Several local women's organizations met early Wednesday afternoon to address public concerns stemming from four sexual assaults occurring over the last three weeks.

Sexual assault is not simply an individual concern, the group concluded – it's a community issue which affects us all.

The meeting included representatives from Kaushee's Place, the Victoria Faulkner Women's Centre, the Whitehorse Aboriginal Women's Centre and the Yukon Status of Women Council, as well as Cpl. Rick Aird of the Whitehorse RCMP.

Sexual assault has long been a problem in the Yukon.

"We (the Yukon) have the third-highest rate of sexual assault in the country,” Charlotte Hrenchuk, executive director of the status of women's council, told the Star.

"The community needs to take responsibility. It is not a woman's fault they are not safe. It's not about what she drank or what she's wearing.

"The community needs to get the message, like they did with drunk driving, that sexual assault is not acceptable.”

A major issue with combatting sexual assault in a community is that crimes often go unreported.

"The RCMP gave the message, yesterday, that they are working with us, that they support us,” Terry Brown, executive director of the aboriginal women's centre, said in an interview today.

"But the message still needs to get out there. Some women are hesitant to go to the RCMP .... If someone has witnessed anything, if you have been harmed in any way, come to one of the organizations in this community. There are good people on the front lines who can help you.”

The main challenge, the group said, is that the roots of violence against women are deeply rooted in society.

"There is a lack of affordable public housing, which means that people can't escape situations of violence, said Linnea Rudachyk, a researcher at the status of women's council.

"We also have a culture of acceptance. We need to remember that rape is caused by rapists; old-school victim blaming is something we really need to address.”

The best way to fight back may be community education.

"If we are really talking about building healthy communities, we have to build healthy relationships,” said Rudachyk. "Workshops and classes should be part of the school curriculum.”

There are also more immediate options available to women.

Aside from calling the police or going to a women's centre, there is also the sexual assault response committee, community nursing programs and something called a "kit on ice,” which are available to women at Whitehorse General Hospital.

A kit on ice is an exam, which can be accessed by a victim of sexual assault, with the results of the examination numbered and held in cold storage until she has made the choice wether to press charges.

In the short term, however, the best way to combat sexual assault is to remain aware of the dangers and protect yourself, said Hrenchuck.

Women should be vigilant and watch how much they drink, travel in groups while out at night, and "watch each other's backs,” she said.

Most of all, women should not be afraid to speak out.

"We want to emphasize that women who have been sexually assaulted need to report it,” said Hrenchuk.

"We understand why they might be afraid to, but they can go to any community agency who can help them.”

Men have a major role to play in stopping sexual assault as well, she added.

"Men need to be watching their sisters' backs,” said Hrenchuk. "They also need to own their own part of this.”

The RCMP had little to offer this morning, but released a statement about the meeting.

"We hear the public's concern about these reports (of sexual assault) and we understand that the public wants to know more about these cases so that they can feel safer,” said the release.

"At the same time...we will try to protect any information that may be important in the future to the laying of charges or to a prosecution.”

Police say they understand the reluctance to report sexual assault and support women's outreach groups as an alternative.

"We understand that it can be very difficult coming forward with information about a crime, particularly one as serious as this. Although it may be better for an investigation to get the information directly, there are other ways to bring it forward. You could ask one of these groups or another agency to help you, for example.”

Of the four cases of sexual assault recently reported, the RCMP say, two share no connection to the others, while in two cases, police are "still trying to determine if there is a link.”