Living a life free of fear is a basic right for everyone. It goes against our values as a society when individuals who are stalked fear for their safety and freedom. When the rights of liberty and safety are violated, we have a duty as a compassionate community to help.
When we talk about the crime of stalking, it comes down to right versus wrong. It is wrong for individuals who are being stalked to fear for their safety and the safety of their families. It is wrong for stalking victims to feel like no place is safe. It is wrong for stalking victims to feel as if no one will believe them.
National Stalking Awareness Month in January 2013 is a time to focus on a crime that affects 6.6 million victims a year. This year’s national theme- “Stalking: Know It. Name It. Stop It”-challenges Idaho’s citizens to fight this dangerous crime by standing up against the injustice that is stalking.
The Idaho Coalition will host a webinar series and encourages advocacy programs, law enforcement, mental health professionals, healthcare workers, attorneys and all allies to attend this series. Register by [INSERT]
Tuesday, January 8th, 2013 10:00 a.m. – 11: 00 a.m. MST
Stalking: Know It
Compassionate communities learn what stalking is and listen to and believe victims when they reach out for help. It is wrong for victims of stalking to feel isolated and unsupported. This webinar will link the more well known crimes of domestic violence and sexual assault to the crime of stalking.
Tuesday January 15th, 2013 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. MST
Stalking: Name It
Compassionate communities eliminate the shame and secrecy that is often associated with stalking. This webinar will focus on increasing offender accountability and victim safety in stalking cases. Victims of stalking deserve justice not only through our criminal justice system but in the ability to feel empowered and safe.
Tuesday January 22nd, 2013 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. MST
Stalking: Stop It
Compassionate communities work as a system to respond to stalking with all resources possible. It is against our societal values to allow stalking to occur. This webinar will focus on the impact of stalking on victims, the ways we can increase offender accountability, the use of stalking logs to document the crime, and the importance of safety planning with victims.
In January 2004, the National Center for Victims of Crime launched National Stalking Awareness Month (NSAM) to increase the public’s understanding of the crime of stalking. NSAM emerged from the work of the Stalking Resource Center, a National Center program funded by the Office on Violence Against Women, U.S. Department of Justice, to raise awareness about stalking and help develop and implement multidisciplinary responses to the crime.
For more information and tons of free ideas that you can utilize to promote National Stalking Awareness Month, please visit www.stalkingawarenessmonth.org