Author: Katelyn Shelton, Paralegal
The theme "Together We Act, United We Change" highlights the importance of working together to address and prevent sexual abuse, assault, and harassment. This campaign focuses on enhancing public understanding of sexual violence, amplifying the voices of survivors, and empowering us to work together to promote the safety and well-being of others. Everyone in our communities deserves to live in safe and supportive environments where they are treated with respect. When our workplaces, schools, and communities work together to uphold safety and respect, we make progress in preventing sexual abuse, assault, and harassment.
Acting With Purpose
Education is the first step to action, empowering our communities to be part of the solution. This campaign works to shift the ways our communities understand, talk about, and respond to sexual abuse, assault, and harassment. We can challenge harmful misconceptions and foster safer communities by learning and acting together. This campaign also seeks to unite us in uplifting the voices of survivors—particularly those most vulnerable in our communities—to build a stronger movement. This campaign aims to develop a movement where younger generations feel included and encouraged to participate and shape a better future.
Together, we act with purpose! United, we have the power to change the world for the better.
“There is never a scenario that justifies sexual assault. Nobody deserves to be taken advantage of. Regardless of the situation, you are worthy and deserve to be heard, believed and protected, always.” – Katelyn
Understanding Sexual Abuse, Assault, and Harassment
Sexual violence impacts everyone. Anyone can be a victim of sexual violence, and people who commit sexual abuse, assault, and harassment exist in all of our communities. This underscores why it's important for all of us to care about sexual violence and take steps to promote the safety and well-being of others.
Sexual violence is an umbrella term that includes any type of unwanted sexual contact — including sexual abuse, assault, and harassment.
Forms of sexual violence include:
- 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 and/or coercion (including AI-generated imagery)
- Words and actions of a sexual nature against a person’s will and without their consent
Statistics show
- Over 53% of women and over 29% of men reported experiencing contact sexual violence.
- More than 1 and 4 non-Hispanic Black women (29%) in the United States were raped in their lifetime.
- 1 in 3 Hispanic women (34.8%) reported unwanted sexual contact in their lifetime.
- More than 4 in 5 American Indian and Alaska Native women (84.3%) have experienced violence in their lifetime.
- 32.9% of adults with intellectual disabilities have experienced sexual violence.
Help & Support
The Rape, Abuse, & Incest National Network (RAINN), organizes the National Sexual Assault Telephone Hotline. The Hotline is a referral service that can put you in contact with your local rape crisis center. You can call the Hotline at 1-800-656-4673, or access RAINN’s online chat service.
Know Your Rights and Options
Victims of crime have rights that depend on the laws of the location (state, territory, tribe) where the crime occurred. Some of the laws that might apply to you if a person has committed the crime of sexual assault against you include:
- Availability of a forensic exam (rape kit) at no cost to you
- Confidential access to victim advocates
- Time limits (statute of limitations) on certain legal actions
- Mandated reporting of the assault if you are a vulnerable person (child or elder adult)
- Confidential communication with service providers
- Testing or storage of evidence kits
- Possible financial compensation for you as a crime victim
