In honor of Sexual Assault Awareness Month, Promoting Awareness Victim Empowerment, in conjunction with the Wisconsin chapter of the National Organization for Women and Mothers Over Murders will hold a national rally in Washington D.C. April 12.
PAVE, which is celebrating its two-year anniversary in February, was founded by UW-Madison graduate Angela Rose. The group is dedicated to promoting awareness of sexual violence of all natures. Since its founding, PAVE grew to five chapters in Wisconsin and Illinois.
\There is a huge need for groups like us in the national arena,"" Rose said.
PAVE is currently working in conjunction with other sexual violence awareness organizations along with Sen. Diane Feinstein, D-Calif., and Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., to modify and amend current sexual violence laws.
The Washington D.C. rally will also focus on healing, Rose said.
""It will be like a great big family reunion,"" she said.
PAVE chair Stephanie Byrnes said she is very excited for the coming year. PAVE plans to hire two paid peer education outreach coordinators to facilitate education and training on sexual violence at UW-Madison. Byrnes said PAVE's education outreach last semester reached about 150 students.
