April is Sexual Assault Prevention & Awareness Month

April is recognized as Sexual Assault Prevention and Awareness Month (SAAPM)—a time dedicated to raising awareness, educating communities, and strengthening our collective commitment to preventing sexual violence.

The statistics are sobering. Every 68 seconds, someone in the United States is sexually assaulted, according to RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network). Behind each number is a human being—a story, a life, a ripple effect that extends far beyond a single moment.

This month is not only about awareness. It is about acknowledgment. It is about listening. And it is about action.

For more than three decades, RAINN has been at the forefront of supporting survivors and working to combat sexual violence. Since SAAPM became nationally recognized in 2001, their efforts have expanded to include education, advocacy, and direct support through the 24/7 National Sexual Assault Hotline. Their work reminds us that prevention and healing must go hand in hand.

Across the country, communities come together throughout April—through local organizations, campuses, advocacy groups, and individuals—to bring visibility to sexual violence as a public health, human rights, and social justice issue. These efforts are not symbolic. They are essential.

One of the most powerful examples of collective action is Take Back the Night, an international movement that began in the early 1970s. What started as a response to violence against women has grown into a global call for safety, dignity, and change. These events—often including candlelight vigils, survivor speak-outs, and community marches—create space for voices that have too often been silenced.

There is also power in storytelling. Platforms such as The Dear Katie Podcast bring forward the voices of survivors, advocates, and allies. These conversations matter. They offer validation, connection, and, for many, the first step toward healing. When survivors share their stories, they challenge stigma and remind others: you are not alone.

As someone who has spent years working in the field of trauma—and as someone who understands, both professionally and personally, the long-term impact of abuse—I want to emphasize this: healing is possible. But it requires support, safety, and a willingness from our communities to truly see and hear survivors.

Sexual violence does not exist in a vacuum. It is sustained by silence, by minimization, and by systems that fail to protect the vulnerable. Prevention requires more than awareness campaigns. It requires education, accountability, and cultural change.

April is a reminder—but it must not be the only time we pay attention.

We each have a role to play:

• In how we listen

• In how we respond

• In how we advocate

• In how we create safer spaces for others

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When we support survivors, we do more than help individuals—we shift the culture.

Let this month be more than a moment of reflection. Let it be a call to action.

Let us honor the courage of survivors who have spoken—and those who are still finding their voice. Let us commit to building communities where safety is the standard, not the exception. And let us continue the work, long after April has passed.

Because awareness is the beginning. Change is the goal.