Our Executive Director, Monique S. Howard, joined seven leaders in the community who participated in an op-ed to the editor of the Delaware County Daily Times, all taking a stance on recent events. Letter to the Editor: All victims of sexual violence deserve to be heard highlights the reality of sexual violence and who it impacts. This addresses why individuals working in the field of sexual violence deem disclosure as a brave act; society focuses on proving the abuser innocent instead of believing victims and survivors.
"The staff of sexual assault centers across our region strive every day to hear victims’ voices and provide the services needed to heal and restore hope. And when they are re-traumatized by anything, whether it is the pandemic, an article in the paper, or a strong knock at the door, we are here to help."
Too often when speaking to victims we hear we [sexual assault centers] are the first to listen and believe without question. Society has to create spaces for survivors to tell their stories, be heard, and most importantly, be believed.
Read the entire op-ed here.
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Continuing the Fight:
Statute of Limitations
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In 2019, after hearing powerful testimony from survivors and advocates about the horrors of childhood sexual abuse and how long it can take for survivors to feel ready to speak-up, the Pennsylvania General Assembly extended the statute of limitations in cases of childhood sexual abuse. Under this new law, survivors have many more years after the abuse occurred to decide to bring civil lawsuits against their abusers. However, the time frame is not unlimited, which means that even under the new law, the oldest of survivors were left out in the cold.
To address that inequity, the General Assembly voted in 2019 to amend the Pennsylvania constitution to allow a one-time two-year catch-up period during which all survivors of childhood sexual abuse could file lawsuits, no matter how long ago the abuse occurred. This proposed constitutional amendment is known as the “revival window” or “retroactive window.”
The vote for a constitutional amendment was the first step to create the revival window. To enact a constitutional amendment in Pennsylvania, the law needs to pass during two consecutive legislative sessions and then it goes to the voters. The revival window passed both the House and Senate last session (2019), was poised to pass in the current session, and go to voters in the May 2021 ballot. However, it was revealed on February 1, 2021 that a critical requirement for constitutional amendments had not been met: the Pennsylvania Department of State needing to advertise the proposed amendment in newspapers across the state. This was not properly done at the time of the vote last session. Therefore, last legislative session's vote does not count, and the process needs to start over.
This massive failure resulted in the resignation of the Secretary of State but more importantly, this egregious error means survivors will have to wait at least an additional two years before they can seek justice. Now, the soonest a constitutional amendment could reach voters is the spring ballot in 2023. There are however other options for enacting the revival window (achieved through a regular law; not having to be a constitutional amendment).
On February 1st, WOAR released this statement addressing the setbacks for victims of childhood sexual abuse.
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On February 3rd, WOAR's Senior Education Specialist, LaQuisha Anthony (who was among the survivors to testify before the 2019 Pennsylvania Senate Judiciary hearing) was featured on
Fox 29 advocating for the immediate creation of a two-year catch-up window for survivors of childhood sexual abuse to file their otherwise expired civil claims.
Despite 2021 bringing new obstacles and heartbreak, WOAR continues to fight for the rights of survivors and victims of sexual violence.
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In January 2021, WOAR merged its Education & Training and Community Outreach departments. The merger combines the expertise of both departments for a coordinated response to incidents of sexual violence in the City of Philadelphia.
Utilizing crime data made public by law enforcement, the Education & Outreach staff plan strategies to assist affected communities. One strategy includes organizing virtual health/information events. The Education & Outreach team identifies resources including family support services, mental and behavioral health resources, resources for children and youth, and other services outside of WOAR’s scope. Provider agencies are invited to participate in the health/information events.
Once organized, families and agencies in the targeted communities including schools, are invited to participate in the virtual events. These health/information events are not only opportunities to promote WOAR’s crisis, counseling, and education services, but they are also opportunities to inform participants that WOAR provides treatment to anyone affected by sexual violence.
The Education & Outreach staff are is building new partnerships to enhance WOAR’s educational capacity. The department serves as a field placement site for undergraduate and graduate interns from area colleges and universities, including Widener University. WOAR and Widener has expanded its partnership to offer Continuing Education Units (CEUs) for professionals participating in WOAR’s professional development trainings. WOAR expects to offer the first training offering CEUs in April 2021, in honor of sexual assault awareness month.
For more information about WOAR’s education and outreach services, contact the Education & Outreach Department at (215) 985-3315, extension 192.
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We are pleased to announce April 2021 will mark the 20th Anniversary of Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM). For the past twenty years, sexual assault centers around the nation have come together during April to spread awareness, support victims & survivors, and share resources in their communities.
This year's SAAM theme from National Sexual Violence Resource Center (NSVRC) is "We Can Build Safe Online Communities." WOAR has been creating ways to reach the community and provide services online. Stay tuned for more updates about SAAM and how WOAR is ensuring online spaces are respectful, safe and fun for the community. To end this month's festivities, we will be launching our first ever |
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Join us for our inaugural Sing Out Loud - Singing for Survival concert fundraiser on Thursday, April 22, 2021. This is a virtual, family friendly event from the comforts of your home benefiting a dire need within the community — services and preventative education for children and adults who have experienced sexual violence. We are committed to empowering our community through the healing of music & art.
Our honorees for the evening will be:
In 2020 we were forced to cancel our biggest fundraiser for WOAR, but this year while the venue of Sing Out Loud may have changed, the goal of the night remains the same: raising awareness about sexual violence while raising critical funds needed for WOAR’s free services. Learn more about the night here.
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Thank You to Our Sponsors |
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Tenor: The Ladipo Group
Baritone: Rivers Casino Philadelphia
Bass: BMC Benefit Services, Comcast NBCUniversal, PNC Bank, and Independence Foundation
Treble: One Penn Management
Consider sponsoring and donating to our evening here.
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Interested in being a part of our Sing Out Loud Chorale? We’re looking for singers, dancers, anyone at any age & ability who is interested in joining in 2-3 songs broadcasted to our community online.
Register for our upcoming, virtual 30min info sessions on ZOOM these dates (click the date you'd like to join to be taken to the registration page) to learn more:
If you already know you want to be part of our chorale, signup now so our Conductress can reach out! Visit the singer registration form here.
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WOAR-Philadelphia Center Against Sexual Violence |
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Office Hours are Monday – Friday 9:00-5:00pm |
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1617 John F Kennedy Blvd., Suite 800
Philadelphia, PA 19103
215-985-3315
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