Their work is essential for victims and their loved ones to recover from their experiences and overcome them. Please join Commander ____ and the rest of the Fort Belvoir community in acknowledging and thanking our dedicated SARC and VA personnel for their crucial work in this area and for helping victims recover and overcome their experiences as victims of sexual assault, victimization, and violence. Take Back the Night

Date: April 19

Time: 1700

Location: The Woodlawn Village

One of the most important layers of the prevention of sexual assault by strangers is increasing the safety of our community environment. Please join our Take Back the Night event where three guest speakers will address the issues of community safety in connection with reducing sexual assault and victimization. The event will culminate with a "candlelight" (chemlights will be used for safety) march through the community together with military police support.

*[Please Note that a liability waiver and consent form will be required for this event]*

Subject Matter Expert Panel Discussion and Movie Presentation: Invisible War

Date: April

Time: 1330

Location: Thurman Hall Auditorium (Bldg 247)

As part of the ____ (SHARP) annual training, we will be presenting a panel of Subject Matter Experts (SME) including JAGs, CIDs, Victim Advocates, EEO personnel, the Provost Marshall,...

The free movie presentation of Invisible War will immediately follow the panel discussion and question & answer opportunity.
"Denim Day"

Date: April 26

Time: All Day

Location: Entire Premises of Fort Belvoir

The Sad but Encouraging History of Denim Day

In 1997, a teenage girl was forcibly raped by her driving instructor in Italy; it was her very first driving lesson. The rapist was sentenced to serve a prison sentence but that sentence was later reversed by an appeals court on the basis of the assumption that the girl's jeans were so tight that she would have had to help her rapist remove them, thereby making the interaction consensual rather than forced rape. In protest, female members of the Italian Parliament wore jeans to work and that practice has since spread internationally.

The idea behind "Denim Day" is that rape and sexual assault are never the fault of the victim, regardless of how victims choose to dress. To support and promote that concept, we are asking that all soldiers, civilians, community member, elected officials, businesses proprietors, and students take this opportunity on April 26th to make a social statement with their choice of attire. By wearing denim jeans, you will be participating in a visible protest and fighting against the myths that surround sexual assault and its victims.