Sexual Abuse & Sexual Violence Awareness Week

This week is Sexual Abuse and Sexual Violence Awareness Week, so what does this week mean for survivors and society? This week acts as a conduit for conversations around sexual violence and raises awareness for the prevalence and impact it has on our society.

The theme for this year’s SVAW is “#ITSNOTOK”, an obvious yet sorely needed reminder that even in this day and age, we are still spelling it out for people.

Throughout history, sexual violence has been used to enforce power against marginalised people, but this is not a historical issue that we scoff at; sexual violence remains prevalent within our society today. 

According to the World Health Organization, 1 in 3 women globally have experienced sexual violence in their lifetime. The figures also show that 1 in 18 men and 1 in 6 children are affected here in the UK.

The number of incidents reported each year that involve sexually violent crimes is growing, which by no means tells us that more incidences are occurring, just that more and more survivors know that “it’s not ok” enough to report it as a crime. 

Sexual Violence Awareness Week is an opportunity to stand with survivors and advocate for a future where sexual violence is an atrocity reserved for the history books. Addressing problematic attitudes and rape myths should not be the sole responsibility of survivors but of society as a whole. By standing up against sexual violence and accepting it as our collective duty, we are empowered to challenge stereotypes and actively engage in the fight against sexual violence. 

We’re encouraging our supporters to use the #ItsNotOK campaign hashtag on social media and spread awareness. If you would like to support our work, please consider making a one-time donation or becoming a regular donor by clicking here. Survivors’ Network | Localgiving