She was in Tucson yesterday to discuss the campaign, to be funded by $1.1 million from Napolitano's Victims' Rights Fund that consists of money from criminal fines and surcharges.

The campaign will feature television ads in English and Spanish stressing that victims are not to blame for sexual assault.

The ads, which will begin running today, will air on cable channels and local network affiliates statewide during young-adult viewing periods.

In Pima County last year, 1,700 sexual assaults were reported to law enforcement, but many are not reported.

Napolitano said it is estimated that nationally, 84 percent of all sexual assaults are not reported.

"If it's not reported, we can't intervene and provide help to the victims and prosecute the perpetrators," she said.

According to national statistics, 83 percent of victims in reported sexual assaults are younger than 24. It is estimated that 1 in 5 women and 1 in 33 men will be victims of sexual assault during their lifetime.

Nearly one-third of the money for the campaign against sexual assault will go to the Arizona Department of Public Safety for a state sex offender database - expected to be complete sometime next year - and to fund efforts to profile offenders, Napolitano said.

Funds also will be used for grants to rural counties to help treatment providers pay for "rape kits" and other items used to gather evidence in such cases.

Bridget Riceci, Executive Director of the Southern Arizona Center Against Sexual Assault, hailed the campaign as the first of its kind in Arizona.

"The entire issue of sexual assault and its consequences will be raised to a higher level in our state," said Riceci, who spoke during Napolitano's press conference in the Marshall Auditorium at Tucson Medical Center.

She said the effort will stress to victims that: "It's not your fault. You are not alone. We believe you." Victims may call a statewide hot line at (800) 656-HOPE to be directed to the center for victims of sexual assault nearest them or visit www.azsexualassault.com for more information.
  

The public service campaign was created by Michael Bolchalk Marketing