In a move to bring further attention to the pervasive issue of sexual assault, Governor Josh Stein has declared April as Sexual Assault Awareness Month in North Carolina. The alarming statistics from the National Sexual Violence Resource Center serve as a stark reminder, revealing that about 81% of women and 43% of men experience some form of sexual assault or harassment over their lifetimes. To amplify support for survivors and shed light on this grim reality, Stein is urging North Carolinians to wear teal on April 1, encompassing the shared sentiment across social media with hashtags #WearTealDay and #SAAM2025, as detailed in a recent announcement by the Governor's Office.
"This month we recognize the survivors of sexual assault in our state," Governor Stein stated, acknowledging both the progress and the continued need for action. Last year saw the elimination of the backlog of older sexual assault kits, but Stein's current focus is on the establishment of a cold case unit dedicated to sexual assault investigations, stressing that "it is never too late to hold a perpetrator accountable or get justice for a victim of this heinous crime." Stein's dedication to this cause isn't newfound; during his time as Attorney General, clearing the rape kit backlog was a priority, an effort that now continues with his budget proposal for creating the aforementioned specialized unit, as per the Governor's Office.
Addressing the gravity of sexual violence, North Carolina Department of Administration’s Secretary Gabriel J. Esparza expressed his concern. "Nobody should be subjected to such horrific acts, so the fact that four out of five women and nearly half of men in this country experience sexual assault or harassment at some point in their lives should raise alarm bells for all of us," he said in statement obtained by the Governor's Office.
Demonstrating the scope of the issue, during the 2023-24 fiscal year, over 8,500 individuals sought assistance from a CFWYI-funded rape crisis center in North Carolina following an incident of sexual violence. In these, wearing the burden of unspeakable trauma, 1,577 were children under the age of 18, as reported by the Governor's office. Supporting these survivors, the NC Department of Administration's Council for Women and Youth Involvement (CFWYI) plays a crucial role by funding sexual assault programs in 96 counties, providing a range of services including crisis intervention, counseling, and legal support.
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