Sexual Violence Victims Invited to 'Take Back the Night'

Last year the Crisis Center of Tampa Bay provided forensic exams and advocacy services to more than 500 rape victims in Hillsborough County.

But this number represents less than a third of all sexual assaults that occurred in the county last year.

Most victims never report the crime due to the stigma surrounding rape.

It's for this reason that the Crisis Center and Sexual Violence Task Force of Tampa Bay are hosting "Take Back the Night 2013: Together We Empower" April 21 from 4 to 9 p.m. at Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park, 700 N. Ashley Dr., in downtown Tampa.

The interactive event is intended to create awareness about the prevalence of sexual violence, empower survivors and educate the community.

The event will kick off with a music festival, a resource and children's fair and the Clothesline Project, a vehicle for women affected by violence to express their emotions by decorating a shirt that they then hang on a clothesline to be viewed by others as testimony to the problem of violence against women.

At 6 p.m., the Charlie Houncell Community Advocate Award will be presented and Men Stopping Violence Against Women, an organization dedicated to mobilizing men to create a society free from violence against women, will lead men in a pledge against violence.

At 8 p.m. survivors will speak out during a candlelight vigil.

Take Back the Night dates back to 1975 when a rally was held in Philadelphia following the death of Susan Alexander Speeth, stabbed as she walked alone a block away from her home.

The attack against Speeth isn't an isolated crime. Every two minutes, someone in the U.S. is sexually assaulted, making sexual violence a national epidemic.

• One in every six women will be a victim of rape in her lifetime

• One in 33 men will be victims of sexual violence

• 15 percent of rape victims are under age 12

• Girls from the ages of 16-19 are four times more likely than the general population to be victims of rape, attempted rape or sexual assault

• Victims are six times more likely to suffer from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and four times more likely to contemplate suicide

• Victims are 13 times more likely to abuse alcohol and 26 times more likely to abuse drugs

• 97 percent of rapists will never spend a day in jail

Sexual violence is a widespread issue affecting all populations regardless of gender, race, age or socioeconomic status.

More than 850 attendees gathered at the Take Back the Night-Tampa Bay event in 2012 to support and celebrate the resiliency of survivors.

The event is held each April, Sexual Assault Awareness Month. In 2001, teal became the official color for sexual violence awareness and prevention and Tampa Bay is commemorating the month with its “Turn Tampa Bay Teal" campaign. Both the SunTrust Building in Tampa and The Pier in St. Petersburg will turn their lights teal April 21-30 to join the movement and raise awareness about sexual violence.

The Crisis Center provides a continuum of care for sexual violence survivors, including forensic exams, STD and pregnancy preventative care, advocacy, counseling, support groups, survivor empowerment services, follow-up care and case management. Services are available with or without a police report filed, and forensic exams are available up to 120 hours after the assault.

For information, contact Marilyn Shamblin at 813-969-4983 or mshamblin@crisiscenter.com.

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