Berkeley County proclaims April 2026 Sexual Assault Awareness Month

The Berkeley County Commission on April 2026 unanimously adopted a proclamation recognizing April 2026 as Sexual Assault Awareness Month following a presentation from the Eastern Panhandle Empowerment Center.

Nicole Room, manager of the Eastern Panhandle Empowerment Center, told commissioners the proclamation "is more than a symbolic gesture" and said formal recognition helps communicate that survivors are "not alone" and that the community "stands with them." Room and Kira Breeden noted the center provides victim advocates and 24-hour response to hospitals and urged education on consent, bystander intervention and prevention.

Room read the proclamation aloud, which states in part that April is a time "to bring attention to the widespread issue of sexual violence and empower communities to take action" and that partners should "support survivors, prevent sexual violence, and foster communities rooted in safety, respect, and dignity." The proclamation also cited national and demographic statistics on lifetime experiences of sexual violence.

Commissioners voiced support during the presentation. The Commission President said the remarks offered an opportunity to hear from "people that work in this every day," and praised the center's frontline work. After a motion and second, the commission adopted the proclamation by voice vote with no recorded opposition. Teal ribbons were offered to commissioners to mark "Wear Teal Day" and to show ongoing support throughout April.

The proclamation will be part of county materials and the presenters remained after the meeting for photos. The action was procedural and does not create a new county program or funding commitment.