1. Thank you for writing. Sexual assault is an affront to our basic decency and
humanity. Our Nation cannot turn away from this outrageous crime or say it’s
not our problem. It’s about all of us, and about the safety of those we love most.
Too many women and men have experienced some form of sexual violence in
their lives, and only a fraction of assaults are reported to authorities. We know
that anyone can become a victim, no matter their race, economic status, job,
gender, gender identity, or sexual orientation. That’s why this problem should
matter to all of us.
Through my Administration’s efforts—including Vice President Joe Biden’s 1 is
2 Many initiative, our Not Alone initiative, and the White House Task Force to
Protect Students from Sexual Assault—as well as our partnership with the It’s
On Us campaign, we are doing more to combat sexual assault than ever
before. Our Nation’s military leaders are also working to develop and
implement essential reforms that increase accountability and ensure a healthy
and respectful command climate throughout the Armed Forces. We are
committed to rooting out sexual violence wherever it exists, from our college
campuses to our military bases.
Anybody can be a part of these campaigns and join in keeping our country safe
from sexual assault. You can go to www.ItsOnUs.org and take a pledge to not
be a bystander and to hold yourself and others
accountable. Atwww.WhiteHouse.gov/1is2many and www.NotAlone.gov, you
can learn more about my Administration’s efforts and find resources on how to
respond to and prevent sexual assault.
Again, thank you for sharing your perspective. It’s on us to stand together, to
raise our voices loudly against all forms of abuse, and to remind survivors of
sexual assault they are not alone. By empowering survivors and giving voice to
their experiences, we can change the culture of silence that helps perpetuate
sexual violence. Each of us must personally reject the quiet tolerance of these
crimes and refuse to accept what’s unacceptable.
Sincerely,
Barack Obama
