Yes, This Room. Sexual Assault Public Awareness Campaign

“Yes, This Room.” is a statewide public awareness campaign developed through the Kansas Sexual Assault Kit Initiative (SAKI) Project. The awareness campaign is a call to action for everyone to participate in increasing awareness about sexual assault, the findings of the project, and how we can prevent sexual assault. We might not need to tell you that yes, someone in this room (the room you are currently in,) is or has been impacted by sexual assault and violence.

You can help by reading on and then sharing this information.

In March 2017, the Kansas Bureau of Investigation identified over 2,200 previously unsubmitted sexual assault kits across the state. Via the 2,200 sexual assault kits identified as part of the project, 907 suspects were identified with trackable criminal history. 93% of these suspects had a history of other violent offenses, and 42% of these suspects specifically had a history of additional sex offenses.

If we truly want to end sexual assault, as a society we must take a stand and hold offenders accountable.

Sex offenders often target people they perceive as vulnerable, less powerful, or less credible. In most cases, the offender is known to the victim.

Research demonstrates that sex offenders impact public safety, and many are repeat offenders.

Of 1,000 sexual assaults, less than 250 are reported to law enforcement. Less than 50 of those lead to an arrest. Less than 10 result in a conviction. Less than 5 offenders are ever incarcerated.

Awareness of the realities of perpetrators and abusers and their violence combats the normalization of sexual violence and assault in our society. Our awareness and action can prevent sexual violence and assault before it occurs, before it can occur.

The “Yes, This Room.” campaign includes tools and resources to help you or your organization engage in conversations and create an impact. To get involved, visit http://yesthisroom.com and http://síestecuarto.com. You can download resources from the website, hang the posters in public spaces, and make information cards available within your organization. Share http://yesthisroom.com, and the Spanish version, http://síestecuarto.com, with your colleagues and friends.

Newsletter (PDF)

This project was supported by Grant No. 2019-MU-AX-0021 awarded by the Office on Violence Against Women, U.S. Department of Justice. The opinions, findings, conclusions, and recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Department of Justice, Office on Violence Against Women.