From the Denver Gazette:
Denver is recognizing Sexual Assault Awareness Month by reminding people to believe survivors.
Kimberly Corban, a survivor, said when she was 20, a stranger broke into her apartment and raped her. She chose to report it to police, and said her experience in the aftermath was defined by police, prosecutors and healthcare workers believing her.
“Everyone, every step of the way, made sure that there was accountability for the person who did this to me because they believed me, but we know that that’s not always the case,” she said. “What I hope that we all learn from ‘Start by Believing Day is that while these words are simple, this is a philosophy.”
Research shows a sexual assault occurs in the U.S. every 68 seconds, Thomas said.
“It’s important how we respond when a friend, a child, a loved one, or a coworker tells you that they were sexually assaulted, as that has an impact on whether or not they seek help,” he said.
Corban acknowledged most sexual assaults don’t happen like hers, since they frequently involve an attacker the victim knows, rather than a stranger breaking in. The Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network estimates rape victims know their attacker in 80% of instances. The organization’s data comes mainly from the National Crime Victimization Survey, but acknowledges that sexual violence is particularly hard to measure because it frequently goes unreported.
Read more on the Denver Gazette website
Resources for survivors, provided by the Denver Police Department:
- Denvergov.org/StartbyBelieving
- The Blue Bench – Sexual Assault Hotline – 303-322-7273
- Denver Health Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners – 303-602-3007
- Denver Police Victim Assistance Unit – 720-913-6035
