By: Sally Roller
April is Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month. This is a specific, dedicated time to increase knowledge and awareness surrounding sexual violence as well as support survivors.[1] Sexual violence is sexual activity when consent is not obtained or freely given. It is a serious public health problem in the United States that profoundly impacts lifelong health, opportunity, and well-being. [2] More than half of all women and nearly one-third of all men in the United States have experienced sexual violence. The rate of sexual violence is higher for people of color.
President Donald Trump proclamation on April 3, 2025 on National Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month.[3] President Trump said in his statement:
I urge all Americans, families, law enforcement personnel, healthcare providers, and community and faith-based organizations to support survivors of sexual assault and work together to prevent these crimes in their communities.
RAINN is the nation’s largest anti-sexual violence organization.[4] RAINN created and operates the National Sexual Assault Hotline in partnership with more than 1,000 local sexual assault service providers across the country. Please contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline for Confidential 24/7 Support, if you are in need of help.[5] You can chat online at: online.rainn.org. You can also speak to someone who can help: 800.656.4673.
[1] Office of Family Violence Prevention and Services, 2024 Sexual Assault Awareness Month, available at: https://www.acf.hhs.gov/ofvps/sexual-assault-awareness-month.
[2] Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Violence Prevention, available at: https://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/sexualviolence/fastfact.html.
[3] The White House, A Proclamation on National Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month, 2024, available at: https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2024/03/29/a-proclamation-on-national-sexual-assault-awareness-and-prevention-month-2024/.
[4] RAINN, National Sexual Assault Hotline, available at: https://www.rainn.org/resources.
[5] Id.