LANSING – Governor Jennifer M. Granholm has declared April 2006 Sexual Assault Awareness Month in Michigan.

"Sexual assault is primarily a crime of power and control," Marianne Udow, director of the Michigan Department or Human Services, said. "It can impact all people regardless of age, ethnicity, race, gender, ability or economic status. That is why it is critically important to intensify public awareness of sexual assault, to educate people about the need for citizen involvement in efforts to reduce sexual violence and to increase support for agencies providing sexual assault services."

During April, Michigan Domestic Violence Prevention and Treatment Board executive director Debi Cain encourages Michigan residents to talk about this issue with friends, family and colleagues and to take action to stop this horrific crime.

"Sexual assault is a pervasive problem in Michigan and the United States," Cain said. "Recent studies provide compelling evidence to indicate the scope of this issue. The Survey of Violence in the Lives of Michigan Women, conducted by the Michigan Department of Community Health said 40 percent of women in Michigan have experienced some form of sexual violence, ranging from unwanted touching to forcible rape, since the age of 16."

The Michigan Domestic Violence Prevention and Treatment Board is a legislatively-enacted and governor-appointed body charged with implementing efforts to eliminate domestic and sexual violence in this state. The board is administratively housed within the Michigan Department of Human Services.

During Sexual Assault Awareness Month, domestic violence board-funded sexual assault agencies throughout the state will offer a variety of events. Please contact your local sexual assault services agency to find out more information about events scheduled in your area.