Sexual Assault Awareness Month: Listening, Supporting, and Taking Action

April marks Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM)—a time to elevate survivor voices, strengthen community support, and advocate for meaningful change. This year, we join organizations across the country in recognizing 25 years of SAAM, united under the theme #25YearsStronger.

At YWCA Walla Walla, our commitment to survivors of sexual assault begins with listening. A recent study from the National Sexual Violence Resource Center highlights what survivors say they need most—and challenges all of us to respond with greater compassion, awareness, and action. By centering survivor voices, we can better understand how to provide support that is trauma-informed, respectful, and empowering.

As part of the YWCA National Network, we are proud to stand alongside our sister Associations nationwide, working every day to provide critical services to survivors and their families. Together, we honor the advocates and service providers who help build pathways to healing and resilience in our communities.

Sexual Assault Awareness Month is also a call to action. We encourage our community to engage in advocacy efforts that drive systemic change. Our partners at RAINN have developed resources to help educate lawmakers on the importance of reforming civil statutes of limitations for sex crimes—an essential step in expanding access to justice for survivors.

Together, we can listen, support, and act—building a future free from sexual violence.