This year RAINN Day is April 14. RAINN Day is an annual outreach by the nation’s largest anti-sexual violence organization, RAINN, the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network, to advance the nonprofit’s ongoing crusade to prevent sexual violence against young men and women on college campuses. The date varies year to year during the month of April, which is Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month. RAINN Day events are designed to educate students and their peers about prevention and provide recovery support for survivors of sexual assault and harassment.
Although live events have always been held on college and university campuses, this year’s RAINN Day events will be held virtually, due to the COVID-19 global pandemic.
History of RAINN Day
The organization behind RAINN Day, the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network, recently celebrated 25-years (in 2019) delivering help and hope to the survivors of sexual violence on college campuses. RAINN is changing the way people think and respond to sexual violence in general by shining a light on a topic that is uncomfortable for most people to discuss.
RAINN was founded by publishing businessman Scott Berkowitz in 1994 after getting involved in the issue locally at the prompting of a friend. His original vision for RAINN was to create a telephone hotline for victims after hearing stories first-hand from survivors and volunteers. Twenty-six years later, RAINN is the nation’s leading authority on the issue of sexual violence. RAINN ‘s scope of work today includes coordinating both a national 24-hour phone hotline and an online chat hotline where victims can access confidential help, providing community education, and working to improve public policy at both state and federal levels of government.
Since its inception, the National Sexual Assault Hotline has answered the calls of more than three million young men and women whose lives were shattered by sexual violence. They’ve published multiple press releases in support and on behalf of survivors facing media scrutiny, including Dr. Blasey Ford.
RAINN Day timeline
Original vision was to run a victim phone hotline service.
Tori Amos’s concert generates tremendous nationwide awareness and response to RAINN.
RAINN commemorates one million callers to the National Sexual Assault Hotline.
RAINN president and founder Scott Berkowitz holds a live Q&A for supporters.
A new peer-to-peer support service goes beta.
RAINN celebrates 25 years of service.
The COVID-19 global pandemic forces events to be held online.
RAINN Day FAQs
What day is RAINN Day?
RAINN Day is held in April every year on a chosen day. This year, RAINN Day will occur on Tuesday, April 14.
Are RAINN Day events only for college students?
RAINN Day activities can be organized for any student community that is vulnerable to threats of sexual violence, such as high school campuses. The RAINN organization provides ideas and publicity materials to support RAINN Day events on their website
How can the National Sexual Assault Hotline help me?
The National Sexual Assault Hotline provides a simple and safe way for you to report an incident of sexual violence, regardless where you live or where the assault occurred. Hotline phones are answered 24 hours a day, every day of the year.
When you call the National Sexual Assault Hotline number (1-800-656-HOPE) your call is routed to the closest sexual assault service provider in your local area. There are more than 1,000 providers nationwide who partner with RAINN offering confidential and compassionate support if you are the victim of sexual violence.
What are the laws regarding sexual assault in my state?
The laws regarding sexual assault and violence differ from state to state. You can research and compare the laws, definitions and public policy of states where you live, work or attend school on the RAINN public policy page.
How to Observe RAINN Day
Sponsor a fundraiser to support survivors
The RAINN organization provides online fundraising tools so you can easily create your own digital fundraising campaign. One popular theme is to “Pledge Your Birthday” as a fundraiser. RAINN provides this free customizable online platform where you can invite friends, family and coworkers to celebrate your special day by making a tax-deductible donation to RAINN.
Volunteer where you live
Thousands of sexual assault service providers nationwide partner with the National Sexual Assault Hotline and need volunteers to answer hotline calls and fill other important roles. You can search on the RAINN website for service providers near you. Give one a call to learn how you can help them support victims in your local community.
Post on Social Media
Use your social media voice to speak out loudly against sexual violence on college campuses. Include the National Sexual Assault Hotline number in your posts: 1-800.656.HOPE. You can also include the URL at rainn.org or rainn.org/es for Spanish. There are hashtags for RAINN pages on popular social media sites: #LetsGetLoud, #RAINNDay, and @RAINN01 on Facebook. You can also promote the “Rainn Day Instagram Challenge” on Instagram.
Five Disturbing Statistics About Sexual Violence On College Campuses
Happens more often during first semester
More than half of sexual assaults on college campuses occur during the first semester of the school term, in the months of August, September, October, or November.
Female college students at risk
Women ages 18-24 attending college are 3 times more likely than women not in this category to be the victim of sexual violence.
Most violence is not reported
Only 20 percent of female student victims, ages 18-24, ever report sexual violence incidents to law enforcement.
Non-traditional genders are most targeted group
21% of the TGQN community (transgender, genderqueer, nonconforming) on college campuses have been sexually assaulted, compared to 18% of non-TGQN females, and 4% of non-TGQN males.
Stalkers
4.2% of college students report they have been stalked since entering college.
Why RAINN Day is Important
Awareness
RAINN Day shines a spotlight on a serious but rarely discussed societal problem. RAINN Day provides a safe environment for students to discuss the topic of sexual violence openly with their peers, learn about prevention and understand how and why to report sexual harassment. RAINN Day allows students to connect with their peers and build comradery to keep their campus safe.
Empowerment
RAINN Day empowers young adults on college campuses to report sexual harassments and assaults to campus police and off-campus local authorities. Campus police play an important role in stopping sexual predators and putting offenders behind bars.
Encouragement
RAINN Day encourages victims of sexual violence to speak up and tell their story. RAINN Day events give survivors a voice to share their stories, which encourages other survivors to do the same. Support is vital to a survivor’s recovery. Attending a RAIN Day event is often the first step a survivor takes to begin their healing journey.
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