MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP - According to reports one in four women and one in six men will be sexually assaulted at some point during their lifetime. However, 70% of those people decide not to step forward.

When survivors do decide to step forward, they often find that their statue of limitations has run out and Michigan has one of the shortest statue of limitation time spans in the country.

These statistics have unfortunately been going on for to long and change is beginning to be made.

On June 21st, Meridian Township hosted a Town Hall on Protecting Survivors seminar updating local residents on reforms being done in the legislature and what we as a community can do to help these efforts. Seven experts were in attendance to give their opinions and answer questions from locals.

The panel began talking about bills that have recently been passed to help the criminal sexual conduct efforts.

Although things are changing around the country, some people still wonder what is being done in our local area. The experts also addressed what is and can still be done in our community.

"We need to make sure we're giving victims a voice and we have to do that as a community by listening, watching for signs. It might not be something you want to do, but if you think someones being assaulted ask, intervene, get them some help. Not everyone has a voice and we all have a responsibility to be the voice for people who do not have one," says 30th Circut Court Judge Rosemarie Aquilina.

Meridian Township officials said they will continue its efforts in ensuring the safety of every survivor and those who have been sexually assaulted need to know that they're not alone through their CSC Initiatives including the Sexual Assault Prevention Program led by Nassar Survivor Brianne Randall-Gay.