Sexual violence is a major public health, human rights and social justice issue that impacts every person in Fairfax County. The purpose of Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM) is to raise public awareness about sexual violence, educate our community on how to prevent it and share resources available to those impacted by sexual assault.
Everyone is affected by sexual assault. This is borne out by the statistics: Nearly 1 in 3 women and 1 in 4 men will be the victim of sexual violence at some point in their lifetime.
In many cases, sexual violence is a result of a culture that does not properly educate people on how to prevent crimes like this from happening. This makes it especially crucial to begin talking about consent and healthy relationships when our children are young, and to continue having these discussions throughout the course of our lives. These conversations are necessary if we are to create a culture where we can talk about consent, boundaries and healthy sexuality.
The duty of ending sexual violence is a community one, which is why it is important to raise awareness and give community members the necessary tools to have these conversations with their families and with each other.
Learn more about sexual violence. To stay on top of sexual violence awareness events happening in Fairfax County this year, check out the Awareness + Action = Social Change campaign. Share awareness-raising messages on social media from our Sexual Assault Awareness Month Community Engagement Toolkit.
Wear teal on Tuesday, Apr. 4, 2023, to show support for survivors of sexual violence and to raise awareness about Sexual Assault Awareness Month. 
Research shows most children understand their own gender between the ages of 2 and 3 years old, but our understanding of what gender means is impacted by our experiences and the adults in our life. As we grow attitudes about gender can impact our relationships and inform how we behave. For teens and young adults, boys can feel pressure to prove their masculinity by having sex early and often, and girls can feel pressured into having sex to keep or satisfy the boys they date. Youth with LGBTQ identities may have a particularly difficult time with gendered expectations because they often do not align with norms of their assumed gender. But 
Sexual assault is a traumatic, life-changing experience and telling someone about it is frightening. A sexual assault survivor’s physical injuries may not always be substantial, but unseen psychological and emotional injuries may be severe. You do not need to be an expert in this area, but how you respond to disclosure is critical to a survivor’s well-being and recovery. 
Everyone is affected by sexual assault. You can be the one to start the conversation about Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM). Check out these easy-to-use tools.
Everyone is affected by sexual assault. Check out these recommended readings to learn more about how to prevent sexual violence and how to provide support to survivors. There are books for 
Domestic violence and sexual violence are two separate issues and how they are addressed is different, too. Learn more about how the Department of Family Services’ Domestic and Sexual Violence Services division supports survivors of all forms of gender-based violence. 
Learn about the Department of Family Services' 