Preventing Sexual Violence

"Preventing Sexual Violence

April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month. Sexual violence is a serious public health problem in the United States. Help promote healthy, respectful relationships this month with CDC’s resources.

Facts about Sexual Violence

Sexual violence is any sexual activity where consent is not freely given. Sexual violence affects millions of people each year in the United States.  The 2015 National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey (NISVS) reports

• More than 1 in 3 women and nearly 1 in 4 men have experienced sexual violence involving physical contact at some point in their lives.
• Nearly 1 in 5 women and 1 in 38 men have experienced completed or attempted rape in their lifetimes.

Sexual Violence is Preventable

Sexual violence impacts health in many ways and can lead to short and long-term physical and mental health problems. Victims may experience chronic pain, headaches, and sexually transmitted diseases. They are often fearful or anxious and may have problems trusting others. Promoting healthy and respectful relationships can help reduce sexual violence.

If you are or someone you know is a victim of sexual violence:

• Contact the Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network (RAINN) hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE. Help is free, confidential, and available 24/7. Get information at RAINNExternal.
• Contact your local emergency services at 9-1-1.

Prevention Resources

CDC works to prevent sexual violence before it happens.

• CDC’s technical package, STOP SV: A Technical Package to Prevent Sexual Violence Cdc-pdf[2.85 MB], can help states and communities prevent sexual violence. The technical package is a collection of strategies that represent the best available evidence to prevent or reduce sexual violence.
• Sexual Violence on Campus: Strategies for Prevention Cdc-pdf[3.49 MB] outlines five components needed for prevention efforts to have greater impact on prevention of sexual violence on college campuses.
• Reporting on Sexual Violence Media Guide Cdc-pdf[3.62 MB] includes definitions and key terms, statistics, language considerations, and resources to aid in reporting about sexual violence..."
  Sexual violence