When and where did Congressional Day of Action take place?

On February 14, the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee held a hearing entitled Protecting Our Children Online. During the hearing, experts in the field advised senators on the risks to children on the internet today, including grooming and sexual exploitation.

President Biden has signed into law the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2022 (VAWA), critical bipartisan legislation to ensure legal protections for survivors of sexual assault and domestic violence

Washington, D.C. – RAINN today released the following statement following the Pennsylvania Supreme Court overturning Bill Cosby’s conviction for sexual assault:

“We are deeply disappointed in today’s ruling by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, and by the message this decision sends to the brave survivors who came forward to seek justice for what Bill Cosby did to them. This is not justice.” - Scott Berkowitz, president, RAINN

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About RAINN

RAINN’s public policy team is working in key states in 2021 to improve support for survivors and champion changes in policy to help more survivors get justice.

RAINN’s team of lobbyists is at work in five state legislatures: Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Ohio, and Virginia, partnering with local sexual assault prevention advocates, sexual assault coalitions, prosecutors, law enforcement associations, and survivors.

In a letter to President-elect Biden and Vice President-elect Harris, RAINN outlined 12 actions we’d like to see the administration prioritize to promote justice and support survivors. Click here to read the 12 point plan RAINN outlined.

RAINN Speakers Bureau members joined other survivors of color recently to urge the House Bipartisan Task Force to End Sexual Violence to prioritize actions to address issues that affect Black survivors of sexual violence. The task force, led by Reps. Ann Kuster (D-NH), Jackie Speier (D-CA), Dave Joyce (R-OH), and John Katko (R-NY), held a virtual roundtable discussion on racial disparities for survivors of sexual violence on December 9, 2020.

The RAINN Speakers Bureau is a network of more than 4,000 survivors of sexual violence who volunteer to share their stories. Members across the United States share their experiences through the media, community events, artistic projects, and more. “Joining the Speakers Bureau made me feel like I was helping others as well as myself,” says Speakers Bureau member Rebecca Courtright. “By using my voice, I feel I have regained my true path to help others and create a better future for all victims of sexual violence.”

For many parents, going to court to fight for custody of their children is unimaginably difficult, and for those who are seeking custody because of child abuse or domestic violence, it can also be the deciding factor for the health and safety of them and their child.“The way children disclose or react when around an abuser just looks different than what an adult might do,” said Cooper. “If judges and others aren’t trained in looking out for these signs, they could be condemning a child to full, unsupervised custody with a parent who is physically and sexually abusing them.”

“We are encouraged to see more information coming to light. For too long, power and wealth shielded Epstein and Maxwell and prevented the public from knowing the extent and nature of their predatory behavior. RAINN is hopeful that Maxwell, and anyone else who participated in the grooming and abuse of children, will be held accountable, regardless of how powerful or well connected they may be.” - Erinn Robinson, Press Secretary, RAINN