San Luis proclaims April child abuse prevention and sexual assault awareness months; advocate urges reporting and services

The City of San Luis read proclamations declaring April 2026 as Child Abuse Prevention Month and Sexual Assault Awareness Month and urged citizens to participate in prevention and support efforts.

The proclamations recited national statistics noting the frequency and underreporting of child abuse and sexual violence and framed prevention as a community responsibility encompassing child welfare, education, health, faith organizations, business and law enforcement. The proclamations named Nieves Rydell, mayor of the City of San Luis, as the signatory for the resolutions dated March 2026.

Dina Vancho, who identified herself as a board member of Proverbs 31 and as a Department of Defense sexual assault response victim advocate, told the council she has assisted victims for more than 28 years and described sexual assault and child abuse as pervasive and underreported crimes. She said multiple widely cited figures show high rates of early victimization and low rates of reporting and prosecution: “Out of 1000 cases in The United States, only 25 go to prison,” she said, and stressed the importance of reporting suspected abuse to the statewide child abuse hotline or to law enforcement.

Vancho urged the council and community to strengthen prevention through education, reporting and survivor services: “We need to stop [sexual] violence and child abuse by supporting survivors and holding perpetrators accountable and creating safe, safer communities,” she said.

Council members thanked the presenters, asked that the information be provided to the council in writing, and commended Proverbs 31 for its local advocacy.

The proclamations were ceremonial actions that do not create new city policy but signal municipal support for prevention and victim‑service partnerships.