>>> THE UPCOMING PROGRAM WAS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED.

THE VIEWS EXPRESSED ON THIS PROGRAM ARE NOT NECESSARILY THOSE OF WTJX, ITS BOARD, STAFF OR UNDERWRITERS.

♫♫ ♫ COME MOVE YOUR HANDS TO THE BEAT, GET OFF YOUR FEET, MOVE YOUR FEET, WHERE WE MEET, THE ONLY UNIQUE YOUTH SCHEDULED SPEAK ♫ ♫ IN THE CITY THAT WE STAY IN, THE TOWN WHERE WE MEET, ON THE BLOCK WHERE WE LAY, WE LIVE GRAFFITI STREET.

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THIS WEEK OUR CONVERSATION LOOKS AT SEXUAL ASSAULT.

>> IT´S NOT AN EASY TOPIC.

AND HONESTLY, SOME PEOPLE WOULD SAY KIDS SHOULDN´T TALK ABOUT THIS.

OR IT´S NOT THEIR PLACE.

STATISTICS, LAWS AND PERCEPTIONS SAY OTHERWISE.

>> JOINING OUR DISCUSSION IS MISS KALEN FOY AND MISS JEAN BAPTISTE.

>> TELL US ABOUT YOURSELF AND TELL US WHAT YOU DO.

>> WHAT WE DO AT VIRGIN ISLANDS DOMESTIC ASSAULT COUNSEL, WE HAVE TRAINING FOR YOUTH.

>> WE HAVE PROGRAMS TALKING ABOUT HEALTHY BEHAVIORS, GOOD TOUCH, BAD TOUCH, ALL THE WAY TO HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS.

WE DO A LOT AT UTI, TALKING ABOUT THESE VERY IMPORTANT ISSUES.

WE ALSO GO AND TALK TO COMMUNITY AGENCIES, ORGANIZATIONS, GOVERNMENT PROGRAMS, GOVERNMENT STAFF, BUSINESSES AROUND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, SEXUAL ASSAULT, HUMAN TRAFFICKING, CHILD ABUSE, AMONG MANY OTHER TOPICS.

SO WE PROVIDE EDUCATION AND WE DO A LOFT COMMUNITY OUTREACH AROUND THESE VERY IMPORTANT ISSUES.

>> YEAH, I DEFINITELY REMEMBER YOU GUYS COMING TO OUR SCHOOL AND TALKING ABOUT IT ONCE.

SO I GUESS THE FIRST QUESTION THAT I´LL ASK YOU GUYS TODAY IS WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO GET INTO THIS LINE OF WORK?

>> WELL, I HAVE ACTUALLY BEEN DOING THIS FOR ABOUT 15 YEARS NOW.

AND I MOVED TO THE TERRITORY IN 2016.

WAS FORTUNATE A COUPLE OF YEARS LATER TO START WORKING HERE.

I´M A SURVIVOR OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND SEXUAL ASSAULT MYSELF.

SO I FEEL LIKE IT´S VERY IMPORTANT TO HAVE THESE CONVERSATIONS TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO NOT VICTIM BLAME, TO SUPPORT SURVIVORS, THE VICTIMS IN OUR COMMUNITY, TO HELP CONNECT THEM WITH THE APPROPRIATE RESOURCES.

AND JUST TO EVEN TO HELP THE MEDIA IN REGARDS TO FINDING THESE CONVERSATIONS.

THESE ARE PROBLEMS THAT CAN BE STOPPED AND THAT WE CAN HOLD PERPETRATORS ACCOUNTABLE.

AND SO I STILL A PART OF THIS.

>> I STUDIED OUT IN THE NONPROFIT ARENA WORKING FOR ANOTHER AGENCY THAT DEALT WITH ALCOHOLISM AND DRUG DEPENDENCY.

A SIDE THING, WE HAD THIS PROGRAM WHICH HELPED YOUNG MEN WHO HAD JUST COME OUT OF PRISON, GETTING THEM READY TO REENTER THE COMMUNITY, GETTING THEM READY TO APPLY FOR A JOB, YOU KNOW, HELPING THEM WITH DIFFERENT KINDS OF SERVICES.

AND THEN WHEN I LOST THAT JOB, THEN I FOUND THERE WAS A VACANCY HERE AT DVSAC.

I WORKED IN THE NONPROFIT ARENA BEFORE.

I REALLY WHEN I FIRST STARTED DOING THIS, I REALLY DID NOT KNOW WHAT IT WAS ALL ABOUT.

TO ME IT WAS JUST A JOB.

BUT THEN ONCE I STARTED TALKING TO PEOPLE AND I STARTED READING ABOUT DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND READING ABOUT SEXUAL ASSAULT, READING ABOUT THE EFFECTS OF IT, ESPECIALLY ON CHILDREN, I GOT HOOKED.

I GOT REALLY REALLY HOOKED.

AND SO I DO THIS NOW OUT OF LOVE.

LOVE FOR COMMUNITY, LOVE FOR CHILDREN.

I HATE HEARING SOME OF THE STORIES THAT I HEAR, YOU KNOW.

PEOPLE ARE ALWAYS TELLING ME THEIR STORIES.

AND SO TRY TO EDUCATE MYSELF THAT I CAN GIVE THEM THE BEST INFORMATION THAT I CAN THAT WILL HELP THEM WITH WHATEVER ISSUES, WITH WHATEVER CHALLENGES THEY´RE HAVING AT THE MOMENT.

>> SO LET´S LOOK AT SOME FACTS.

THE NATIONAL SEXUAL VIOLENCE RESOURCE CENTER KNOWS THAT IN THE UNITED STATES, 1 IN 71 MEN WILL BE RAPED IN THEIR LIFETIME.

AND ONE IN FIVE WOMEN WILL BE VICTIMS OF THAT SAME OFFENSE.

BUT THAT´S RAPE.

THE NSVRC ALSO STATES THAT IN THE U.S., ONE IN THREE WOMEN AND ONE IN SIX MEN EXPERIENCE SOME FORM OF SEXUAL VIOLENCE IN THEIR LIFETIME.

SO MY QUESTION IS WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THE STATISTIC THAT 33% OF WOMEN AND 17% FACE SOME FORM OF SEXUAL ASSAULT OR VIOLENCE IN THEIR LIFETIME?

>> IT IS TRUE.

BECAUSE LET´S JUST THINK ABOUT OUR LITTLE COMMUNITY.

THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHOM I SPEAK TO, THE NUMBER OF CHILDREN WHO HAVE TOLD ME THAT THEY THERE HAS BEEN SOME FORM OF SEXUAL ASSAULT, IT DOESN´T NECESSARILY HAVE TO BE RAPE.

IT COULD BE INAPPROPRIATE TOUCHING.

PORNOGRAPHY IS QUITE POPULAR IN OUR COMMUNITY, AND PEOPLE DON´T HAVE -- PEOPLE HAVE NO QUALMS ABOUT SHOWING PORNOGRAPHY TO CHILDREN.

ALL OF THAT IS SEXUAL ABUSE.

ALL OF THAT IS SEXUAL VIOLENCE.

AND WE HAVE A LOT OF KIDS WHO ARE ACTUALLY RAPED BY RELATIVES OR BY FRIENDS OR BY FAMILY.

AND IT´S A SECRET.

THE MAJORITY OF SEXUAL ASSAULT LIKE EVERY OTHER SORT OF ABUSE GOES UNREPORTED.

SO -- JUST THINK ABOUT HOW MANY WOUNDED CHILDREN AND ADULTS WE HAVE IN OUR COMMUNITY WHO HAVE BEEN THROUGH THIS, THIS VIOLATION AND THEY CAN´T TALK ABOUT IT.

SOMETIMES THEY DO TELL, BUT PEOPLE DON´T BELIEVE.

THAT´S WHY START BY BELIEVING.

THAT´S THE FIRST THING WE DO.

WHEN SOMEBODY TELLS US, ESPECIALLY A CHILD, THAT THEY HAVE BEEN SEXUALLY ASSAULTED, THE FIRST THING WE SHOULD DO IS BELIEVE.

BELIEVE.

DON´T DOUBT THEM.

DON´T TRY AND MAKE THEM THINK THAT THEY´RE CRAZY.

THEY´RE NOT.

THEY´RE SPEAKING THE TRUTH.

WE HEAR ABOUT PEOPLE TALKING ABOUT WELL, A LOT OF THIS IS NOT TRUE.

A LOT OF PEOPLE JUST MAKE UP STORIES PEOPLE.

NO.

THAT IS NOT TRUE.

ACCORDING TO STATISTICS, 1 TO 8% OF REPORTED SEXUAL ASSAULT MIGHT NOT BE TRUE.

THINK ABOUT THE OTHER SIDE.

90 SOMETHING PERCENT IS TRUE.

CHILDREN DON´T LIE ABOUT THAT.

>> RIGHT.

THAT IS SOME CRAZY STUFF THAT HAPPENS.

SO CAST, WHAT DO YOU GUYS THINK ABOUT THOSE STATISTICS AS WELL?

>> IT DOESN´T SHOCK ME, WHICH IS KIND OF SURREAL TO SAY, BUT IT´S DEFINITELY A PROBLEM.

AND I GUESS ME BEING A WOMAN OR A GIRL, I GUESS IT´S TO PUT THINGS IN PERSPECTIVE, IT´S A SCARY PLACE.

THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO ARE OKAYER YOUR LIFE OR YOU OR WHAT YOU HAVE GOING ON FOR YOU.

IT´S KIND OF SCARY SOMETIMES.

IT IS DEFINITELY A SCARY THING TO SEE IT IN ACTUAL NUMBERS.

>> YEAH, I WAS ACTUALLY JUST TALKING TO SOME OF MY FRIENDS TODAY, THEY´RE TALKING ABOUT HOW JUST GOING TO THE GROCERY STORE IS KIND OF STRANGE LIKE HOW PEOPLE JUST LOOK AT YOU AND STUFF.

SO IT´S CRAZY HOW OFTEN IT HAPPENS.

KADEN?

>> YEAH, I MEAN, OBVIOUSLY THOSE NUMBERS SHOULD BE ZERO.

THERE SHOULDN´T BE ANY STATISTICS ON THIS AT ALL.

BUT IT KIND OF DEPRESSING, KIND OF SAD THAT NOW IN THIS DAY AND AGE WE HAVE TO WALK AROUND AND KNOW WHO IS OVER THERE AND WHO IS OVER HERE.

IT´S PRETTY BAD.

>> WHEN YOU´RE TALKING ABOUT GOING TO THE GROCERY STORE AND THE WAY PEOPLE LOOK AT YOU, IT MADE ME THINK.

A LOT OF PEOPLE WOULDN´T EVEN THINK OF THAT AS BEING SEXUAL ASSAULT.

A LOT OF PEOPLE WOULD JUST THINK THAT IT´S -- THAT´S JUST THE WAY IT IS.

AND I WANT TO BRING OUT ALSO MALES WHO ARE ABUSED, SEXUALLY ABUSED.

THE NUMBERS ARE STAGGERING.

BUT THEY DON´T TALK ABOUT IT BECAUSE SOCIETY HAS DEEMED IT, YOU KNOW, A SHAMING IF A GUY IS SEXUALLY ASSAULTED, IF A GUY IS RAPED.

PEOPLE ASK HOW CAN A GUY GET RAPED?

AND I SAY EASY.

JUST AS EASY AS A WOMAN CAN GET RAPED.

EASY.

AND IMAGINE A GUY TELLING HIS FRIENDS, LISTEN, YOU KNOW WHAT THIS WOMAN DID TO ME, MAN?

IT WAS REALLY WITHOUT MY CONSENT.

AND THAT IS WHAT MAKES IT SEXUAL ASSAULT.

THERE IS NO CONSENT.

AND CONSENT IS YES.

CONSENT IS NOT SILENCE.

CONSENT IS I OPEN MY MOUTH AND I SAY YES, LET´S DO IT.

I SAY OKAY.

I SAY FINE.

ANYTHING THAT WILL MAKE YOU KNOW, BE SURE THAT I´M SAYING YES.

ANYTHING ASIDE FROM THAT IS ASSAULT.

AND WE WISH THAT OUR MEN WOULD COME OUT AND REPORT MORE.

WE REALLY DO WISH THAT.

BECAUSE IT´S JUST AS BAD AS A WOMAN GETTING SEXUALLY ASSAULTED.

IT´S JUST AS BAD.

BECAUSE HE IS MALE, THAT DOESN´T MEAN THAT HE DOESN´T FEEL.

IT DOESN´T MEAN THAT THE SHAME AND THE EMBARRASSMENT, THAT THE WOMAN FEELS, THAT HE DOESN´T FEEL IT.

HE PROBABLY FEELS IT EVEN MORE THAN A FEMALE.

BECAUSE HE IS MALE, AND SOCIETY HAS DEEMED IT, YOU KNOW, UNMANLY.

I WOULD SAY THIS WOMAN, AND HIS FRIENDS, THE WOMAN GIVING IT TO YOU, TAKE IT.

THAT´S THE ATTITUDE THAT WE HAVE.

BUT HE DOESN´T WANT IT.

HE HASN´T CONSENTED TO IT.

SO IT IS SEXUAL ASSAULT.

>> SO I HAVE A FOLLOW-UP QUESTION ON SOMETHING THAT YOU´VE ALREADY SAID.

YOU WERE SAYING THAT SOME PEOPLE JUST DON´T COME OUT WITH THEIR ALLEGATIONS TOWARDS SEXUAL ASSAULTS OR THEIR OWN EXPERIENCES.

SO I KNOW -- I UNDERSTAND THE REASON I´VE GONE THROUGH SEXUAL ASSAULTS ARE USUALLY AFRAID OR EMBARRASSED TO COME FORWARD WITH WHAT THEY´VE EXPERIENCED.

SO WHAT SERVICES AND SUPPORTS DOES DVSAC PROVIDE FOR THAT SORT OF SITUATION?

>> WELL, WE AT DVSAC, WE DON´T PROVIDE DIRECT SERVICES TO VICTIMS, BUT WHAT WE DO IS WE REFER THEM TO LOCAL PROGRAMS.

SO ON ST. THOMAS, THAT WOULD BE FAMILY RESOURCE CENTER.

ST. CROIX AS WELL FAMILY RESOURCE CENTER ON ST. JOHN.

AND ON ST. CROIX IT´S THE WOMEN´S COALITION OF ST. CROIX.

WE PROVIDE TRAINING.

WE TRAIN OTHER PEOPLE ON HOW TO DEAL WITH THESE ISSUES IF SOMEBODY CAME FORWARD.

SO WE TALK TO TEACHERS AND EDUCATOR, LEGISLATORS AND BUSINESS OWNERS WHO YOU MIGHT HAVE A BUSINESS AND YOU´RE JUST -- YOU MIGHT HAVE A GROCERY STORE, AND THERE MIGHT BE AN INCIDENT THAT HAPPENS AT THE STORE.

ONE OF YOUR STAFF MIGHT HAVE A SITUATION GOING ON IN THEIR HOME, AND THEY COME AND THEY DISCLOSE IT TO YOU SO THAT NOW YOU HAVE THE PROPER TOOLS, RESOURCES, WORDS AND LANGUAGE, AND YOU KNOW WHAT TO DO AND WHERE TO GO.

SO WE´RE ABOUT COMMUNITY AWARENESS, BUT WE REFER PEOPLE THAT COME TO US TO GET THE PROPER SERVICES THAT THEY NEED.

ONE THING THAT WE TRY TO DO IN OUR AWARENESS IS WE´RE TRYING TO CHANGE THE STEREOTYPES AND MISPERCEPTIONS IN THE COMMUNITY SO THAT VICTIMS DO FEEL THAT THEY HAVE A SAFE SPACE TO GO AND THAT THEY WILL BE HEARD AND THEY´LL BE TAKEN WHEN THEY DO REPORT.

THAT´S IMPORTANT TO US.

AND THAT´S FOR PEOPLE OF ALL AGES, GENDER, WHAT NOT.

IT DOESN´T DISCRIMINATE ON ANY LEVEL PEOPLE BEING VICTIMIZED, UNFORTUNATELY, BUT WE WANT EVERYONE TO KNOW THAT THERE ARE RESOURCES THAT PEOPLE CARE ABOUT THEM, THEIR SITUATION, AND THAT PEOPLE TRULY WANT TO ASSIST THEM.

>> SO WHILE WE´RE ON THE TOPIC OF VOCAL JUST LOCAL POPULATION IN GENERAL, DO THE VIRGIN ISLANDS STATISTICS DEVIATE FROM THOSE IN THE STATES?

>> SO WE ARE -- THAT´S A LONG PROJECT THAT WE´VE BEEN WORKING ON IS COORDINATION OF LOCAL STATISTICS.

OUR LOCAL STATISTICS AREN´T THAT STRONG.

BUT WHAT WE -- FOR OUR POPULATION, THE NUMBERS ARE CONSISTENT UNFORTUNATELY.

>> THAT´S CRAZY.

SO I WANT TO KNOW, LIKE, WHAT IS YOUR DEFINITION OF SEXUAL ASSAULT?

>> SEXUAL ASSAULT IS ANY BEHAVIOR OF A SEXUAL NATURE THAT IS UNWANTED.

AGAIN, CONSENT.

SO ANY SEXUAL BEHAVIOR THAT DOES NOT HAVE MY CONSENT IS SEXUAL ASSAULT.

>> SO I WANT TO LIKE KIND OF FOLLOW UP ON THAT.

SO WITH REGARDING LIKE CAT CALLING -- NOT REALLY CAT CALLING, BUT LIKE COMMENTING ON SOMEONE AND THEY NEVER SAY STOP IT, IS THAT A FORM OF SEXUAL ASSAULT BECAUSE THERE IS -- THERE WAS ACTUALLY NO COMMUNICATION?

>> THAT MIGHT FALL UNDER SEXUAL HARASSMENT, BUT, AGAIN, YOU´RE NOW LOOKING FOR THE VICTIM OF THIS SITUATION TO SPEAK UP.

YOU´RE KIND OF BLAMING THE VICTIM BECAUSE THEY NEVER SPOKE UP.

SO IT MUST BE OKAY FOR YOU TO CONTINUE THAT TYPE OF BEHAVIORS VERSUS US TO CHANGE THE COMMUNITY PERSPECTIVE AROUND HOW YOU TREAT AND INTERACT WITH PEOPLE.

YOU KNOW WE SAY SEXUAL HARASSMENT AND HARASSING PEOPLE IN A SEXUAL MANNER ISN´T OKAY.

THE PERSON MIGHT NOT HAVE SPOKE UP BECAUSE THEY MIGHT BE AFRAID HOW IT COULD AFFECT THEM IN SCHOOL OR HOW OTHER PEOPLE MIGHT VIEW THEM.

THEY MIGHT BE AFRAID BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, THIS HAPPENED TO A FRIEND OF THEIRS AND SO THEN THEY STARTED BEING HARASSED ON SOCIAL MEDIA.

MAYBE THEY MIGHT BE AFRAID OF THEIR PERSONAL SAFETY IF THEY SPEAK UP.

IN WORK SESSIONS, BECAUSE WE DO SEXUAL HARASSMENT TRAINING IN FOR BUSINESSES AND ORGANIZATIONS, IT COULD BE A SITUATION WHERE, OKAY, IF I SPEAK UP, THEN I´LL BE PASSED UP FOR OPPORTUNITY, PROMOTIONS OR EVEN LOSE MY JOB THAT I NEED TO EAT AND HAVE A ROOF OVER MY HEAD.

SO SEXUAL HARASSMENT, PEOPLE MIGHT MINIMIZE IT LIKE OH, IT´S JUST WORDS OR SOMEBODY JUST POSTED SOMETHING ONLINE, BUT IT´S VERY SERIOUS.

IT´S A VERY SERIOUS OFFENSE THAT HAS SERIOUS RAMIFICATIONS TO THE VICTIM IN ADDITION TO HOW IT AFFECTS THEIR MENTAL HEALTH GOING THROUGH A SITUATION LIKE THAT.

>> SO THE NSVRC ALSO GIVES US TWO MORE STATISTICS THAT MORE RELATES TO US.

ONE IN FOUR GIRLS AND ONE IN SIX BOYS UNDER THE AGE OF 18 ARE SEXUALLY ABUSED.

AND 48% OF STUDENTS FROM GRADE 7 TO 12 HAVE EXPERIENCED SEXUAL HARASSMENT.

WE´RE NOT PUTTING ANYONE ON THE SPOT HERE, BUT HAVE YOU SEEN OR DO YOU KNOW OF ANYONE IN YOUR PEER GROUP THAT HAS EXPERIENCED SEXUAL HARASSMENT?

>> YES.

I´M JUST GOING TO LEAVE IT AT THAT.

JUST YES.

>> SORRY.

I JUST HAD A QUICK FOLLOW-UP ON THAT QUESTION.

WHEN YOU GET THAT INFORMATION FROM SOMEBODY, WHAT DO YOU DO?

IF SOMEBODY TRUSTS YOU WITH THAT INFORMATION.

>> WELL, IN ALL POSITIONS, WE ARE MANDATED REPORTERS.

SO IF A CHILD IT HAS HAPPENED MORE THAN ONCE AND THE CHILD GIVES ME INFORMATION, TELLS ME THAT THEY HAVE BEEN SEXUALLY ASSAULTED BY SO AND SO, I HAVE -- IT IS MY DUTY TO REPORT IT.

SO NORMALLY WHAT I DO IS I GO TO THE SCHOOL PRINCIPAL AND TELL THEM AND MAKE SURE THAT THEY WRITE-UP THE PROPER FORMS.

BECAUSE EVERY PERSON WHO WORKS AT A SCHOOL, AT A HOSPITAL, AT THE DAY CARE IS A MANDATED REPORTER.

SO WHEN THAT HAPPENS WITH ME, I GO TO THE PRINCIPLE AND I SEE THEM WRITE-UP THE FORMS AND THEY´VE CALLED THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES TO INVESTIGATE.

WHAT I WAS TOLD.

>> WE DON´T WANT ANYONE SCARED ABOUT THAT PROCESS.

THAT PROCESS IS TO SUPPORT AND PROTECT AND FIND RESOURCES TO HELP VICTIMS.

>> SO KIND OF MOVING A LITTLE BIT FURTHER AWAY FROM LIKE A SCHOOL ATMOSPHERE OR A WORKPLACE SITUATION, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE CARNIVAL.

QUITE A LOT OF PEOPLE.

AND USUALLY, I MEAN MOST OF THE TIME THE PEOPLE AREN´T GIVING CONSENT FOR SOMEONE TO COME BEHIND THEM AND, YOU KNOW -- SO WOULD YOU SAY THAT IS SEXUAL ASSAULT?

>> I MEAN, I´VE HEARD OF CASES OF PEOPLE BEING SEXUALLY ASSAULTED, GROPED, FONDLED WITHOUT PERMISSION OR CONSENT DURING JUVE.

SO I KNOW THAT WAS A CONVERSATION THAT WE HAD MAYBE A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO AROUND DOING SOME WORK AROUND SEXUAL ASSAULT DURING JUVE AND ASKING FOR CONSENT BEFORE YOU TOUCH OR GROPE SOMEONE OR FONDLE THEM.

I MEAN, BECAUSE IT CAN GET KIND OF, YOU KNOW, IT COULD GET TO A SITUATION WHERE PEOPLE MIGHT TRY TO BLAME IT ON DRINKING OR THE ALCOHOL OR WHATEVER, BUT THAT´S NOT AN EXCUSE FOR THAT.

AND SO PEOPLE MIGHT SAY OH, WELL, CONSENT, THAT TAKES THE FUN OUT.

IS IT REALLY?

YOU CAN SAY HEY, CAN WE DANCE OR CAN WE DO SOMETHING WITHOUT ACTUALLY GROPING A PERSON OR FONDLING THEM OR ASSAULTING THEM.

YOU CAN HAVE FUN WITHOUT THAT.

AND ASK.

ASK.

IF THE PERSON SAYS OKAY, OKAY.

BUT IF THE PERSON SAYS NO, MOVE ON.

THERE IS THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE OUT THERE DURING THAT MORNING.

>> YEAH.

I HAVE A FOLLOW-UP TO THAT.

DO YOU THINK THAT A SAFER JUVE COULD SEE FILING -- LIKE SIGNING CONSENT FORMS PRIOR?

>> I DON´T THINK CONSENT FORMS ARE NECESSARY BECAUSE YOU SHOULD HAVE THE I SIGNED A CONSENT FORM SO I SIGNED AWAY MY RIGHT THAT ANYBODY CAN, YOU KNOW.

I SHOULD BE ABLE TO CASE-BY-CASE BASIS SAY I WANT TO DANCE WITH YOU, I DON´T WANT TO DANCE WITH YOU, DON´T TOUCH ME LIKE THAT, DON´T GRAB ON ME, THAT HURTS, DON´T DO THAT.

AND WE ARE THE ONES WHO DEFINE WHAT IS SEXUAL HARASSMENT TO US.

BECAUSE SOMEBODY CAN SAY SOMEBODY, HI, JENETTE, YOU LOOK PRETTY NICE TODAY.

HI, JENETTE, OOH, THAT DRESS FITS YOU WELL.

I COULD CHOOSE TO TAKE IT AS A COMPLIMENT, OR I COULD TELL YOU PLEASE DON´T SAY THAT TO ME AGAIN.

I DON´T LIKE THAT.

AND IF I ASK YOU NOT TO SAY TO ME AGAIN, I DON´T LIKE IT, THEN YOU SHOULD ABIDE THAT.

IT´S JUST ABOUT MUTUAL RESPECT.

AND THIS ISN´T JUST WOMEN.

THIS IS MEN, WOMEN, EVERYBODY.

>> ALSO, I JUST WANT TO TALK A LITTLE HYPOTHETICAL.

SAY SOMEONE WAS AT JUVE AND, YOU KNOW, IT WAS DARK OUTSIDE AND IF ONE OF THE PEOPLE WHO WAS BEING DANCED ON DOESN´T SAY ANYTHING OPPOSING TO THIS ACT, DO YOU THINK IT´S OKAY OR RIGHT TO NECESSARILY IN A COUPLE WEEKS LATER TO SAY THAT, YOU KNOW, I SHOULDN´T FEEL COMFORTABLE IN THAT SITUATION AND THEN TO AT THAT POINT IN A DIFFERENT TIME SAY THAT THAT WAS SEXUAL ASSAULT?

>> I THINK THAT THIS IS WHERE ASKING FOR CONSENT IN ADVANCE PREVENTS THOSE TYPES OF ISSUES LATER.

BECAUSE IT MIGHT BE THE SITUATION AT THE MOMENT.

YOU DID THIS BEFORE I COULD EVEN REACT OR DO ANYTHING.

AND NOW I THOUGHT ABOUT IT, AND IT WAS WRONG.

SO NOW I´M GOING TO SAY SOMETHING ABOUT IT.

THAT´S NOT WRONG FUTURE A VICTIM TO COME LATER.

BUT ASKING FOR CONSENT IN ADVANCE WOULD REDUCE ANY OF THOSE ISSUES.

IT´S JUST ABOUT RESPECT.

AND RESPECTING OTHER PEOPLE THE SAME WAY YOU WANT TO BE RESPECTED.

WE CAN ALL HAVE FUN, BUT WE NEED TO RESPECT EACH OTHER.

>> AND ALSO, IF A PERSON -- >> I ALSO HAD A -- GO AHEAD.

>> IF THEY´RE DRUNK, THEY CAN´T GIVE CONSENT ANY WAY.

SO YOU JUST LEAVE THAT PERSON ALONE.

>> I JUST HAD A QUICK QUESTION ABOUT I KNOW THAT BECAUSE OF YOUR TALKS AT SCHOOL, I KNOW THAT WHEN PEOPLE MOSTLY GET HARASSED OR ASSAULTED, IT´S BY SOMEBODY THAT THEY KNOW.

SO THAT MAKES IT EVEN HARDER TO COME TO SOMEBODY OF AUTHORITY TO TELL THEM WHAT SOMEBODY DID TO THEM.

SO HOW WOULD YOU EXPLAIN TO SOMEBODY WHAT TO DO IN THAT SITUATION WHEN IT IS SOMEBODY WHO THEY DENT WANT THE GET IN TROUBLE OR THEY DON´T WANT TO BE PUT TO JAIL OR THEY DON´T WANT ANY QUALMS WITH THEM.

>> WELL, I MEAN, YOU CAN TELL THEM WHAT THEIR RIGHTS ARE, BECAUSE WE ALL HAVE BODILY RIGHTS.

AND YOU CAN´T MAKE SOMEBODY REPORT.

YOU CAN GIVE THEM ALL THE INFORMATION.

YOU CAN EDUCATE THEM AS TO -- BECAUSE THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO ARE ABUSED, AND THEY´RE NOT EVEN AWARE THAT THEY´RE BEING ABUSED.

SO AND TOO, ESPECIALLY WITH A CHILD, IF YOU HAVE A CHILD AND IT´S MY FATHER OR SOMEBODY I LOVE, I KNOW WHAT THEY´RE DOING TO ME IS WRONG.

BUT IF I SAY ANYTHING, I´M GOING GET THEM IN TROUBLE.

AND I DON´T WANT THEM TO GET IN TROUBLE BECAUSE I LOVE THEM.

SO YOU CAN´T REALLY -- WELL, LISTEN.

IF IT´S A CHILD, THEN YOU REPORT TO IT THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES.

YOU DO, IF IT´S A CHILD.

BUT IF IT´S AN ADULT, YOU REALLY CAN´T.

THEY HAVE TO PROCESS IT IN THEIR MINDS.

BECAUSE THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO ARE RAPED, RIGHT.

AT THE MOMENT YOU ASK THEM DO YOU WANT TO FILE A CHARGE?

BECAUSE THEY´RE I DON´T KNOW.

BECAUSE AT THAT TIME YOU´RE SO CONFUSED.

YOU´RE OUT OF YOUR BODY, YOU KNOW?

BUT GIVE YOU SOME TIME AFTER YOU THOUGHT ABOUT IT, YOU MIGHT DECIDE THAT YOU WANT TO PRESS CHARGES.

SO WHAT WE DO IS WE EDUCATE.

WE CAN´T FORCE PEOPLE TO DO ANYTHING, BUT WE EDUCATE.

>> AND WE NEED TO RESPECT PEOPLE´S DECISIONS AND SUPPORT THEM AND CREATE AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE PEOPLE FEEL COMFORTABLE IN COMING FORWARD.

THAT´S IMPORTANT.

>> YES.

>> OKAY.

>> WELL, WE´RE ALMOST OUT OF -- >> YEAH.

I JUST WANTED TO ASK A VERY QUICK QUESTION, WHICH IS ARE THERE ROMEO AND JULIET LAWS HERE?

>> I DON´T KNOW.

>> I DON´T EVEN KNOW WHAT THAT IS.

I´M NOT LYING TO TELL YOU.

>> IT´S A -- OKAY.

IT´S WHEN WHAT IS THE AGE OF CONSENT.

>> OH, THE MARRIAGE LAWS, YES.

WE DID A LOT OF WORK AROUND THAT WITH DVSAC.

A LOT OF CHATTING AROUND THE MARRIAGE LAWS.

WE DIDN´T CALL IT THAT.

>> AND WE WERE FINALLY ABLE THE HAVE THE LAW PASSED WHERE 18 IS THE AGE OF CONSENT.

MARRIAGE IS NOT AT 14 ANYMORE.

IT´S AT 18.

>> OKAY.

THANK YOU.

>> YOU´RE WELCOME.

>> WELL, SINCE WE ARE ALMOST OUT OF TIME FOR THIS WEEK´S EPISODE, WE´D LIKE TO SAY THANK YOU TO OUR GUESTS FROM THE DVSAC.

MISS JENETTE JEAN BAPTISTE AND MRS. FOY.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US AND BEING A PART OF THIS DISCUSSION.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING US.

>> WE LOVED IT.

>> APRIL IS SEXUAL ASSAULT AWARENESS MONTH, AND HOPEFULLY WE PROVIDED YOU WITH SOME INFORMATION TO THINK ON.

BECAUSE THE STATISTICS SHOW THAT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT AFFECTS ALL OF US.

TO OUR VIEWER, STAY TUNED FOR NEXT WEEK´S EPISODE OF "GRAFFITI STREET."

GOODBYE.

>> BYE.

♫♫ ♫ COME MOVE YOUR HEADS TO THE BEAT, GET OFF YOUR FEET, MOVE YOUR FEET, WHERE WE MEET ♫ THE ONLY UNIQUE SHOW SCHEDULED SPEAK, ♫ ♫ IN THE CITY THAT WE STAY IN, THE TOWN THAT WE MEET, ON THE BLOCK THAT WE LAY, WE LIVE "GRAFFITI STREET" ♫ ♫ AN OBJECTIVE, YOU CAN´T SEE ME ♫ >> THE VIEWS EXPRESSED ON THIS PROGRAM ARE NOT NECESSARILY THOSE OF WTJX, ITS BOARD, ITS STAFF OR UNDERWRITERS.