Yukon MLAs took stock of Sexualized Assault Prevention Month in the House on Monday.

Deputy Premier Elaine Taylor and the NDP’s Lois Moorcroft each rose in the legislative assembly to pay tribute to the campaign in May. It raises awareness about sexual violence, promotes consent and support for survivors.

The rate of sexual offences against women in the Yukon is 3.5 times the provincial average, according to 2011 Statistics Canada data.

It may be even higher than this, as many women and girls don’t report their assaults to police.

“Sexual assault is one of the top five most common violent offences committed against women in Canada and remains one of the most under-reported and non-reported forms of violence committed against women,” said Taylor. She is also the minister responsible for the Women’s Directorate.

“While this systemic violence affects all women, indigenous women and girls suffer at even higher rates.”

A 2009 Statistics Canada report found that indigenous women in Canada were three times as likely as non-indigenous Canadians to report experiencing violence, including sexual assault.

Taylor acknowledged the diligent work being done by Yukon individuals and organizations to put an end to violence against women.

She noted that Victoria Faulkner Women’s Centre, BYTE, Les EssentiElles and Gwaandak Theatre are all hosting events to spread awareness sexualized assault and educate about consent.

Taylor noted that the women’s centre also operates a drop-in centre five days a week where anyone who identifies as a woman can go for support, food, a shower, to do laundry and to use a computer and phone.

In Watson Lake, the Liard Aboriginal Women’s Society is running a Youth for Safety and Justice project to engage young people in conversation about sexualized and physical violence against women and girls in their communities.

“As a government, we are also working to improve our response, including preserving the dignity of victims and holding offenders accountable,” said Taylor.

“We are developing a number of initiatives including a web-based training module for front-line staff, a domestic violence in the workplace toolkit, and revisions to our own communications style guide.”

The territory is also working First Nations and municipal governments to put an end to violence against indigenous women and girls, said Taylor.

She cited the Yukon Regional Roundtable on Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls that took place in February.

The Truth and Reconciliation Commission called upon the federal government to launch an inquiry into missing and murdered indigneous women.

Moorcroft said that to stop violence against women, Canadians must address gender inequality.

“It is violence that keeps women ‘in their place,’ ” she said.

“Sexual assault prevention must become a focus of our attention 12 months of the year. We should encourage consistent dialogue and education for women and men on sexual assault and the root causes that lie in the sexism of our society.”

Moorcroft called the rates of sexual assault “alarming,” and said as a territory, we need to do more.

“No individual should ever experience sexual assault, but a quarter of all women in Canada will in their lifetime,” she said.

“What does this tell us? That we are not doing enough.

“High heels don’t cause rape. Short skirts don’t cause rape. Women’s bodies don’t cause rape.

“Rapists cause rape.”