Hamilton County Mayor Jim CoppingerHamilton County Mayor Jim Coppinger proclaimed April Sexual Abuse Awareness Month during a news conference Tuesday.
Coppinger said 499 men or women in Hamilton County sought help from the Partnership for Families Children and Adults after being sexually abused in 2012, and many more cases went unreported.
Coppinger said raising awareness is one of the best ways to combat sex abuse.
"We cannot help those who don't come forward and report these heinous crimes," Coppinger said.
During the event, Regina McDevitt, the partnership's senior director for crisis services, promoted its Walk a Mile in Her Shoes event.
The event will be held April 27 at Coolidge Park and is meant to raise awareness for gender equality by having all men who participate wear high heel shoes.
McDevitt said the event is an important fundraising event for the rape crisis center.