Montgomery County Produces Videotape To Educate Hispanic Comunity About Sexual Violence Issues

Header--Montgomery County, Maryland. Press Releases

mh/videosexual.pr 99-147

Contact: Mary Anderson, 301-217-1702
For Immediate Release: April 26, 1999

Montgomery County Produces
Videotape To Educate Hispanic
Community About Sexual
Violence Issues

Montgomery County Executive Douglas M. Duncan today announced the distribution of a Spanish language videotape, En Contra de la Violencia Sexual (Against Sexual Violence) to educate women about sexual violence issues and the services available. Duncan made his announcement at the Rockville Regional Library, one of 22 branch libraries that will distribute the videotape beginning in May.

Joining Duncan in the announcement were Debbie Andrews, executive director of the Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network (RAINN); Karen Hartz, executive director of the Maryland Coalition Against Sexual Assault (MCASA); and Nadja Cabello, manager of the County's Victim Assistance and Sexual Assault Program (part of the Department of Health and Human Services).

"Sexual assault knows no ethnic or cultural barriers," said Duncan. "We want women throughout our community to learn about sexual violence and what services are offered to assist them," said Duncan.

According to Nadja Cabello, manager of the County's Victim Assistance and Sexual Assault Program (VASAP), the video was produced to better educate Hispanic women on local services available and to encourage victims to seek help. As of 1997, the U.S. Census update indicates that more than 80,000 Montgomery County residents are Hispanic - the largest Latino population in the Washington metropolitan area.

"Many women are often afraid to come forward in cases of sexual assault, and we are finding this to be particularly true with Hispanic women," said Cabello. "There is not a lot of information on this topic available in the Spanish language, and we are hopeful that the video will help us to educate more women of Hispanic descent."

"RAINN is pleased to help introduce this video, which will be a very valuable tool to educate women about sexual assault," said Andrews. "We are grateful to Montgomery County for addressing the needs of Hispanic women by funding this project, and for creating a version with the national RAINN hotline number. We expect the video to be adopted by many of the 829 RAINN-affiliated rape crisis centers around the country as they educate women in their own communities."

In addition to making copies available at public libraries in Montgomery County, the videotape will be available at Regional Service Centers and from VASAP. Additional copies of the video are being distributed by MCASA to rape crisis programs throughout the state.

"Thank you Montgomery County for listening to the voice of the Hispanic community," said Hartz. "Your concern and subsequent action to fund the production of a linguistically appropriate and culturally sensitive video in Spanish that addresses sexual assault issues for women is worthy of note. This important endeavor will no doubt educate and benefit Hispanic communities throughout the state."

The 12-minute videotape, offers easy to follow information on how to recognize sexual violence issues, how to reduce risk factors and how to get services. Creative Associates International, a Hispanic owned firm based in the District of Columbia, produced the videotape. Grant funding for the production was provided from the Governor's Office on Crime Control and Prevention, Violence Against Women Act.

For more information or to schedule a presentation by a Hispanic community educator, call the Victim Assistance and Sexual Assault Program at 301-217-1355.

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