Commands throughout Navy Region Europe, Africa, Southwest Asia are observing Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month with events to educate personnel on how to prevent sexual assault and help victims.

The Department of Defense's theme for this year is "Eliminate sexual assault. Know your part. Do your part."

"Too many women and men of all ages suffer the outrage that is sexual assault, and too often, this crime is not condemned as loudly as it should be. Together, we must stand up and speak out to change the culture that questions the actions of victims, rather than those of their attackers," said President Barack Obama in his National Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month, 2016 presidential proclamation.

"This month, we reaffirm our commitment to shift the attitudes that allow sexual assault to go unanswered and unpunished, and we redouble our efforts to prevent this human rights violation from happening in the first place."

Since 2001, SAAPM has been observed nationwide and provides commands and installations, as well as civilian organizations, an annual opportunity to highlight DOD and service policies addressing sexual assault prevention and response.

"Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month is an annual campaign to raise public awareness about sexual violence," said Lt. Cmdr. Daniel Cortes, EURAFSWA SAPR officer. "Recognizing SAAPM gives us the opportunity to identify and act upon our individual roles in fighting this crime."

Within the region, every installation began the month with a proclamation signing. In this ceremony, the command leadership teams will affix their names to the document, proclaiming to their commands that April is Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month.

Additionally, installations will hold a number of events and programs throughout April; all aimed at building awareness and eliminating sexual assault.

* Naval Support Activity Naples, among its many events, will broadcast interviews with victim advocates and "SAPR facts of the day" daily through American Forces Network Radio.

* Naval Air Station Sigonella will raise teal flags - the color that represents the victims of sexual assault - at installations throughout the month of April.

* Naval Station Rota will increase awareness all month with a SAAPM booth that will distribute information, and the installation will post informational posters throughout the base.

* Naval Support Activity Souda Bay will have various Awareness booths at different locations around the base each week.

* Naval Support Activity Bahrain will hold several days of awareness by wearing denim. Denim Day is an awareness campaign that seeks to change attitudes about sexual assault. These days will culminate in a meeting focused on preventing sexual violence through education and public awareness.

* Naval Support Faculty Deveselu will hold a Warrior Run, a 5k mud/obstacle run, with teal colored shirts.

* Camp Lemonnier plans to hold a 3K race where teams of four participate in a sexual assault trivia contest and a basketball free-throw event -- free-throws are made for victims of sexual assault.

Cortes said the importance of proclaiming a month focused on Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention is that it offers an opportunity to build on existing momentum to eliminate this crime.

"We are ensuring all service members are treated with dignity and respect and can operate without fear of retaliation," he said. "Each day we can take steps to foster a culture of dignity with proper ethical behavior, even when no one is watching."

Cortes stated personnel can assist with awareness by joining the conversation on social media using the hashtags, ‪#SAAPM!‬ and ‪#AprilisSAAPM. ‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

Additional resources for service members and their families are available at 1-877-995-5247 and www.SafeHelpline.org as well as the DoD Sexual Assault Prevention and Response website at www.cnic.navy.mil/sapr

Navy Region EURAFSWA and its installations enable operations of U.S. and allied forces in Europe, Africa, and Southwest Asia and provide quality services in support of the Fleet, Fighter, and Family for Commander, Navy Installations Command.

For more news from Commander, Navy Region Europe, Africa, Southwest Asia, visit www.navy.mil