FARMINGTON – April, national Sexual Assault Awareness Month, has the theme this year of “Respect Works!” It focuses on ending sexual violence in the workplace.

Throughout the month, Sexual Assault Victims Emergency Services invites people to reduce violence and create safer spaces in Franklin County through several activities.

SAVES will host a panel discussion in conjunction with the University of Maine at Farmington’s campus group, the Farmington Christian Fellowship and participate in the 12th annual March for Violence-Free Communities on April 11.

The panel discussion, planned for 7 p.m. Thursday, April 9, is called “Debunking Myths Around Sexual Violence: An Interfaith Perspective.” The panel will address common misconceptions about sexual violence. Material discussed will range from passages in the Bible to the words of everyday conversations.

The April 11 march through downtown Farmington starts at 9 a.m. at Meetinghouse Park and ends with a program and speak-out at Old South Church.

Guest speaker will be Tina Panayides, a Maine lawyer who addresses sexual violence in her work.

An awards ceremony will be held to recognize people who have shown dedication to reduce and prevent violence in Franklin County homes last year. All are welcome to participate in the march.

Businesses and schools have been asked to participate in the Paper Clothesline Project by displaying paper T-shirts carrying a message against violence.

“The T-shirt symbol ties in with the Clothesline Project, which began in 1990 as a way for victims and survivors to design a T-shirt to express their experiences with violence and recovery,” said SAVES Executive Director Judy Rawlings.

“We hope to extend to our community the ability to design for itself what its safer space might look like and to say to anyone who has experienced sexual violence, ‘We are sorry that this happened to you and we want to ensure it doesn’t happen anymore,'” Rawlings said.

To learn more about SAVES or get involved, contact SAVES at 778-9522 or visit SAVES’ Web site at www.savesrapecrisis.org.