissioners for honoring Safe Haven by recognizing April as Sexual Assault Awareness Month.
Commissioner Steve Guccini said it was important to serve victims, build trust, and restore hope.
The commissioners issued a proclamation recognizing that Americans are the victims of more than 20 million crimes each year, and that crime can touch the lives of anyone regardless of age, national origin, race, creed, religion, gender, sexual orientation, or economic status.
The commissioners "reaffirmed their commitment to create a victim service and criminal justice response that assists all victims of crime during Crime Victims’ Rights Week and throughout the year.”
Keller emphasized that survivors are never to blame for the abuse, and are entitled to empowerment and support. The dedicated advocates and volunteers at Safe Haven work tirelessly to eliminate sexual violence and provide support to victims in the county and across the commonwealth, she said.
For more information, call Morgan Keller at 570-296-2827, ext. 209.
For information about Safe Haven's awareness-raising events in April, call 570-296-2827, visit facebook.com/safehavenofpikecounty, or email mk@shopcempowers.org.
The Safe Haven 24-hour hotline is 570-296-4357.