A bipartisan group of Members of Congress May 19 urged Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos to issue new guidance setting standards for how school systems can use online learning platforms to protect children from abuse during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Latest News| Apr 2, 2020
COVID-19 Update: RAINN is Here for Survivors
As each us face the many ways COVID-19 has affected our communities and everyday lives, we wanted to take a moment to let you know that RAINN continues to be here to support survivors of sexual violence and their loved ones, no matter what. We know that this is a difficult time, and that uncertainty and feeling a lack of control over our lives may feel especially overwhelming for survivors of sexual violence already coping with trauma and stress. If you need to talk, the National Sexual Assault Hotline is available at 800.656.HOPE or online.rainn.org. As always, services are free, confidential, and 24/7. Whether you’re a survivor or a loved one, we're here for you.
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Apr 21, 2020
RAINN Releases Resources for Preventing & Responding to Sexual Violence in Temporary Medical Facilities During COVID-19
RAINN today shared with government agencies at the federal, state and local levels a new checklist of considerations for preventing and responding to sexual violence as they build and manage temporary medical facilities related to COVID-19. RAINN has created a central hub of guidance documents from leading experts with COVID-19-specific protocols for investigators, prosecutors, courts, and public officials. The guidance covers issues such as investigating sexual assault; forensic interviews for abused children; and ensuring the continuity of services such as sexual assault forensic exams during coronavirus-related closures.
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Apr 16, 2020
For the First Time Ever, Minors Make Up Half of Visitors to National Sexual Assault Hotline
In March, as shelter-in-place orders were implemented across the country, for the first time ever, half of the victims receiving help from the National Sexual Assault Hotline were minors. “Unfortunately for many, and especially for children experiencing sexual abuse, ‘stay at home’ doesn’t mean ‘safe at home,’” said Scott Berkowitz, RAINN’s president. Of minors who discussed coronavirus-related concerns, 67% identified their perpetrator as a family member and 79% said they were living with that perpetrator.
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Apr 02, 2020
RAINN Working to Protect Vulnerable Populations During COVID-19 Crisis
RAINN is working with state agencies to address emergency preparedness and response measures for survivors of sexual violence, particularly children, during the COVID-19 pandemic. “During natural disasters and in conflict zones, the prevalence of sexual violence increases,” said Camille Cooper, RAINN’s vice president of public policy. “There are so many things we need to consider in this crisis to ensure that we’re doing all we can to prevent sexual violence and appropriately respond when it does happen.”
Learn More Latest News | May 19, 2020
46 Members of Congress Urge the Dept. of Education to Take Steps to Safeguard Children During COVID-19 Crisis
Latest News | May 12, 2020
This April, RAINN Recognized the Difference Friends and Family Can Make
This year during Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month, RAINN focused on the vital role friends and family play in supporting survivors. “We hear time and again from survivors that the support they receive from those they’re closest to can have a huge impact on their healing,” says Heather...
Latest News | May 12, 2020
Musician and RAINN Supporter on How Men Can Help End Sexual Violence
"It’s one thing to show solidarity behind the scenes, but we need to be more vocal as men. The time for accountability has to be now, or else nothing will change. This is not a political issue, it’s an issue any decent human should care about." — Trapper Schoepp, singer-songwriter and member of...
Latest News | May 01, 2020
RAINN Response to Biden Addressing Tara Reade's Allegations
"We appreciate Vice President Biden finally addressing Tara Reade's allegations. These allegations deserve a rigorous investigation, and we urge Vice President Biden to release any and all records that may be relevant, including those housed at the University of Delaware, in addition to any Senate...
Latest News | April 30, 2020
RAINN Statement on Accusations Against Vice President Joe Biden
“We appreciate that some in the media have taken Tara Reade’s allegations seriously and urge that they be investigated fairly and rigorously. We also call on Vice President Biden to address the allegations directly and to fully cooperate in an investigation. As stories like this are in the news,...