April Becomes Sexual Assault Prevention Awareness Month

COLUMBUS – Representative Cindy Abrams (R-Harrison) was pleased to announce that Governor DeWine recently signed Senate Bill 25 into law, which will officially designate April as Sexual Assault Prevention Awareness Month.

This announcement comes in conjunction with the Ohio Alliance to End Sexual Violence’s tenth annual Advocacy Day to End Sexual Violence, for which Abrams was a keynote speaker.

“I am delighted to see Senate Bill 25 signed into law with our amendments. This legislation recognizes that prevention of sexual violence is possible and, even more importantly, that prevention of sexual violence should be a statewide priority,” said Abrams. 

Nearly 1 in 5 women in the U.S. have experienced rape in their lifetime. Nearly half of all women have experienced non-rape sexual violence. 1 in 4 girls and 1 in 6 boys are sexually victimized before age 18.

In February, Representative Abrams introduced House Bill 571, a bill to designate April as Sexual Assault Prevention Awareness Month. As Senate Bill 25 was moving through the committee process Representative Abrams amended House Bill 571 into the Senate Bill. 

“Today we celebrate 10 Years of Legislative Advocacy Day, 10 years of collaboration, 10 years of educating, 10 years of community building and engagement,” said Rosa Beltre, President & CEO of the Ohio Alliance to End Sexual Violence.

As we ensure we are uplifting and advocating the needs of survivors of sexual violence and our member base agencies, we share our most sincere appreciation to Representatives Abrams and Hicks-Hudson for their work on House Bill 571 and Senate Bill 25 to designate April as Sexual Assault Prevention Awareness Month.

Establishing this permanent, annual recognition of the work that must be done in Ohio to increase prevention efforts is extremely meaningful for the survivors that we work with every day."

Throughout this process, The Ohio Alliance to End Sexual Violence (OAESV) has taken a lead role in helping push the legislation toward the finish line. Additionally, Women Helping Women in Cincinnati and the 33 other rape crisis centers throughout Ohio have voiced their support for the legislation.  

 “I hope this legislation will be a catalyst for education and that this awareness month will be a light in the darkness for victims and survivors,” added Abrams. “It has been an honor to champion this important legislation.”