Gen. Brown signs proclamation recognizing Sexual Assault Awareness, Prevention month

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Mikaley Kline
  • Pacific Air Forces Public Affairs

April is recognized as Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention month across the country.

The day-to-day mission of the Pacific Air Force’s Sexual Assault Prevention and Response (SAPR) Office is to educate, advocate and collaborate to respond to, and stop, sexual assault and its harmful effects within the Air Force.

Throughout the month of April, United States Air Force bases across the Indo-Pacific will be hosting various events ranging from an art exhibit to 5k color runs to help build awareness about the importance of SAPR.

“We are thrilled about all the wonderful events our SAPR teams and the leadership across PACAF have put together highlighting the initiatives the bases are focusing on,” said Abigail Cutter, PACAF deputy Sexual Assault and Response Coordinator. “We appreciate how the teams are interacting with our Airmen and their families in creative ways to ensure everyone feels supported, and knows where to find the resource should they need assistance from SAPR or our partner agencies.”

In a proclamation encouraging everyone to be part of the solution, Gen. CQ Brown, Jr., Pacific Air Forces commander, urged his Airmen to help prevent sexual violence.

“The SAPR program strives to promote a culture of dignity and respect, so everyone can thrive and achieve their fullest potential in an environment that doesn’t tolerate harmful behaviors,” said Lisa Charles, PACAF SAPR program manager. “To that end, our [Sexual Assault Response Coordinators] and advocates are the tip of the spear when it comes to responding to and helping those who have experienced sexual assault. I truly believe programs like SAPR, violence prevention, suicide prevention, family advocacy and others like them are critical to ensuring harmful behaviors are addressed and restore the dignity and trust that embody our core values and more importantly, support our Airmen.”

Each Air Force base has a 24/7 hotline that can be reached by dialing the base prefix followed by SARC – for example 448-SARC (7272) – or victims can call the Department of Defense Safe Hotline at 877-995-5247.