One of our goals for GVEO is to increase overall awareness around gender violence. Awareness months offer students and staff a way to be actively engaged in speaking about an issue related to gender violence. Through our observation of awareness months, we develop activities and events that encourage our community to discuss important topics related to violence prevention at Duke.
October
October is Relationship Violence Awareness Month (RVAM). The goal of RVAM is to raise public awareness around relationship violence and educate communities on how to prevent it. We know that one month is not enough time to stop relationship violence. However, RVAM is an opportunity to energize and expand prevention efforts.
January
January is Stalking Awareness Month and serves as a call to action to recognize and respond to the serious crime of stalking. Too often stalking is not talked about and is often minimized. It is critical to recognize stalking as its own form of gender-based violence as well as a crime that frequently predicts and co-occurs with physical and sexual violence. We recognize that one month is not enough time to put towards this important issue, but it allows us the opportunity to create a dialogue surrounding stalking.
February
February is Healthy Relationships Month. This month calls for reflection on relationships (platonic, romantic, intimate) and what makes them good for us (or not). We recognize the importance of uplifting healthy, supportive, and communicative relationships in order to prevent harmful behaviors. We hope to use this month to focus on creating and maintaining safe and caring relationships in everyone's life.
April
April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM). SAAM is a time for us to raise public awareness and commit to action to prevent sexual violence in our campus community. We know that one month is not enough time to focus on this important issue. However, SAAM is an opportunity to allow the campus community to make public stand against sexual violence and embrace their voices to create a campus free from violence. April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM).