FARMINGTON – April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month in Maine and SAVES has scheduled activities during the month, including the March for Violence-Free Communities, in conjunction with Peace in Our Families, Franklin County’s community-wide initiative to end violence in the towns.

The March for Violence-Free Communities will take place at 9 a.m. Saturday, April 26, beginning at Meetinghouse Park and ending at Old South Church on Main Street, where keynote speakers Jayne Decker, Missy Danforth and Katie Marble will talk about their experiences in developing the play “Cracked Shells” in 2007.

There will also be an open speak-out against violence. Transportation will be available for those who wish to participate and may not feel comfortable walking the route.

According to statistics from the Maine Crime Victimization Report, approximately 14,000 sexual assaults occur in Maine annually. The same report found that one in five adult Maine residents report that they have been the victim of rape or attempted rape during their lifetime.

The face of the average sexual assault victim in Franklin County is a young one; more than 70 percent of all victims are under the age of 21. For those individuals, the face of the average offender is a familiar one: nine out of 10 victims know their offender. Most sexual assaults occur either at the home of the victim or the offender.

“We need to recognize that the first and best step we can take to help end sexual violence is to not remain silent,” said Judy Rawlings, executive director of SAVES. “Give your child the clear message that their body is their own. Talk to your kids, your family and your co-workers about respect and equality in relationships.”

To learn more or to get involved, contact SAVES at 778-9522 or visit the Web site at www.savesrapecrisis.org or the Maine Coalition Against Sexual Assault at www.mecasa.org.

For more information or support related to any type of sexual violence, call the 24-hour confidential helpline at 1-800-871-7741 or on a cell phone, 1-866-740-9516.