Get Info

The hub for middle and high school students, parents, and educators looking for information, support, and avenues of action against sexual assault.

How did we get here?

Quick facts on the prevalence of sexual assault among students

An unacceptable toll:

Each case of sexual assault has a real, tangible cost to survivors and to society at large.

According to the best available research, the 57,963 confirmed cases of child sexual assault in 2020 have a lifetime cost of $15,053,160,091.13 (in 2022 dollars)
This means that the cost of sexual assault – from one year alone – is more than the individual state budgets of Rhode Island, Nebraska, or Idaho.

Data is based on Letourneau, Elizabeth J., et al. “The economic burden of child sexual abuse in the United States.” The International Journal of Child Abuse and Neglect, vol. 79, 2018, pp. 413-422. Science Direct, https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S014521341830084X.

Frequently Asked Questions

The impact of advocates like you: here is what to know about the history of sexual assault prevention.

Click below to find answers to FAQs for…

Educators

Students

Parents

The impact of advocates like you:

here is what to know about the history of sexual assault prevention.

Movements for social change and equality began to gain traction in the 1940s and 1950s with the civil rights era. Women of color were one of the first groups to advocate against race-based and gender-based violence.

In the following decades, mobilized survivors and advocates called for legislation and funding to support survivors of sexual assault. This advocacy brought about the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) of 1993.

The act must be reauthorized every 5 years in Congress; it was last reauthorized on March 15, 2022.

The Act also established the Office on Violence Against Women within the Department of Justice.

Did you know?

There is still no one legal definition of consent. In sexual assault cases around the country, prosecution is often hindered by the lack of a universal understanding of consent. We advocate for the definition put forward by the Consent Awareness Network.

Consent is Freely Given, Knowledgeable and Informed Agreement (#FGKIA) by a person with the capacity to reason. This definition means that consent is given without the influence of force, fear, or fraud.

Where to go if you need more help.

If you or someone you love is affected by sexual assault, reach out to one of these organizations today. They are equipped to advocate on your behalf, no matter where you live.

National Sexual Assault Hotline

a service of RAINN. Find the online chat here or call

800-656-HOPE

National Child Abuse Hotline

a service of Childhelp, online chat here or call or text

800-422-4453

Suicide and Crisis Lifeline

Find the online chat here or call or text

988

LGBT National Hotline

Find the online chat here, email help@LGBThotline.org, or call

888-843-4564

If you are supporting someone who has been affected by sexual assault, it is crucial to take care of yourself, too. Use this resource from I Have The Right To partner As One Project to do so.