No One Asks For It!

On Friday May 2nd 2014, we invite you to join SAVIS and the thousands of individuals and organizations across Canada wearing purple in recognition of Sexual Assault Awareness Month and the No One Asks For It! campaign.

We know that sexual abuse and sexualized violence in our communities is far more common than most people think. According to a 2006 Statistics Canada report, one in three women will experience some form of sexual assault in their lifetime.

Despite the prevalence and impact of sexualized crimes, sexual assaults have notoriously low reporting rates; more than 90% of victims do not report their experiences to the police.

One of the biggest hurdles that women and children face after experiencing a sexual assault is the notion that somehow they “asked for it” by what they were wearing, where they were, what they were drinking, or whom they kept company with. No doubt, this impacts many people’s decision to remain silent after experiencing an assault.

The first annual No One Asks For It! was created in response to a number of high profile examples of victim-blaming in Canadian news. Like wildfire, this social media campaign spread nationally and that first year, more than 17,000 organizations and individuals in Canada signed up to wear purple on the first Friday in May!

For 2014, let’s continue to build on the success of No One Asks For It! and make an impact across Canada. On Friday May 2nd 2014, wear purple and join SAVIS in standing up against victim-blaming and sexual violence!