By Gina Martinez
The Korean American Family Service Center will use radio to reach out to victims of crime during National Crime Victims’ Rights Week.
KAFSC announced its radio campaign at the 109th Precinct Monday, along with Inspector Judith Harrison, Councilman Barry Grodenchik (D- Oakland Gardens), Councilman Peter Koo (D-Flushing) and officers from the Precinct.
From April 2 to April 8, KAFSC is beginning its public service announcement campaign that could potentially reach over 100,000 individuals each day. The PSAs will be broadcast in Korean through partnerships with key Korean-language radio stations in the Tri-State area. They will also be posted on radio station websites, as well as www.kafsc.org and KAFSC’s Facebook page, which has over 1,660 followers.
According to Bomsinae Kim, KAFSC’s executive director, radio was chosen because its one of the main forms of media immigrants use for news. Kim said a large percentage of Korean-owned small businesses are tuned in to Korean-language radio and utilize it as one of the main sources of information. She said ethnic radio stations reach mass populations beyond New York, such as New Jersey, Connecticut and even parts of the Midwest.
National Crime Victims’ Rights Week is an annual promotion of crime victims’ rights and victim services. Every April, the Office for Victims of Crime and communities throughout the country commemorate NCVRW. This year’s theme is “Strength, Resilience, Justice,” highlighting the importance of the future in which all victims are strengthened by the response they receive. As a result, organizations are resilient in response to challenges, and communities are able to seek collective justice and healing.
Kim said that in 2016, alone, KAFSC answered 3,154 hotline calls and 90 percent of the hotline callers had limited English proficiency and were not fully aware of victim’s rights and resources. The PSA campaign is used to encourage victims to learn about their rights and receive help despite cultural or language barriers.
“Domestic violence is a serious form of crime and we all deserve our rights to live in a healthy and safe community,” Kim said “Despite the ‘model minority’ myth, 41-61% of Asian women report experiencing physical and/or sexual violence by an intimate partner during their lifetime.”
Koo encouraged victims of crimes, no matter what their status, to reach out to authorities.
“The most important thing to remember is that help is available” he said. “ We encourage our immigrant community in Queens, and throughout New York City, to know their rights and reach out for help when you are a victim of a crime No matter what status you have, when you are a crime victim, always report it, even when you don’t speak English, NYPD is here to help. Don’t be a silent crime victim.”
Reach Gina Martinez by e-mail at gmart
