Sexual Asssault Awareness Month (SAAM) calls on all individuals, communities, organizations, and institutions to build racial equity and respect. Sexual violence includes any type of unwanted sexual contact (including sexual assault, harassment, and abuse).
Systems of oppression such as racism, sexism, classism, heterosexism, ageism, ableism, and others contribute to higher rates of sexual harassment, assault, and abuse. So often, we are unaware of how historical conditions have shaped our lives and how we move throughout the world, specifically, forms of privilege with the many identities we each hold. As such, we recognize that it will take ending all forms of oppression to end sexual violence worldwide.
Highlighting one of the pressing issues we see impacting not just equity within our movement to end violence but negatively affecting the life, freedom, and dignity of people across the world is anti-Blackness. In addressing prevention, we must take steps to undo the systemic ways anti-Black racism shows up in our communities.
Source: National Sexual Violence Resource Center (NSVRC)
Rape or sexual assault
Sexual harassment
Sexual abuse
Unwanted sexual contact/touching
Sexual exploitation and trafficking
Exposing one’s genitals or naked body to others without consent
Nonconsensual image sharing
Words and actions of a sexual nature against a person’s will and without their consent
Sexual violence represents a range of behaviors
Source: National Sexual Violence Resource Center (NSVRC)
Every 73 seconds an American is sexually assaulted
Approximately 1 in 5 women experience completed or attempted rape in their lifetime
1 out of every 10 rape victims are male
Nearly 50% of trans people are sexually assaulted in their lifetime
Nearly half of all women killed in the U.S. are murdered by a current or former intimate partner
About 4.5 million women in the U.S. have been threatened with a gun and nearly 1 million women have been shot or shot at by an intimate partner
Over half of all intimate partner homicides are committed with guns
A woman is five times more likely to be murdered when her abuser has access to a gun
The majority of femicide victims (76%) and of attempted femicide victims (85%) experienced stalking in the 12 months leading up to their homicide or homicide attempt
40% of gay men and 47% of bisexual men have experienced sexual violence
Nearly 1 in 4 women and 1 in 7 men will experience severe physical violence at the hands of their intimate partner in their lifetime
Source: National Sexual Violence Resource Center (NSVRC)
Sexual Violence (SV) can have psychological, emotional, and physical effects on a survivor.
Sexual Asssault Awareness Month (SAAM) calls on all individuals, communities, organizations, and institutions to change ourselves and the systems surrounding us to build racial equity and respect.
During the month of April, we observe the mission of SAAM to increase public understanding of sexual assault, educate communities on how to prevent it, and to strengthen survivor support.
Source: National Sexual Violence Resource Center (NSVRC)
Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) is abuse or aggression that occurs in a romantic relationship. “Intimate partner” refers to both current and former spouses and dating partners.
IPV can vary in how often it happens and how severe it is. It can range from one episode of violence that could have lasting impact to chronic and severe episodes over multiple years.
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
Domestic Violence (DV) (commonly referred to as IPV) is a serious public health problem that affects millions of Americans. It is both common and preventable.
Learn more >>
Domestic Violence (DV), including Intimate Partner Violence (IPV), is a public health crisis in the U.S.
Nearly one in four women and one in seven men will experience severe physical violence at the hands of their intimate partner in their lifetime.
Fortunately, most victims of domestic violence do survive. However, far too many victims DO NOT.
Firearms contribute significantly to domestic violence in the U.S.—to threaten, to coerce, to control, and to kill. Over half of all intimate partner homicides are committed with guns.
Around 4.5 million women in the U.S. have been threatened with a gun, and nearly 1 million women have been shot or shot at by an intimate partner. A woman is five times more likely to be murdered when her abuser has access to a gun.
To reduce the number of domestic violence homicides, we must ensure that people who abuse their intimate partners or family do not have access to firearms.
Teen Dating Violence (TDV) can take place in person, online, or through technology. It is a type of intimate partner violence (IPV) that can occur within the dating relationships of adolescents and young adults.
Learn more >>
The Harborview Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) Program consists of on-call forensic nurses (Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners) who respond quickly to providing forensic, trauma-informed medical care to patients who have been sexually assaulted or victims of domestic violence with strangulation.
The SANE program currently provides 24/7 sexual assault forensic medical exams within the Harborview Abuse & Trauma Center (HATC) at Harborview Medical Center (HMC) and its six Seattle area medical centers:
The SANE program’s specially trained and highly skilled team of on-call forensic nurses provide compassionate and comprehensive care to patients of all ages, genders, and demographics. Patients often present with numerous risk factors for assault. 65% of sexual assault patients have a mental health condition and about 30% are unhoused.
The SANE program works closely with Emergency Department Social Work to meet patients’ needs. After a patient receives care, FREE follow-up services are also available through HATC to further support a patient’s healing and recovery.
Learn more about HATC and its SANE program >>
Learn more about Washington State Sexual Assault Forensic Exam (WASAFE) >>
The Harborview Abuse & Trauma Center (HATC) has partnered with six local Seattle area coffee shops in recognition of Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM) and Prevention to help raise awareness of HATC’s services and educate people on how to promote consent. Participating coffee shops will have FREE stickers, postcards, and fliers.
Learn more >>
Stop by a participating coffee shop today!
Café Red
Martin Luther King, Jr. Way
caferedseattle.com
Empire Roasters & Records
Columbia City
empireespresso.coffee
Fremont Coffee Company
Fremont
fremontcoffee.net
Fresh Flours
West Seattle & Beacon Hill locations
freshfloursseattle.com
Neighborhood Bubble Tea & Coffee
Tukwila
neighborhoodsea.com
The Station
Beacon Hill
thestationbh.com
Source: HATC
Show Your Support on April 26th, “Denim Day”
Denim Day is an annual national day of awareness that encourages participants to wear denim as a symbol of believing survivors and asserting that consent has nothing to do with your clothing.
988 Suicide & Crisis Hotline
Call or Text 9-8-8
Click to Chat
Love is Respect
Call (866) 331-9474
Text ‘LOVEIS’ to 22522
Click to Chat
National Sexual Assault Hotline
Call 800-656-HOPE
Click to Chat
National Sexual Violence Resource Center(NSVRC)
Resource on the Go PODCASTS
youtube.com/nsvrc
RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network)
NNEDV explores technology safety in the context of intimate partner violence (IPV), sexual assault, and violence against women.
KCSARC provides comprehensive advocacy and therapy services to sexual assault survivors and their families (in both English and Spanish), as well as prevention education to stop sexual violence from happening in communities throughout King County.
In 2023, KCSARC assisted 4,805 individual survivors and their family members. About half of KCSARC’s clients are children 18 or younger.
For immediate help or information, call KCSARC’s 24/7 Resource Line at 1-888-99-VOICE.
Para recibir ayuda o información o para conocer los recursos gratuitos y confidenciales disponibles en español: llame 425-282-0324 (L-V, 8:00a – 5:00p).
WA SAFE is a Washington State Resource for Sexual Assault Forensic Medical Care including information for victims including Sexual Assault Medical Exams and support, counseling, and advocacy through Accredited Community Sexual Assault Programs (CSAPs).
WA SAFE also provides information for medical providers including WA Forensic Guidelines, Provider Resources, Trainings and Events.
HATC’s mission is to prevent and treat the harmful effects of traumatic experiences on survivors, families and communities by providing effective support and care that is also individualized, culturally inclusive, and compassionate. HATC serves the larger community through leadership, prevention, education, and advocacy.
HATC also provides professional training and consultation, evidence-based learning collaboratives and resources to assist professionals in providing excellent research-based care.
To speak to an advocate 24/7, call 206-744-1600. After 5:00p, callers will be connected to a social worker in Harborview’s Emergency Department.
Para ayuda en español, llame al 206-520-5222 y solicite nuestra oficina.
For equal communication access, call Washington Relay Service at 1 (800) 833-6388.
Call 206-685-7233. You are not alone. No matter where you work or study, SafeCampus is available to anonymously discuss safety and well-being concerns for yourself or others.
UW provides victims/survivors of sexual assault, relationship violence, domestic violence, stalking, and sexual harassment an array of resources that reflect the University’s commitment to preventing and responding to sex- and gender-based violence, harassment, and discrimination.
You may use these resources to get confidential support, address safety concerns, locate providers of medical care and counseling, and learn how to make a report.
SARVA is an entity of the Associated Students of the University of Washington that works to combat sexual assault and relationship violence in the UW community and advocate for survivors. SARVA does this by acting as liaisons between the student body and the institutional resources available, as well as through programming and activism.
Learn to teach healthy boundaries with this video for 4th graders.
Read our prevention booklet, A Safer Family A Safer World, for adults with young children in their lives (available in 10 languages).
Check out this video used in local high school health classes, Consent is Everything, created by local students to help educate their peers about consent.
Our Teen Handout offers information about Consent and Sexual Assault.
Our Ask for Consent infographic is a great visual to teach young folks about Consent.
Visit our Digital Resource Center to learn more about Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention — plus, more injury and violence prevention topics year-round!
This website is provided for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute providing medical advice or professional services. The information provided should not be used for diagnosing or treating a health problem or disease, and those seeking personal medical advice should consult with a licensed physician. No physician-patient relationship is created by this website or its use. Neither HIPRC, the University of Washington, nor its employees, nor any contributor to this website, makes any representations, express or implied, with respect to the information provided herein or to its use.