A new initiative called the Sexual Assault Response Team or SART is the result of law enforcement and support groups from across Waterloo Region coming together.
Waterloo Regional Police Staff-Sgt. Tom Matthews says "The dedication, not only on behalf of the police, but by the whole community, the commitment to fighting sexual violence in our community."
The new protocol is designed to help people feel more comfortable stepping forward and talking about sexual violence.
Dianne, whose last name is being withheld, was a victim of sexual violence. She says "It might just help one person come out and say what had happened to them."
She never thought she'd be speaking openly about her experiences, "I was molested between the age of eight and nine, by my mother's second husband."
But unfortunately, her story is a common one, and that's why 18 agencies in Waterloo Region have created SART.
SART co-chair Sara Casselman says "Stats Canada says one out of three women in Canada will experience sexual assault in their lifetime. That's a staggering number and that's many women in our community."
The launch coincides with a provincial campaign that begins next week called ‘Draw the Line,' which brings awareness to sexual violence.
The pro-active campaign is designed to get the attention, not only of victims, by asking questions like "A friend sends you a naked picture of a girl he knows. Is it a big deal to share it with others?"
Cassleman says "Where does the community step in and draw the line on sexual violence?"
Dianne hopes the initiatives will get more people talking, "Which will likely prevent people from experiencing abuse, experiencing further abuse or it may perhaps teach someone how to support someone who has been abused."
Some of the agencies involved in SART include; local police, the Canadian Mental Health Association, Family and Children's Services of Waterloo Region, Lutherwood and the Sexual Assault Support Centre of Waterloo Region.
