April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month — why is awareness still important?

This is to raise awareness among advocates, survivors, and the community to come together and openly discuss sexual violence, support survivors, and enhance knowledge and awareness to prevent it.

Sexual assault is a serious issue affecting people worldwide, including in India. Many survivors still face stigma, victim- blaming, and the fear of not being believed. Because of this, many victims do not come forward, many cases go unreported, and survivors often suffer in silence.

One of the most critical issues needing attention is child sexual abuse (CSA). Many cases occur in places supposed to be safe, often involving someone the child knows or trusts. Due to fear, stigma, and pressure from family or society to remain silent, many survivors cannot speak about it.

Most perpetrators are people known to the victim- family members, friends, colleagues, acquaintances, partners, or even spouses and they are someone the victim trusts.

It doesn't matter what someone was wearing, how much they drank, or who they were with or if they froze up and cannot fight back.

Coercing someone, guilt-tripping them into sex, feeling entitled to sex because they are your partner, or taking advantage of someone drunk- all are violations of consent.

It was never the victim's fault. Stop invalidating someone's experience just because they don't fit the narrative of your perfect victim. This is victim-blaming, end it.

Sexual assault survivors can experience serious long- term trauma, including physical, emotional, and psychological effects such as PTSD, depression, anxiety, and self- harm.

To survivors: we see you, we believe you, and it was not your fault. We are here for survivors who are not yet ready to speak up and are trying to navigate their trauma especially those who have been dismissed, are trying to heal, or feel unseen or unheard.

Resources and Support (India):

If you or someone you know needs help, support is available:

Emergency Helpline: 112

Police: 100

Women' s Helpline: 1091

National Commission for Women Helpline: 7827170170

NCW Women Helpline: 14490

Ambulance: 108

Some organisations supporting survivors:

SOAR India Foundation – provides a safe survivor support and rights information.

Aarambh India Initiative – works on preventing child sexual abuse and online safety.

PARI (People Against Rape in India) – provides support, advocacy, and resources for survivors of sexual violence.

You are not alone.