Utah's call for action: Addressing sexual assault through prevention and support

SALT LAKE CITY — More than 50 people squeezed into a room in the Capitol Tuesday evening for "Advocacy Day on the Hill" hosted by the Utah Coalition Against Sexual Assault regarding sexual assault resources and prevention in the state.

The coalition's executive director, Liliana Olvera-Arbon, said the statewide nonprofit's focus is on prevention.

"We believe that prevention is possible, that we can address this issue before it happens. We know that survivors are in need of support and resources, and so today, we are focusing on what can we do as a community to engage in prevention efforts," she said.

Last year, the coalition's 24-hour sexual assault helpline received a 142% increase in calls, group system's director Bethany Crisp said. Without stable funding, Crips noted there is concern that resources for victims will not be able to keep up with the demand.

This legislative session, the Utah Coalition Against Sexual Assault is asking for the help of Utahns to contact their representatives, "letting them know that if we invest in this resource, we send a message that Utah stands with survivors and that we won't turn our backs on those who are in need of help the most," Crisp said.

There are currently 13 rape crisis centers aiding the state of Utah.

Funding needed to prevent sexual assault in Utah

During this legislative session, Rep. Tyler Clancy, R-Provo, emphasized his commitment to ensuring that survivors of sexual assault receive the highest quality care and that law enforcement follows best practices in handling these cases.

He also emphasized the need for prevention funding.

"I've heard the old term, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure," Clancy said. "I think an ounce of prevention goes several pounds of each cure. And so many times we talk about the impact, rightfully so, of survivors and the challenges and the layers and layers of trauma that survivors have to deal with after being victimized by an abuser."

For the victims who are too scared to come forward, Clancy said those who came in support are the "voices for the folks who can't show up, or aren't ready to show up or aren't ready to share their story."

The coalition shared the following Utah-specific sexual assault statistics:

• 1 in 7 children experience sexual assault in their lifetime.
• 1 in 3 women experience sexual assault in their lifetime.
• 1 in 6 men experience sexual assault in their lifetime.
• 1 in 13 high school students experienced sexual assault in the last year.

Abi Taylor, the executive director of Seekhaven, a nonprofit that aids victims of domestic abuse and sexual assault located in southeast Utah, said Moab — where the nonprofit is located — is "known for our national and state parks, famous slip rock, mountain biking, ATV trails. ... We (also) have the highest reported instances of rapes per capita in the state of Utah."

Because it is an issue that many are too afraid to come forward, Seekhaven has events like "body safety nights," where they teach parents how to recognize the signs of sexual abuse, understand common behaviors of offenders and know how to respond if a child is among the one in seven in Utah who experience abuse, Taylor shared.

"In 90% of these cases, the child was ruined and abused by a person that they knew, loved and trusted," she added. "We know that it is common for adult victims and offenders to have been assaulted as children, and thus the intergenerational cycle of violence continues. Seekhaven youth programming relies on continued funding for sexual assault prevention."

Utah bills covering sexual assault

The Utah Sexual Violence Policy Alliance is tracking numerous bills this legislative session that impact survivors of sexual assault in some capacity.

Sexual assault-related bills this session include:

• HB13 "Sexual Extortion Amendments" (Rep. Ryan D. Wilcox, R-Ogden, and Sen. Stephanie Pitcher, D-Millcreek).
• HB15 "Murdered and Missing Indigenous Relatives Task Force Amendments" (Rep. Minority Leader Angela Romero, D-Salt Lake City, and Sen. David P. Hinkins, R-Orangeville).
• HB40 "School Safety Amendments" (Rep. Ryan D. Wilcox, R-Ogden).
• HB66 "Ritual Abuse Amendments" (Rep. Ken Ivory, R-West Jordan, and Senate Minority Assistant Whip Jen Plumb, D-Salt Lake City).
• HB78 "Criminal Offenses Amendments" (Rep. Matthew H. Gwynn, R-Farr West).
• HB117 "Sexual Abuse Statutes of Limitation Amendments" (Rep. Ken Ivory, R-West Jordan).
• HB127 "Sexual Crime Amendments" (Rep. Mark A. Strong, R-Bluffdale).
• HB171 "Victim and Witness Privacy Amendments" (Rep. Tyler Clancy, R-Provo, and Senate Majority Assistant Whip Michael K. McKell, R-Spanish Fork).

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