Your Voice is Your Medicine - Pt 5a

The Pathway to Your Voice is Your Medicine

Me and two women that I value dearly, my sister Melinda
Eddington and her daughter, Esther Eddington.

Now that you have understood the path that has lead me to where I am today. Because of what has happened to me I have become a less naive, and more understanding and empathic person. I have come to a full understanding that all of us are in pain or have someone close to us in our lives who are struggling. It is so important to be kind to each other, because being mean doesn't help us get anywhere.

I feel like I was directed to the path of public relations because with my public relations degree, I will know how to execute and launch the campaign, Your Voice is Your Medicine. I am actually in the works of kicking off YVYM. I'm starting to lay out the ground work, researching, and talking to those who can help me.

The Problem We Are Faced With in Today's Society

History of the Problem
For the past 10 years Utah has had a rape rate (reported rapes per 100,000 females) that is higher than the national average. Fourty-four percent of rape victims are under 18 years of age. Girls ages 16-19 are four times more likely than the general population to be victims of rape, attempted rape, or sexual assault. According to the National Women's Study survivors of sex crimes, rape, and abuse are 26 times more likely to abuse drugs, 13 times more likely to abuse alcohol, are six times more likely to have PTSD, and are four times more to commit suicide. The Utah Commission on Criminal and Juvenile Justice found that less than three percent of sex offenders in Utah are held accountable to the state for the criminal act of rape and sexual assault. The 2007 Rape In Utah Survey found that only 12%, or one in 10, of victims of rape and sexual assault reported the crime to police. This translates into 10 out of 100 offenders were reported to police. According to the Utah Rape Recovery Center, less than three out of 100 offenders were held accountable for their criminal actions.

The Core Problem
If the Your Voice is Your Medicine (YVYM) Foundation is not launched and created, young girls and teenagers will not receive education on how to report crimes and will not have a women survivor advocate to guide them, most sex offenders will continue to get away with their actions and will never be prosecuted, and young female survivors of sex crimes will not have justice or closure.