Duncan Mayor proclaims April as Sexual Assault Awareness Month and Child Abuse Prevention Month

Duncan Banner - 4/12/2024

Apr. 12—Proclamations highlighted the Duncan council meeting Tuesday night as Mayor Robert Armstrong designated April 2024 as Sexual Assault Awareness Month and Child Abuse Prevention Month in Duncan.

Ahead of regular city business, Mayor Armstrong read a few statistics about who is affected by sexual assault.

"Sexual assault affects people of every age, race, sex gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, national origin, and socioeconomic background," he said. "The CDC reports in its National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey that in the United States, one in five women and one and 71 men have been sexually assaulted in their lifetime."

He said the awareness month will call attention to many misconceptions and misinformation about the crime.

"It is important that we rededicate ourselves to creating a society where sexual assault is not tolerated, survivors are supported and all persons in our community can live without fear of sexual assault," he said.

Armstrong said education can help reduce the crime and help survivors heal.

"We are grateful to the various agencies in the City of Duncan which carry out the difficult and necessary work to help victims out of domestic violence situations," he said.

Next, Armstrong read the proclamation to declare April 2024 as Child Abuse Prevention Month.

In Duncan, Armstrong said they strive to provide a nurturing and healthy development of children in the community.

"Research shows that safe, nurturing relationships and stimulating, stable environments improve brain development and child wellbeing, while neglectful or abusive experiences and unstable or stressful environments increase the odds of poor childhood outcomes," he said. "The abuse and neglect of children can cause severe and lifelong problems affecting all of society, including physical and mental health problems, school failure and criminal behavior."

Armstrong said children need to be made a top priority and urged the community to "take action to support the physical, social, emotional and educational development and competency of all children."

For April, Armstrong said the Safe Center will collaborate with citywide partners to engage with people throughout Duncan to prevent and bring awareness to child abuse and neglect.

Armstrong encouraged Duncan residents to recognize how prevention can start with them.

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