WE'RE ON A MISSION
The Pennsylvania Coalition Against Rape is working to eliminate all forms of sexual violence and to advocate for the rights and needs of victims of sexual assault.
Sexual Assault Awareness Month
Since 2001, PCAR and the National Sexual Violence Resource Center have officially observed April as National Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM).
“Observing SAAM throughout April each year is one way that advocates, survivors and members of our communities bring awareness to the issue of preventing sexual assault and rape” ----PCAR Executive Director Delilah Rumburg.
PCAR’s SAAM campaigns have been nationally recognized by numerous organizations and in conjunction with the work of the National SAAM campaign, have empowered many groups and individuals across the Commonwealth to make a difference in preventing sexual violence in our communities.
The color teal and teal awareness ribbon has been chosen to represent awareness about sexual violence nationwide.
Learn more about the history of SAAM at PCAR.
Purchase SAAM products from the national campaigns.
Add your SAAM event to the NSVRC calendar!
PCAR SAAM Campaign Materials
2010: “Preventing Sexual Violence on Campus” geared toward college and university students.
2009: “Respect works…in our schools” addressing bullying, sexual harassment and respect in our schools
Download the Poster (8.5x10) Download the bookmark
2008: “Respect works… in our workplaces” designed to discuss sexual assault in the workplace.
Download the Poster (8.5x10)
For more information on SAAM materials for your event, contact us.
SAAM HISTORY
It began more than 3,500 miles away across the Atlantic Ocean.
One night.
One protest.
One group of women gathered on a London, England street to take a stand—the first official “Take Back the Night” —against the violence they often encountered when the sun set.
The annual “Take Back the Night” marches quickly gathered international support, spreading to the United States. In 1978, the first Take Back the Night events in the U.S. were held in San Francisco and New York City. Over time, sexual assault awareness activities expanded to include the issue of sexual violence against men and men’s participation in ending sexual violence.
In the early 1980s, the National Coalition Against Sexual Assault (NCASA) encouraged each state to organize sexual violence awareness activities during the Sexual Assault Awareness Week. By the 1990s the week turned into a month-April. The Pennsylvania Coalition Against Rape and the National Sexual Violence Resource Center celebrated the first nationally observed sexual violence awareness month in April 2001.
Since that time, the Sexual Assault Awareness Month campaign has targeted a number of issues surrounding sexual violence such as sexual assault on campus, sexual harassment at work, preventing violence in schools and speaking out about rape in order to raise awareness and educate individuals on how to prevent sexual violence in our communities.
The National Sexual Violence Resource Center and the Pennsylvania Coalition Against Rape continues to encourage individuals, organizations, companies, schools, elected officials and every member of our communities to make SAAM a part of their activities in April every year!
