April is a time of awakening in many parts of the world. Spring has arrived, flowers are beginning their festive fashion show, the sun is shining. What a perfect month for healing!
To that end, there are several noteworthy organizations working tirelessly to help others heal that have chosen April as the month to bloom and grow awareness.
April is National Sexual Assault Awareness & Prevention Month. The idea is to raise public consciousness about sexual violence and how communities can prevent it. This year, the campaign theme is I ASK with the focus on consent in everyday interactions.
The first Tuesday of April, this year on April 2, is National Sexual Assault Awareness Day of Action. The awareness color is teal. The outreach events scheduled for this day are designed to teach us that sexual assault is not just a women’s issue, it’s everyone’s issue.
It breaks my heart that there even needs to be a day to raise awareness about the sexual abuse of children. The Global Day to End Child Sexual Abuse is the second Sunday in April, and this year is observed on April 14. The Innocence Revolution sponsors it and it was created to launch a global crusade to protect the world’s children.
April 4 is RAINN Day (Rape Abuse Incest National Network). According to information gathered by the organization, every 92 seconds, an American is sexually assaulted and every 9 minutes, that victim is a child. RAINN focuses on changing public policy, national education and support services for survivors. (See Rape Culture)
April is also Genocide and Human Rights Awareness Month. In case you believe that this is something that doesn’t pertain to you, here’s a list of the Eight Stages of Genocide.
- Classification (‘Drug dealers, criminals, rapists’: What Trump thinks of Mexicans)
- Symbolization (The Symbolism of the Border Wall)
- Dehumanization (Trump ramps up rhetoric on undocumented immigrants: ‘These aren’t people. These are animals.’)
- Organization (The Pentagon extends US troop mission at southern border for 9 more months)
- Polarization (These policy changes will impact legal immigrants in the U.S. in 2019)
- Preparation (Immigration Detention)
- Extermination (DEATHS BY BORDER PATROL SINCE 2010)
- Denial (Trump administration rejects responsibility for death of 7-year-old girl in Border Patrol custody)
While genocide encompasses men, women, and children equally, femicide is the systematic elimination of a group of people based solely on their gender and is a real issue in many countries today. (See also Ni Una Mas and Surviving Kakistocracy)
The families of victims of femicide often never receive justice. National Crime Victims Rights Week is April 7-13. The theme Honoring Our Past, Creating Hope for the Future and focuses on a future of crime victim services that is better than what has gone before.
Now that you are aware of these pressing issues, here are some events aimed at healing.
The last Saturday of April is World Healing Day. Their mission is to encourage yoga, meditation, Reiki, art healing, music healing and healing prayer occasions. Check out their site for local events. (See also Alternative Medical Practitioners in Mexico)
April 7 is National Girl Me Too Day. This organization was established to promote relationship stability among women and encourage healing, empowerment, and education of women of all ages.
April 7 is also World Health Day sponsored by WHO. Many countries, including the United States, do not have universal health coverage, this year’s focus. It is the World Health Organization’s goal to increase the accessibility of health care services globally. (See also A Little About Healthcare in Mexico)
National Healthcare Decisions Day is April 16. Preparing for a health emergency is no easy task and NHDD is committed to educating the public and health care providers about this issue. (See also Overview of Travel MedEvac Insurance)
Lest we overlook simple healing methods, April 19 is National Garlic Day. Garlic really is a super healthy vegetable (or herb) and a key factor in the treatment and prevention of a variety of diseases. (See Garlic Tea)
My contribution to April’s healing is small in comparison. A Woman’s Survival Guide to Mexican Healthcare is finally ready for release. The book covers the basics of the Mexican national healthcare system as it stands now, the reality of sexual assault, femicide, and abuse in Mexico, the role of the traditional curandera, and herbal remedies as alternative healing practices. Women living in all parts of Mexico (and Guatemala) candidly shared their health and wellness experiences so that other women will be better informed.
It is my hope that this book in some way empowers women who have moved to Mexico to have some measure control of their own healing. To that end, you can get it FREE on Amazon for the next few days.
