Marcel, a former U.S. Air Force Staff Sergeant who served our country for more than a decade, is a brave survivor of sexual assault who recently shared her heart-wrenching story with NO MORE.

While she was in the military, Marcel was raped by her superior.  Her daughters were sleeping in the other room.  She was afraid to speak out then, but not anymore.

As the pervasiveness of sexual assault in the military continues to make headlines in recent days, we’ve seen stories like Marcel’s come to light.  We applaud her for speaking out and saying NO MORE sexual assault.

Sharing this story plays a big role in activating people to stop such violence. Will you help us share Marcel’s story and raise awareness on this critical issue?

Say #NOMORESA – share this image with your network on Facebook and Twitter.

Together we can end domestic violence and sexual assault.

The Florida A&M Men of Strength held its second annual mini-conference in the School of Architecture’s atrium Thursday.

The mini-conference brought many issues to light, such as feelings and thoughts that accompany rape. MOST also focused on the sexual violence that occurs on campus and used an interactive panel to convey this message.

Click here to read more of this article and visit www.mencanstoprape.org to learn more.

Written by: Brianna Dickson | Famuan Correspondent

April 16, 2013

Photo Credit: Men Can Stop Rape

Recognizing Sexual Assault Awareness Month

“Every April, we recognize Sexual Assault Awareness Month. This year, with rape in the headlines nearly every day, we speak out with even greater urgency to honor survivors and prevent sexual violence. We know the devastating the statistics: 1 in 5 women and 1 in 71 men have been raped in their lifetimes. That’s 18 million women in this country who have been raped, and more than 1 million rapes that occur every year….

Government can’t do it all, and nowhere is private sector support more important than on issues like sexual violence. We applaud the work of Mariska Hargitay and the Joyful Heart Foundation to address the rape kit backlog, and of the No More Campaign working to raise awareness about domestic violence and sexual assault.  Finally this April, we honor the advocates who devote their lives to serving victims and survivors. Together, we are working to change the culture so that one day, we will end sexual violence…”

“We applaud the work of the NO MORE Campaign…”

Click here to read more from the White House 1 is 2 many blog.

We know that in some cases, violence is a learned response.

As a society, this is something we cannot continue to ignore. As evidenced by the Newtown massacre, the murder-suicide of Kansas City Chiefs’ Jovan Belcher, the Steubenville Ohio rape – we bystanders have to do something. Here’s #1simplechange we can all make. We can say NO MORE. Together, we can end domestic violence and sexual assault.
Click here to read more from Jane Randel, Senior Vice President of Corporate Communications and Brand Services at Fifth & Pacific Companies, and a founding champion for the NO MORE symbol.

On Tuesday, March 26th, V-Day and The Nation will present a one night only panel discussion entitled Breaking The Male Code: After Steubenville, A Call To Action. This passionate and timely discussion will feature Journalist and Teacher Jimmie Briggs; President of Coach for America and former football player Joe Ehrmann, A Call to Men Co-Founder Tony Porter; and Sports Editor at The Nation Dave Zirin, with a special introduction by Emmy Award-winning musician and Co-Chair of the NoVo Foundation Peter Buffett, and moderated by Eve Ensler.

Space is limited. However, the event will be live-streamed, so those who cannot attend in person can still listen in. Get the details, here and if you have questions, contact Contact: Susan Celia Swan or Kate Fisher at media@vday.org.

Learn more about the speakers and hosts:

• V-Day

• A CALL TO MEN

• Coach for America

• The Nation

• NoVo Foundation

• Eve Ensler

And the important dialogue they’ll be facilitating, here.

 USA TODAY Announced NO MORE: “Sexual abuse and domestic violence symbol is launched”

The No More Project has created a symbol to raise awareness of domestic violence and sexual assault. Click to read more

NO MORE featured on the homepage of USATODAY.com

ABC News – “‘Twilight,’ ‘Law and Order’ Actresses Say ‘No More’ to Domestic Violence”

Twilight Actress and mark Brand ambassador,  Ashley Greene, and actress and President and Founder of the Joyful Heart Foundation, Mariska Hargitay, were among those who said NO MORE to domestic violence and sexual assault in honor of NO MORE Day, March 13, 2013.

A week after President Obama signed a bill reauthorizing the Violence Against Women Act, celebrities and business leaders came to the Capitol today to end domestic abuse… Click to read more

(Image Credit: Kris Connor/Getty Images)

Teen Vogue Talks to Actress Ashley Greene About Why She’s Raising Awareness About Dating Abuse

Q: If a girl finds herself as a victim of dating abuse, what should she do?

A: “There are so many organizations available now for young women in abusive situations. In 2012 I had the opportunity to meet with some of the members of loveisrespect.org‘s National Youth Advisory Board, a group of teens and young adults who provide support to the website and help spread the word about the cause. Their website is great and they work with the National Dating Abuse Helpline, which is an amazing 24-hour resource. You can also find help through nomore.org.”

- Ashley Greene

Click to read more

The Huffington Post featured Op-Ed by Safe Horizon’s Ariel Zwang on the Launch of the NO MORE Campaign

…Early activists realized that if a cure or effective treatment was to be found, we could not, as a society, allow prejudice and bigotry based on sexual orientation to push AIDS into the shadows. Silence wasn’t an option, and in order to stem the tide of this issue, more public awareness was needed…We must now turn that sense of urgency, soul searching, and unified national mission to bring visibility to violence against women in America. Click to read more

“Let the silent victims among us know that they are not alone. ”

Washington Post - “Silent on rape no more”

Writer Kathleen Parker discussed the lesson Mariska Hargitay, President and Founder of the Joyful Heart Foundation and well known star of NBC’s, Law and Order SVU, hopes to convey through her no-nonsense character, Olivia Benson: Rape victims are victims, period. And perps will be prosecuted. But first, America has to say, “no more.” Click to read more

Washington Examiner – “In Washington, Mariska Hargitay gives serious talk, hangs out with Joe Biden”

“Peace has its peace sign, and the red ribbon demands action for AIDS, and the pink ribbon has changed the way we think about breast cancer, and now, our collective commitment to end sexual assault and domestic violence, it now has its own symbol…” -Mariska Hargitay, President and Founder of the Joyful Heart Foundation

Click to read more

Examiner.com – “NO MORE: Advocates launch new symbol for domestic violence and sexual assault”

March 13 marks a historic date in domestic violence awareness as major domestic violence and sexual assault prevention organizations across the U.S. came together today in Washington to join forces with corporate leaders, branding experts, celebrities, athletes and advocates nationwide to launch the first unifying branding symbol, like the pink breast cancer ribbon and the red AIDS ribbon, for domestic violence (DV) and sexual assault (SA,) called NO MORE….Click to read more 

Photo Courtesy: Getty Images

HealthDay News shed light on the new “NO MORE Study”

The NO MORE Study: Teens and Young Adults was funded by the AVON Foundation for Women and highlights the need for increased education and awareness surrounding domestic violence and sexual assault, particularly among young people. The article discussed the findings in depth.

More than half of all teens and young adults in the United States know a victim of dating violence or sexual assault, according to a new national survey…Click to read more

ABC News featured Christine Mau in “Kleenex Designer Goes Public…”

In 2010, Christine Mau, a brand design director for Kimberly-Clark, was named one of Advertising Age’s “Women to Watch.” She created the oval-shaped Kleenex box and added rainbow colors to tampon wrappers and feminine pads.

But at the height of her creative success, none of her corporate colleagues knew… Click to read more

The Huffington Post: Tim Gunn Says “It’s Time To Say NO MORE”

Tim Gunn, Dean of Fashion for Fifth & Pacific Companies, is an outspoken advocate for the importance of the NO MORE symbol.

Consider this: domestic violence and sexual assault do not just impact survivors; these crimes affect all of us. With one in four women experiencing domestic violence in their lives and one in six men being sexually abused before the age of 18, these individuals are not stranger to us. They are our co-workers, our friends, or family. Click to read more

Buzzfeed reported that the NO MORE Study Shows “Young Women More Likely To Admit Hitting A Partner

Writer Anna North discussed that female respondents were more likely to admit they had hit their partners than male respondents were.

Top reason for hitting: “They hit me first.”

Source: The NO MORE Study: Teens and Young Adults on Dating Violence and Sexual Assault

Regardless of who hits first, domestic disputes put women at greater risk of bodily injury; according to the National Crime Victimization Survey, women are 7 to 10 times more likely to be hurt by a partner than men are, no matter who initiates violence. Click to read more

Cosmopolitan urged readers to “Say NO MORE to Domestic Violence”

Every year, 12.7 million people are physically abused, assaulted, or stalked by their partners—and it’s time we stand up and say no more. That’s the message behind NO MORE, a new organization that’s promoting change and raising awareness about domestic violence and sexual assault. Click to read more

Photo courtesy: Cosmopolitan

Q: If a girl finds herself as a victim of dating abuse, what should she do?

A: “There are so many organizations available now for young women in abusive situations. In 2012 I had the opportunity to meet with some of the members of loveisrespect.org‘s National Youth Advisory Board, a group of teens and young adults who provide support to the website and help spread the word about the cause. Their website is great and they work with the National Dating Abuse Helpline, which is an amazing 24-hour resource. You can also find help through nomore.org.”

- Ashley Greene

Click to read more

Mark Brand Ambassador Ashley Greene with the NO MORE symbol.
Photo Courtesy: Avon

Christine Mau doesn’t want anyone to go through the abuse that she suffered, which is why she helped design the No More symbol.

No More is an international campaign to raise awareness of domestic violence and sexual assault, using a symbol its creators hope will become as well-known as the pink breast cancer ribbon.

Mau grew up with an abusive father, suffering sexual, physical and emotional abuse. Her father once shot her dog. The cycle continued with an abusive boyfriend. She was used to it.

“Because you saw what your father does or how your parents interact, you just don’t know that is not acceptable,” says Mau, European design director at Kimberly-Clark. Mau designed the oval Kleenex box.

It took the help of teachers, guidance counselors and friends to show Mau she didn’t have to live with abuse. Click to read more

Actress Mariska Hargitay listens as Vice President Joe Biden speaks about reducing domestic violence, Wednesday.
(Photo: Charles Dharapak, AP)

“We need to stand together and simply say… no more.” -Tim Gunn, Project Runway

NO MORE Symbol featured on the homepage of USA TODAY.