Osceola County strongly supports the Victims Service Center of Central Florida and their efforts to heal victims, educate and train the community, and stop sexual violence before it starts. Last night during the Osceola Board of County Commissioners meeting Commissioner Janer presented a Proclamation to Lui Damiani, Executive Director of the Victims Service Center of Central Florida declaring April 24, 2019, as Denim Day in Osceola County.
April is national Sexual Assault Awareness Month which brings attention to the fact that sexual assault and harassment is widespread and harms our community. Denim Day movement is a worldwide effort that started as a grass-roots protest against a controversial Italian Supreme Court decision, in which a sexual assault conviction was overturned because the victim was wearing tight jeans at the time of the attack.
Every two minutes, someone in America, is sexually assaulted, and approximately 1-in-5 women, and 1 in 33 men, are raped during their lifetime and, about 75% of harassment victims experience retaliation when they reported it. Denim Day encourages everyone to stand in solidarity with survivors of sexual violence, and speak up when they hear comments that blame victims or make light of sexual harassment and assault.
Victim Service Center of Central Florida is the Certified Rape Crisis Center in Orange, Osceola and Seminole Counties that serve all victims of sexual assault, violent crime and traumatic circumstance through free and confidential crisis intervention, therapy, advocacy, and outreach.
Together we can end sexual violence. Wear jeans on April 24th for Denim Day and show your support towards victims of sexual violence.
