The facts are sad and dark. To put it simply, a lot of people aren't getting the help they want or need. That's why it's up to us (as Oprah so wonderfully put it) to "become advocates for those who have no voice.

There are many ways to help. You may be thinking, "I'm only one person, how can I possibly make a difference?" All it takes is one.

One thing you can do is write a letter. It's simple, go to Congress.org, type in your zip code and find your representatives. Then, search around and find out which acts or bills are being considered for passage (there are several- including the End Demand Act for Sex Trafficking Act of 2005 and the Sex Trafficking Victims Protection and Reauthorization Act of 2005) Write to your reps asking them to support these acts- you can even call them to ask where they stand on these issues! Congress.org even provides you with the email addresses, fax numbers and multiple addresses for your reps from senators all the way up to the President.

Another thing you can do is take action in your own community. V-day.org has a list of all kinds of things you can do to raise awareness in your area- they especially focus on raising awareness on school and college campuses.

You can also visit Rainn.org to find out how you can become involved in their new online hotline which will become available in early '06. All you have to do is submit your email address and they will send you all the information you need. There are many ways to help.

What have you done to help, or what ideas do you have to help end sexual violence? Let me know, and I will post your ideas on the website for others to see. Please let me know in your comments if you would not like for your email address to be public.