Devyn Mode: Hi, I’m Devyn Mode and in honor of Women’s History Month, I talked to victim advocate Mari’e Lish who is a victim advocate at Crisis Hotline and Safe House in Macon. One in three women are sexually assaulted, but less than 1% of rapes result in a conviction. Here’s what Lish has to say about the culture of sexual violence.

Mari’e Lish: I’m Mari’e Lish. I’m a sexual assault advocate with the Crisis Line and Safe House of Central Georgia. So, we accompany victims of sexual assault through the forensic interview process and the forensic examination. So, we’ll go with them to court, we’ll accompany them to any interaction they have with law enforcement. We support them through the forensic exam and we actually are able to do exams at our centers so that victims are having to go through the ER and more.

Mari’e Lish: Sexual assault, especially, goes so under-reported and men are even more silenced than women are because of the stigma. The #Metoo Movement has been instrumental in raising awareness that sexual assault and harassment are not just women’s issues, but they’re people’s issues. There’s obviously a very long way to go with it, but I think we’re heading in the right direction.

Devyn Mode: Though her job is challenging, Lish enjoys working with survivors.

Mari’e Lish: It is so emotionally rewarding, especially for the domestic violence side…to see these women come in and they’re beaten down and they are so hopeless, and they don’t know what to do or have anywhere to go, they have kids they can’t feed, they’re so broken. To see those women gain employment and get housing and get protection through the court system, just to watch that transformation, it’s hard to put into words because it really is so emotionally gratifying.

Devyn Mode: So if anyone is watching this and needs a resource, what would you tell them?

Mari’e Lish: Our hotline is 24 hours a day, seven days a week. That number is 478-745-9292.