One in five women and one in 16 men will experience sexual assault while at college and throughout their lifetime; one in three women will be sexually abused.

These numbers are so concerning and yet, 60 percent of all sexual assaults go unreported to the police.

To combat the growing concern of sexual assault, especially on college campuses, Day One announced Monday the creation of a new statewide task force to address the concerns of adult sexual assault.

Day One is the only agency in Rhode Island that handles sexual assault as a “community concern,” offering educational, preventative, treatment, intervention and advocacy services for Rhode Islanders.

Day One hosted the State House press conference to kick off Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM), which is April.

Representatives from colleges and universities in Rhode Island, policy-makers, legislators, advocates and student activists as well as survivors of sexual assault attended the event.

Peg Langhammer, executive director of Day One, opened the conference imploring everyone to help bring the issue of sexual assault “out of the shadows.”

Currently, sexual assault is still one of the most underreported crimes in the nation.

Governor Gina Raimondo, who had visited Day One before her election, said the state needs to “recommit” to combating sexual assault.

“This issue is important to me as governor and it is important to me as a mother,” Raimondo said. “What if this was to happen to my child? We need to address this issue with the same urgency and commitment we would if the victims were our own kids.”

Providence Police Chief Colonel Hugh T. Clements Jr. said the state needs to “roll up their sleeves” and get to work addressing this issue.

Currently, the Providence Police Department has one detective assigned to sexual assault, but will add three more.

Clements said state guidelines need to be established so that victims can navigate the system, having access to necessary resources of support, without being re-victimized or forced to relive their experiences over. Clements also mentioned that the public needs to do their part in recognizing and reporting sexual assault.

The statewide task force organized by Day One will be a “multi-disciplinary team” with representatives from state and local law enforcement, advocates from Day One, prosecution, medical professionals and institutions of higher education.

The task force will act as a support system and a resource for the victims of sexual assault by following cases from the beginning when it is first reported, through treatment and support as well as any investigation and prosecution.

Langhammer said, “It is important to note that all of this is possible thanks to the bravery, the courage of the survivors and the strong leadership of the state.”

Attorney General, Peter Kilmartin said, “The reality is that we should be aware not only every month but every day because that’s when sexual assault occurs, every day.”

He said Rhode Island is in a “unique position” not only as a state but also with the task force because all the stakeholders can come together in one room to collaborate on initiatives.

Kilmartin said sexual assault is a national issue, one that isn’t currently, but needs to be brought to the forefront.

“We need to act in a collaborative way that first and foremost protects the victim, helping them find the resources and support they need to ensure they are not re-victimized by reliving the assault,” he said.

The press conference focused on sexual assaults on college campuses. As of late college, sexual assaults have become increasingly prevalent and as such representatives from colleges and universities across the state attended the event to show support.

Late last year, Brown University made national news as students protested against the school’s handling of sexual assault cases after two students accused a member of the Phi Kappa Psi fraternity of assault and spiking drinks with a date rape drug. The university did not hold a judicial hearing on the matter.

An activist and senior at Brown University, Katie Byron, spoke at the press conference. She is part of Brown’s Sexual Assault Task Force and said students and survivors not only deserve but need to be a part of the conversation to how sexual assault is addressed, especially on college campuses.

She said, “This is not a new issue, but there has been a new and unprecedented visibility on campuses across the country because of the courage of survivors.

She said student survivors are now holding their “schools accountable and humanizing the issue” by putting a faces to sexual assault.

Student survivors, Byron argued, have a very unique experience after an assault because they have to balance their healing, academics, social life and any investigation in close proximity to their assaulter.

Seventy-three percent of all assaults are perpetrated by someone the victim knows, and for college students that rises to 80 percent.

“We can all be doing better to listen with compassion and support, respecting survivors’ agency and choices. We need a community built on trust that will believe someone when they come to report and finds out what they need before forcing out details to relive and re-victimize survivors,” Byron said, to which she received a standing ovation.

Raimondo said, “When you hear the stories of survivors it breaks your heart, but their bravery is astounding. Students deserve a campus where they can learn and be free from the dangers of sexual assault. Addressing this issue will help Rhode Island become a better place, a stronger place, and a safer place.”

For more information on Day One visit www.dayoneri.org.

Day One will be hosting several events throughout the month of April for Sexual Assault Awareness Month, including a 5k race on Sunday, April 12 at 10 a.m. To register for the race visit dayone5k.com

There will also be a daylong conference on April 30 with a half day pre-conference the day before on April 19. For more information or to register for the event visit www.dayoneri.org/get-informed/training-events-calendar.

If you have and/or are experiencing sexual assault or abuse call Day One’s 24-hour support help line, 1-800-494-8100.

The Warwick Police Department also has their own Day One Advocate, Tara Carrier who can be reached at 468-4372.

EVERY DAY: Attorney General Peter Kilmartin, who has worked very closely with Day One said that the issue of sexual assault needs more than one month of awareness and dedication, reminding all at the press conference that sexual assaults happen every day.

ACTIVISM: Pictured from left to right are Governor Gina Raimondo and Brown University senior and activist Katie Byron. Byron gave a moving speech about the need to address survivors’ needs both mentally and physically before requiring details and making them relive their assault.

A CONCERNED MOTHER: Governor Gina Raimondo said that she is interested in the issue of sexual assault not only as a governor but also as a mother. She said Rhode Islanders need to act with the same urgency they would if the victim of sexual assault was their own child. (Warwick Beacon photos)