Presidential petition to declare April Sexual Assault Awareness Month

Internationally, the month of April has been designated Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM). Its goal is to raise public awareness about sexual violence and to educate communities and individuals on how to prevent sexual violence.

In 2009, President Obama was the first US president to proclaim April as Sexual Assault Awareness Month and the organisation is calling on President Zuma to do the same in South Africa.

Mara Glennie, founder of TEARS (Transform Education about Rape and Sexual Abuse) is asking South Africans to sign an electronic petition to President Zuma to urge him to declare SAAM in South Africa.

"By working together and pooling our resources during the month of April, we can highlight sexual violence as a major public health, human rights and social justice issue and reinforce the need for prevention efforts."

The organisation wishes to raise 1 million signatures - to support this campaign, go to Avaaz.org.

For more information on TEARS, go to www.tears.co.za or view one of Glennie's TV interviews below.