·       According to the Center of Disease Control “the total lifetime estimated financial costs associated with just one year of confirmed cases of child maltreatment is approximately $124 billion.” This includes sexual, physical, and psychological assault.

·       A recent report on the impact of sexual assault found that “sexual harassment alone cost the federal government an estimated $327 million in losses associated with job turnover, sick leave, and individual and group productivity among federal employees.” Additionally the report also found that “Lifetime income loss, due to sexual violence in adolescence, is estimated at $241,600”.

·       Costs the United States more than any other crime, including assault, murder, and drunk driving. Additionally, health insurance for women who have experienced sexual assault in childhood costs 16% more.  

·       Being proactive and implementing programs, policies, and laws to encourage reporting sexual assault, especially childhood rape and sexual assault, can drastically decrease the amount of money spent on the aftermath of these crimes.

-       1 in 5 girls and 1 in 20 boys is a victim of child sexual abuse

-       Self-report studies show that 20% of adult females and 5-10% of adult males recall a childhood sexual assault or sexual abuse incident

-       During a one-year period in the U.S, 16% of youths ages 14-17 had been sexually victimized.

-       Over the course of their lifetime 28% of U.S youth ages 14-17 had been sexually victimized. 

-       Children are most vulnerable between the ages of 7 and 13. 

According to a report published by the National Sexual Violence Resource Center rape is the most underreported crime, with only 12% of childhood sexual assaults being reported to authorities. The National Center for Victims of Crime also found that Children who had an experience of rape or attempted rape in their adolescent years were 13.7 times more likely to experience rape or attempted rape in their first year of college. They also found that children who experienced sexual assault were more likely to develop low self-esteem, feelings of worthlessness, a distorted view of sex, and were more likely to become suicidal. 

"To prevent the sexual abuse of minors and amateur athletes by requiring the prompt reporting of sexual abuse to law enforcement authorities, and for other purposes."
-Any adult who is authorized by a national governing body, i.e teachers, coaches, state workers ect., must report any suspected sexual abuse or assault on a minor or amateur athlete.
-This bill has been expanded to include the United Stated Olympic Committee/organization.
-The bill stemmed from recent allegations of sexual abuse made against personnel in USA gymnastics. If passed USA gymnastics would implement policies to ensure that all coaches and personnel are trained in sexual abuse prevention.
https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/house-bill/1973/text

-Earliest written laws defined rape as a property crime. As the laws evolved, English Common Law most clearly influenced sexual assault laws in the U.S., shifting it to a crime against a person where a civil suit could be made.
-1970's: Women in England held protests against sexual assault that occurred as they walked the streets and called them "Take Back the Night marches," raising awareness of the social problem and expanding to other countries, including the U.S.

-1980's: The National Coalition Against Sexual Assault (NCASA) polled sexual assault coalition and selected a week in April as Sexual Assault Awareness Week.

-1990's: Advocates began holding sexual violence events throughout the entire month of April, making is commonly called Sexual Assault Awareness month (SAAM).

-2000's: The color teal was chosen as the ribbon for awareness and prevention.

-2000s to present: SAAM continued to expand their campaign, hoping to reach a wider audience by focusing on healthy sexuality, child sexual abuse prevention, taking action to prevent the assault before it happens, and promoting safety, respect, and equality.

As a result of the Rape Crisis movement, a 24-hour crisis line was established. In addition, there has been prevention education and training programs, brochures, self-defense classes, and marches that devoted thousands of hours to "victims heal from the devastation" of sexual assault and rape" (Poskin, Polly).

H.R. 1973, Protecting young victims from sexual abuse act of 2017 (2017, May 25). Republican Policy Committee.

The National Center for Victims of Violent Crimes. (2017, August 14th). Child Sexual Abuse Statistics. Retrieved from The National Center for Victims of Violent Crimes: http://victimsofcrime.org/media/reporting-on-child-sexual-abuse/child-sexual-abuse-statistics

National Sexual Violence Recourse Center. (2017). Statistics About Sexual Violence. Harrisburg: National Sexual Violence Recourse Center.


Moulton, S. (2017, May 30). Vote Explanation for H.R. 1973 -- Protecting Young Victims for Sexual Exploitation Act of 2017. Retrieved from https://medium.com/@teammoulton/vote-explanation-for-h-r-1973-protecting-young-victims-from-sexual-exploitation-act-of-2017-e7e302a0d7a6
           

Poskin, Polly (2006, October). A brief history of the anti-rape movement. Resource Sharing Project.

Sexual assault awareness month history (2017). National Sexual Violence Resource Center.

https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/house-bill/1973/text

Valentich, Mary, and James Gripton. “Ideological Perspectives on the Sexual Assault of Women.” Social Service Review, vol. 58, no. 3, 1984, pp. 448–461. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/30011740

Wikipedia (2017, July 28) Susan Brooks. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Susan_Brooks

(2017, April 6). Brooks and Frankel Introduce Protecting Young Athletes from Sexual Abuse Act. Retrieved from https://susanwbrooks.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/brooks-and-frankel-introduce-protecting-young-athletes-from-sexual-abuse