RAINN, the nation’s largest anti-sexual assault organization, announced on July 18 that the National Sexual Assault Hotline (800.656.HOPE) has helped its one-millionth caller.
This milestone represents an important shift in the national perception of sexual violence and treatment of victims. RAINN participated in the July 18 NASDAQ Closing Bell ceremony, dedicated specifically to this important milestone in the fight against sexual assault. “The world was a different place when RAINN created the National Sexual Assault Hotline 12 years ago,” said Scott Berkowitz, president and founder of RAINN. “Sexual violence was not part of the public discussion, and many victims were not getting the help they needed.”
In response, RAINN created, and continues to run, the National Sexual Assault Hotline, the country’s only national hotline for sexual assault victims. The hotline, which provides free, confidential live help, 24/7, is a partnership with 1,102 local rape crisis centers in 50 states and DC. Tens of thousands of volunteers and staff from these local partners help callers every hour of every day, playing a direct and positive role in the recovery process.
Calls to the National Sexual Assault Hotline have quadrupled to more than 11,000 a month, from 2,800 a month in its first year (1994). In 2005, the hotline helped a record 137,039 people. Fortunately, the increase in calls does not reflect an increase in sexual violence. In fact, sexual assault has decreased by 58 percent since the hotline started, according to the latest data from the U.S Department of Justice. Meanwhile, the percentage of victims who report their attack to police, a necessary first step towards getting repeat rapists off our streets, has increased by about one third.
Despite this progress, much work remains to be done. Every 2.5 minutes, another American is sexually assaulted. To honor the first one million callers to the National Sexual Assault Hotline and continue raising awareness, RAINN is launching a special version of its website, which premiered on July 18. RAINN will soon launch the National Sexual Assault Online Hotline, the web’s first secure hotline offering live help.
To learn more, visit www.rainn.org.
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