COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. -- The Sexual Assault Prevention and Response team hosts a walk-a-lap event for Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention month at Peterson Space Force Base, Colorado, April 29, 2022.
Peterson-Schriever Garrison members walk a lap for every sexual assault case reported by the Department of Defense in 2020. Every mile that a participant has ran or walked during the month of April is calculated towards the final goal.
7,816 sexual assault victims filed a report in 2020. Other victims choose not speak up leaving many cases unreported. The walk-a-lap event aims to bring light to the ongoing issue of sexual assault and emphasize our responsibility as an Air Force community to prevent them.
“Sexual assault and prevention isn’t just during the month of April,” said Maria Spencer, P-S GAR sexual assault response coordinator. “You can’t solve the problem unless you talk about it.”
Airmen should speak up as soon as they witness any incident that is considered sexual assault or inappropriate behavior. This helps support healthy environments in the work center that focus on dignity, respect and inclusion.
During the month of April, the SAPR office hosted a dodgeball event to focus on male victims of sexual assault and hosted an awareness booth at the Peterson Base Exchange. SAPR is also working on having quarterly events to promote sexual assault prevention.
“We hope for an increase in reporting and eradicating sexual assault from our ranks,” said Spencer.
Contact the Sexual Assault Response Coordinator at (719) 556-7272 for 24-hour confidential support.