Every victim of abuse deserves a voice, especially children, according to the Northern Plains Children’s Advocacy Center, which will bring awareness to those children living in northwestern North Dakota on Friday, July 12.

The public is invited to attend a Save Jane awareness event at 6 p.m. in the Oak Park Amphitheater.

Staff, board members and the public will read the names of the 636 child victims who were served by Northern Plains Children’s Advocacy Center (NPCAC) last year, giving each one a voice by saying their names and crimes committed against them. To protect their identities, children are referred to by “Jane Doe” and “John Doe” in place of their names. Anyone wishing to join the fight and read names should contact the advocacy center.

Those 636 victims are only a small fraction of the number of children who suffer from abuse, NPCAC reports.

NPCAC provides a compassionate and effective way to serve children victimized by sexual abuse and other crimes while restoring hope and helping them focus on what really matters — being a kid. Families who come to NPCAC are never charged for services; funding for NPCAC comes from grants and community donations.

“These children didn’t choose to be abused. We are here to give them a voice,” said Christal Halseth, NPCAC executive director. “Every year, we serve more children than the last. If we don’t fight for them, then who will?”