April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month. This month is dedicated to the awareness and prevention of sexual assault, harassment and abuse. While the #MeToo Movement has increased the amount of reported sexual assaults in the Virgin Islands and the United States, we still have a long way to go to guarantee protections for all victims/survivors.
The COVID-19 pandemic and the changes we are making to the way we live, work and socialize have forced many victims to stay at home in isolation with their abusers. This has made a situation that was already challenging, a nightmare and unsafe for victims/survivors.
We believe victims and we are dedicated to ensuring their safety, regardless of their ethnicity, immigration status, sexual orientation, gender or gender identity. The Women’s Coalition of St. Croix is here to provide assistance to victims who are isolated with their abusers.
We are not providing in-person services at our offices at this time, due to “stay-at-home” and “sheltering in place” measures to keep our community safe. Please contact us by phone at 340-773-9272, via our website – wcstx.org or on any of our social channels: Facebook – wcstx, Instagram – @wcstxvi, Twitter – @WCSTX or YouTube – wcstx. Providing support to victims, survivors and families in need does not stop in the face of this pandemic.
Editor’s Note: Clema S. Lewis is the executive director of the Women’s Coalition of St. Croix.