RAINN expanded the National Sexual Assault Hotline in 2015 to provide Spanish-language services, to help ensure that more survivors of sexual violence and their loved ones have access to free, confidential, anonymous, 24/7 support in their native language. This expanded service has drastically increased resources, partnerships, and outreach to support survivors that speak Spanish to ensure they get the help they need through the National Sexual Assault Hotline: 800.656.HOPE and online.rainn.org, and en español: rainn.org/es.

Earlier this year, RAINN worked on building more partnerships to raise awareness about the needs of members of Spanish-speaking communities and the resources available to help ensure that more survivors of sexual violence and their loved ones have access to free, confidential, and anonymous support in their native language. Along with providing services to survivors in their native language, RAINN also onboarded a bilingual outreach coordinator, Maria Cristina Manzur, in charge of getting the word out so that Spanish-speaking survivors know where to turn for help.

In response to RAINN’s expansion of the resources and services on the hotline, this year in 2023, the National Sexual Assault Hotline experienced a double in calls for Spanish-speaking survivors from April 2023 to May 2023. While RAINN has worked diligently to expand resources for survivors, RAINN is reaching Spanish-speaking survivors all across the nation right where they are at in their healing journey.

“The double in calls on our Spanish Language Hotline shows that there is an urgent need for more resources that are survivor-centered and equipped to meet the needs of survivors no matter their culture or language, highlighting the importance of us continuing to make more Spanish language resources and services available.”

Help is available 24/7 through the National Sexual Assault Hotline: 800.656.HOPE and online.rainn.org, and en espanol: rainn.org/es.