Sexual Assault Awareness Month
Proclamation

APRIL 2021

April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month — a time to draw attention to the 
prevalence of sexual assault and educate individuals and communities about 
how to prevent it. Sexual harassment, abuse, and assault are widespread problems. 
We know that, in the United States alone, nearly one in five women and one in 67
 men have been raped at some time in their lives (Smith et al., 2017), and 
that one in six boys and one in four girls is sexually abused before the age 
of 18 (Dube et al., 2005). 

Sexual harassment, assault, and abuse happen in all communities — and that 
includes online spaces. We are spending more and more of our lives online — 
whether that’s for work, school, or entertainment. Unfortunately, with this 
increase in virtual connection comes an increase in online abuse and harassment. 
Consent and boundaries can be violated online in a number of ways, and the 
trauma of online abuse is all too real for many survivors. 

But each of us has the power to change that. We can all make a difference 
to ensure that our online communities are safe and respectful for everyone.

2021 marks the twentieth anniversary of SAAM, and the theme of this year’s 
campaign is “We Can Build Safe Online Spaces.” The campaign calls on us to 
create online spaces that are built on the foundational values of practicing 
consent, keeping kids safe, and supporting survivors

I join advocates and communities across the country in preventing online abuse. 
Together, we can build safe online spaces now and into the future. 

Name

Date

Dube, S. R., Anda, R. F., Whitfield, C. L., Brown, D. W., Felitti, V. J., Dong, 
M., & Giles, W. H. (2005). Long-term consequences of childhood sexual abuse by 
gender of victim. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 28(5), 430–438. 
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amepre.2005.01.015 

Smith, S. G., Chen, J., Basile, K. C., Gilbert, L. K., Merrick, M. T., Patel, N., 
Walling, M., & Jain, A. (2017). The National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence 
Survey (NISVS): 2010-2012 state report. U.S. Department of Health and Human 
Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 
https://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/pdf/NISVS-StateReportBook.pdf

© 2021 National Sexual Violence Resource Center. All rights reserved.