Overview
Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM) is an opportunity to listen to and honor survivors and remind those impacted by sexual violence that they are not alone. Sexual violence includes any sexual activity without consent. It can happen in person or online and affect people of all ages, genders, and backgrounds.
In the United States, more than half of women and nearly one in three men experience sexual violence in their lifetime.
As technology advances and becomes a bigger part of everyday life, technology-facilitated sexual violence is also increasing. This includes behaviors such as:
- Online harassment and stalking
- Nonconsensual sharing of intimate images
- Sextortion
- Deepfakes and AI-generated sexual images
- Predators using online platforms, gaming spaces, or dating apps to target victims
This April, we invite you to learn more about technology-facilitated sexual violence, support survivors, and help prevent gender-based violence.
You can visit the NYS Denim Day Exhibit, take the Spot the Deepfakes Quiz, or share our #SAAM2026 social media, this page provides resources and ways to be an ally during Sexual Assault Awareness Month, and all year long.
This Month's Highlights
Join us throughout April to raise awareness and show support for survivors.
All Month
- Check out our social media accounts
- Follow, share, like, comment
- Take our Spot the Deepfakes Quiz
- Download and share the Technology and Gender-Based Violence Brochure
- Attend a Sexual Violence 101 training
April 7 – Wear Teal Day
Wear teal to show support for survivors. New York State landmarks will be lit in teal to raise awareness.
April 28–30 – NYS Denim Day Exhibit
Visit the New York State Denim Day Exhibit at the Empire State Plaza Concourse, hosted in partnership with the New York State Office of General Services.
April 28 – Denim Day Exhibit at SUNY Binghamton
April 29 – Denim Day Exhibit at SUNY Buffalo
April 29 – Denim Day
Wear denim to show solidarity with survivors of sexual violence.
All Year
Join the Power Down Speak Up campaign to address technology-facilitated abuse.
Go Teal!
April 7 is Wear Teal Day!
Teal is the color of sexual violence prevention and awareness. When we all wear teal, it helps spark conversations and shows support for survivors.
Ways to participate:
- Wear teal clothing or accessories
- Light your home or building in teal
- Share a photo on social media and tag @NYSOPDV
Together, we can help spread awareness.
Wear Denim!
April 29 is Denim Day!
Denim Day began as a global movement after an Italian Supreme Court ruled that because a victim had been wearing tight jeans, she must have helped her attacker take them off, implying consent. Women in the Italian Parliament came to work the next day wearing jeans in solidarity with the victim. Learn the complete history of Denim Day here!
Join OPDV and partners across the state by wearing denim. Post a photo on social media and use #DenumDay and #SAAM2026
This year’s NYS Denim Day Exhibit will be on display at the Empire State Plaza Concourse from April 28-30.
Remember, sexual violence is never the victim’s fault!
Power Down Speak Up
Technology-facilitated gender-based violence (TFGBV) is a growing concern, especially for young people. A 2022 Pew Research survey found that 95% of teenagers use social media, and 46% say they are on the internet almost constantly.
As technology advances in the areas of artificial intelligence (AI) and fake images (deepfakes), the risk to teens increases.
To address this issue, Governor Kathy Hochul introduced the Safeguard Teens from Online Sexual Exploitation Initiative in the 2024 State of the State Proposal. Through this action, OPDV launched the "Power Down Speak Up" campaign to help youth, parents, educators, and law enforcement to:
- Recognize the signs and types of technology-facilitated abuse
- Talk with teens about online safety
- Respond when abuse occurs
Spot the Deepfakes Quiz
Sexual violence happens online, too. Digital tactics of sexual violence include sextortion, nonconsensual image sharing, harassment, cyberflashing, and deepfakes. Did you know that 96% of all deepfakes are nonconsensual images?
Do you think you can tell the difference between real and AI-generated images?
Put your skills to the test and take OPDV’s Spot the Deepfakes Quiz! This educational tool shows how realistic deepfake photos can be and illustrates key tips and tricks for telling if a photo is real or AI-generated.
Technology and Gender-Based Violence Brochure
OPDV’s Technology and Gender-Based Violence Brochure is available to help educate and inform about the different types of TFGBV, the warning signs, and resources available to victims and survivors. This brochure is available as a printable trifold for advocates, educators, and anyone looking to help raise awareness.
Share on Social Media
Follow @NYSOPDV on:
Engage with posts by sharing, liking, and commenting using the hashtags #SAAM2026 and #DenimDay. When posting, include information for the NYS Domestic and Sexual Violence Hotline, which is available 24/7 in most languages.
Call 800-942-6906
Text 844-997-2121
Chat at opdv.ny.gov
NYS Gender-Based Violence Resources
Every county in New York State has a domestic violence program that provides confidential services for survivors, including teens. Resources may include:
- Safety planning
- Emergency shelter
- Counseling and advocacy
- Legal assistant and Orders of Protection
- Address Confidentiality Programs
- Financial Assistance
Talk to an advocate today to learn more about what’s available in your area.
Keep up to date on the resources available to combat technology-facilitated gender-based violence
Be an Ally All Year Long
Many people who experience sexual and gender-based violence don’t know who to turn to. Your willingness to help can be important to a victim in their safety planning efforts. Be ready to offer the kind of help that’s needed, while keeping yourself safe at the same time.
- Initiate a conversation in private and when you have enough time to talk at length, but if they want to.
- Let go of any expectations you have that there is a “quick fix”. Not doing anything may very well be the safest thing they can do at any given time.
- Challenge false attitudes and beliefs that you may have about domestic and gender-based violence.
- Believe victims and let them know that you do. If you know the person who has or is abusing them, it may be hard to believe they are capable of abuse but remember that abusers typically act differently in public than they do in private.
- Listen to what they tell you. Avoid judgments and giving advice. They will let you know what they need.
- Refer them to a service provider who can provide necessary medical attention, counseling or emotional support, safety planning, housing and discuss their options.
- Build on their strengths. Point out the ways in which they have developed ways to cope, solved problems, and showed courage and determination.
- Validate feelings. It is common for victims to have conflicting feelings- love and fear, guilt and anger, hope and sadness. Let them know these feelings are normal.
- Avoid victim-blaming. Tell the victim the abuse is not their fault.
- Take it seriously. If you are concerned about their safety, tell them you are concerned without judgment by simply saying, “Your situation sounds dangerous, and I’m concerned about your safety.”
- Offer help. Offer specific forms of help and information, such as providing childcare, driving them to appointments, or assisting with pets.
- Give them control. Abuse and assault take control away from victims. Support their decisions about who to tell, what steps to take, and what types of support they need. Additionally, asking before offering physical support such as hugs and being upfront about what support you can and cannot provide allows them to take control of their safety and next steps.
- Support and respect their decisions. Remember that there are risks with every decision a victim makes and there is no one way an individual must react to abuse or assault. If you really want to be helpful, be patient and respect their decisions, even if you don’t agree with them.
View OPDV’s Start the Conversation: New Yorkers Against Sexual Assault Toolkit