#IBelieveYou: organizers link Alberta campaign to increased support for sexual assault survivors

Partners in an Alberta-wide sexual assault awareness campaign say they are seeing growing public support for survivors.

The #IBelieveYou campaign is a joint effort between the Association of Alberta Sexual Assault Service (AASAS), the Government of Alberta and the Ministry of Human Services.

According to organizers, reporting of sexual assault in Calgary has increased by 20 per cent, while in Edmonton it’s up by 13 per cent. In addition, the number of people reaching out to Alberta Health Service’s Calgary Sexual Assault Response Team went up by 23 per cent.

“Historically, survivors have been afraid to tell for fear of not being believed,” AASAS CEO Deb Tomlinson said in a Monday news release. “That fear is fading.”

“When we see an increase in reporting, we know we’re doing a better job of helping survivors feel safe to tell.”

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Sexual assault survivor Kristin Raworth said the campaign has helped her begin sharing her story.

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“When I first disclosed my assault, I was not believed or supported,” she said. “While I had once felt silenced, the words ‘I Believe You’ helped me reclaim my voice and begin a journey towards healing.”

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Since last year, AASAS says it has seen a 53 per cent jump in new counselling clients.

“We’ve made great gains, but we still have a distance to go,” Tomlinson added. “We’re encouraging more Albertans to add their voice to the chorus of support for survivors so that the message is even more commonly understood, and even more survivors feel safe to tell someone.”

The #IBelieveYou campaign runs every fall since its launch in 2015, and will run once more next year.

Organizers said since 2015, the number of Albertans who would give a supportive response to a sexual assault survivor has more than tripled.

“No one should have to suffer through sexual violence, and all Albertans have a role to play in preventing violence and supporting survivors,” Minister of Community and Social Services Irfan Sabir said.

“Through this campaign we will continue to reach out to Albertans and break the silence and stigma around this heartbreaking issue.”

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Organizers said Monday that while the #IBelieveYou campaign has gained wide support from post-secondary campuses in Alberta, 2017 marks the first time the campaign is being embraced by at least two student activation centres in Ontario.