The Huron Women's Shelter has teamed up with Renfrew County to bring the We Stand With Survivors campaign to Goderich.
It was initially started in 2017 by the Women's Sexual Assault Centre Renfrew County, acknowledging that the community hears and supports survivors of sexual assault in the area.
"They're a really rural community, similar to us and one of the pieces that came out of that project was they wanted to have an advocacy campaign that ensured folks knew sexual violence was something happening in their area, as well as allowing survivors to feel seen, heard, and believed," said Genelle Reid, fund development coordinator with the Huron Women's Shelter.
Goderich contacted Renfrew County and began the campaign in Huron County.
Community members will see posters and banners hanging around town and in businesses.
The month of May also marks Sexual Assault Awareness Month. The goal is to inform survivors and those who may know a survivor that the Huron Women's Shelter is available for support.
"It's important we bring awareness to the fact that the rate of sexual violence is rising, we know that the femicide rate has increased significantly in the last several years since COVID," said Reid. "We really just want folks to know that these things are happening and there's support available in the community."
For community members who have not been directly affected by sexual violence but still would like to help the cause, Reid said having a conversation about it and monitoring Huron Women's Shelter's social media is a great way to do so.
"We will have some posts available around some education for sexual violence, as well as some graphics for the campaign are available on our social media," she said, encouraging to share them.
If you or anyone you know is experiencing sexual violence, you can call the Huron Women's Shelter's 24-hour crisis line at 1-800-265-5506.