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Family Services of Southeast Texas (FSSETX), Texas Council on Family Violence (TCFV), and Texas Association Against Sexual Assault (TAASA), are bringing a two-day Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Summit to Beaumont and the surrounding areas on June 29- 30 at Legacy Christian Academy, 8200 Hwy 105 in Beaumont. This summit will provide education on topics related to the laws and best practices governing domestic violence and sexual assault, investigations and case management. Attendees are expected from law enforcement, education, counseling, social work, essential work, domestic violence and sexual assault advocate agencies, probation and parole, and other interested parties. Professional speakers and subject matter experts are provided by TCFV and TAASA during the free summit, but registration is required at www.westrengthenfamilies.org.
Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Summit topics will include legislative updates, survivor rights, legal requirements for victims and reporting officials, teen dating and pregnancy, and protections and economic options for survivors.
“We are excited to partner with TCFV and TAASA to bring this educational summit to our area,” FSSETX executive director Deborah Tomov said. “These state agencies are the subject matter experts on domestic violence and sexual assault and they provide valuable leadership and guidance to service providers in these areas.”
Violence against women increased to record levels around the world following lockdowns to control the spread of the COVID-19 virus, according to FSSETX citing statistics from 2020-2021.
According to the World Health Organization, violence against women is “devastatingly pervasive,” impacting 1 in 3 women worldwide, with younger women most at risk.
“Violence against women and girls is a human rights violation, and the immediate long term physical, sexual, and mental consequences for women and girls can be devastating, including death,” FSSETX’s Bonnie Spotts provided. “Violence negatively affects women’s general well-being and prevents women from fully participating in society.”
Also supplied by Spottes, a list of Sexual Assault Statistics:
- Every 68 seconds, an American is sexually assaulted.
- Every 9 minutes, that victim is a child.
- Only 25 out of every 1,000 perpetrators will end up in prison.
- 9 out of every 10 victims of rape are female.
- Ages 12-34 are the highest risk years for rape and sexual assault.
- 94% of women who are raped experience symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder during the two weeks following the rape.
- 33% of women who are raped contemplate suicide.
- 13% of rape victims actually attempt suicide.
- 8 out of 10 rapes are committed by someone known to the victim.
- 33% of rapes are committed by a current or former spouse, boyfriend or girlfriend.
- California, Texas and Florida have the highest rates of reported rape incidents.
- 80% of sexual assault survivors develop a mental health disorder after being sexually assaulted.
- 55% of sexual assault survivors develop two or more mental health disorders.
- Approximately 96% of those who sexually abuse children are male.
- More than 4 in 5 female rape survivors reported that they were first raped before age 25.
“The purpose of this educational summit is to increase the efficacy of services to survivors of sexual assault and domestic violence, and to increase society’s ability to hold offender’s accountable,” FSSETX reported.
For more information, call Spotts at (409) 833-2668.