August 28, 2024
Meghan O'Toole
Martin Ettlin Cuitino '27 presents at international conference on sexual assault
Neuroscience and psychology double major and philosophy minor Martin Ettlin Cuitino '27 presented at the 2024 National Sexual Assault Conference (NSAC) in Washington, DC, this summer.
The annual summit allows activists and professionals from around the world to gather and share research, resources, and more. The group is committed to eradicating sexual violence. Conference attendees benefit from workshops, discussions, resources, and networking opportunities.
“From sessions on human trafficking to discussions on economic justice for immigrant survivors, the rooms were filled with passion and an unwavering commitment to addressing this crisis,” Ettlin Cuitino said. “As an activist and survivor, I had the privilege of leading a workshop on peer-to-peer education, where I shared my personal experiences from Uruguay, Germany, and the United States, and highlighted the impactful work we’ve accomplished with It’s On Us at 91社区.”
is a student organization at 91社区. Students involved aim to educate the community on sexual misconduct prevention and advocate for survivors. It's On Us received the Student Organization of the Year award in May of 2024 in recognition of the important work the students are doing, such as organizing student-led events like consent and bystander intervention workshops to raise awareness about sexual assault.
“As an international student and survivor, I am deeply humbled to have been selected among hundreds of young activists from across the nation to share my activism experiences with national organizations and federal partners at the NSAC,” Ettlin Cuitino said. “Thank you to Student Affairs for funding, the Title IX office for all the guidance, and for everyone who made this possible.”
Serving as an elected student representative on both the Student Life Committee and the Title IX Advisory Committee, Ettlin Cuitino continues to raise awareness and educate peers about sexual assault.
“Sexual violence is a crisis that needs immediate and sustained action. On US college campuses, one in five women and one in 16 men experience sexual assault. Women aged 18 to 24 are disproportionately affected, facing a risk three times higher than any other age group. Globally, the situation is even more alarming; for instance, in my country Uruguay, with a population of just around 3.5 million people, 529 cases of child sexual exploitation were reported in 2022. This is an undeniable global crisis, and one that remains deeply under-addressed,” Ettlin Cuitino said. “Sexual violence stats keep going up and reaching new heights. We need to keep pushing this issue into the spotlight until it gets the attention it deserves.”
Ettlin Cuitino was recognized as a Rising Star on campus at the College's 2024 Leadership Awards for being the most active and involved first-year student on campus.
Among Ettlin Cuitino's long-term goals is to work in healthcare, either pursuing an MD-PhD program or a PhD in psychology. “Regardless of where I end up—whether in graduate school or a neuroscience job—I am committed to continuing my advocacy for sexual assault prevention,” he shared. “Volunteering and being involved in prevention work fulfills me, and wherever I go in the future I’ll make sure to keep this alive.”