This April marks the 23rd annual Sexual Assault Awareness Month campaign, a National Sexual Violence Resource Center initiative that works to uplift the role of inclusive, equitable and connected communities in reducing sexual abuse, assault and harassment. This year, my colleagues and I in the Maine Legislature passed a joint resolution recognizing the importance of this month for survivors across the state.

Roughly 14,000 Mainers experience sexual violence each year. To effectively combat this violence in all its forms, we must confront uncomfortable truths and cultivate a culture of empathy, support and accountability. Empowering survivors to share their stories and seek justice is paramount, alongside educating ourselves and others on the realities of sexual violence, dispelling myths and challenging harmful attitudes and behaviors.

In our ongoing efforts to create a safer Maine where survivors feel heard and cared for, this legislative session we passed a number of important bills that will make a significant difference, two of which I was pleased to cosponsor.

One initiative from Sen. Anne Carney would ensure survivors of violent crimes can access vital services by appropriating $6 million for the 2024-2025 fiscal year. This measure is included in the state supplemental budget, which was recently signed into law by the governor. 

As federal Victims of Crimes Act (VOCA) funding decreases nationwide due to congressional inaction, Maine is set to lose 60% of its funding. This projected loss underscores the urgent need for the state to step up and provide sustained support for essential programs and that’s what we did. This state funding will help provide a wide variety of services, including covering funeral costs when a loved one dies, supporting court-appointed special advocates in child protective cases and providing services for new Mainers through the Immigrant Resources Center of Maine. 

Notably, the Maine Coalition to End Domestic Violence, the Maine Coalition Against Sexual Assault, Children’s Advocacy Centers and Pine Tree Legal Assistance are among the largest recipients of VOCA funding in Maine.

Another piece of legislation sponsored by Sen. Carney that is now law rewrites Maine’s stalking laws to align with the new federal standard set by a recent Supreme Court decision. This update will preserve the state's ability to prosecute threatening speech - like comments made in direct messages or comment sections -  ensuring all forms of stalking and terrorizing is covered in Maine law.

I also want to highlight some of the important work we accomplished last year. A bill I sponsored, that is now law, addresses resource shortages for victims of child sexual abuse. The law directs the Maine Department of Health and Human Services to establish a program supporting regional Child Advocacy Centers and community-based agencies, ensuring a coordinated response to suspected cases of child sexual abuse and exploitation.

This measure also funds additional positions at Child Advocacy Centers to expand preventative care statewide. Child Advocacy Centers offer crucial assistance for survivors during an incredibly vulnerable time. They also take proactive steps, including conducting forensic exams, to prevent further commercial exploitation of children.

Another piece of legislation that was signed into law last year is a bill sponsored by Rep. Nina Milliken, which provides survivors of non-consensual condom removal, colloquially known as “stealthing,” with a civil recourse to hold their perpetrators accountable by allowing them to file a lawsuit within a six-year statute of limitations. This new law is an important step towards giving survivors a chance to seek the justice they deserve.

As we recognize Sexual Assault Awareness Month this year, it is important to acknowledge the progress that we have made while also understanding that we still have work to do to create a world free from sexual violence. We must continue to stand in solidarity with survivors, amplify their voices, honor their experiences and take action to better ensure justice.  

Support for survivors of sexual violence is available 24/7 in Maine through MECASA’s free, private helpline at 1-800-871-7741. 

Rep. Holly Stover is serving her third term in the Maine House and represents Boothbay, Boothbay Harbor, Edgecomb, South Bristol, Southport and Westport Island. She is House chair of the Legislature’s State and Local Government Committee and serves as a member of the Joint Select Committee on Housing.