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Sexual Assault Awareness Month

Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM)

About SAAM

Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM) is recognized nationally every April to raise awareness about sexual and gender-based violence through education, prevention, and survivor support. Sexual and gender-based violence includes a range of harmful behaviors, including, but not limited to sexual assault, relationship violence, stalking, and sexual harassment.

Join us throughout April for a series of events, activities, and programs designed to empower individuals and strengthen our community in our mission to end sexual and gender-based violence.

Events

Special Event: Take Back the Night

LiveWell and SARVA
April 17, 2026, 5-7 p.m.
wǝɫǝbʔaltxʷ – Intellectual House, 4249 Little Canoe Channel NE, Seattle, WA 98105
Take Back the Night RSVP

Join us in supporting survivors and helping to end sexual and gender-based violence with our empowering keynote and student speakers, a student-created art exhibit, reflective origami and art activities and a candlelight vigil honoring survivors. FREE dinner will be provided from 5-6 p.m., with vegan, vegetarian and nut-free options available upon request. Learn about resources available for survivors and how you can make a difference.

Please complete this RSVP form by April 10 so we can plan for seating and food. Walk-ins are welcome; however, food and seating are limited and cannot be guaranteed.

Take Back the Night Art Submission

Art Showcase Submission Form

The Take Back the Night art exhibit welcomes a wide range of artwork, from poetry and writing to drawings, paintings, photography, and more. This exhibit aims to offer survivors and allies a space to share, reflect, and connect through art. We welcome submissions from artists of all experience levels and encourage both new and previously created work.

Because this exhibit centers on themes of sexual and gender-based violence, submissions may explore complex or sensitive topics. We ask that all artwork approach these themes with care and respect for the community. Submissions may not be included if they are deemed harmful or inappropriate.

History of Take Back the Night

Take Back the Night (TBTN) is a global movement to end sexual violence. It began in 1975 when women in Philadelphia held a demonstration after the murder of Susan Alexander Speeth. Similar protests emerged in Germany and England, and in 1976, a nighttime march at the International Tribunal on Crimes Against Women in Brussels helped internationalize the movement.

Founded in 2001, the Take Back the Night Foundation (TBTNF) provides survivors with resources, event support, and legal aid. Today, TBTN events worldwide—including marches, vigils, and educational workshops—continue to drive legislative change, support survivors, and work toward ending sexual violence.

We are thrilled to bring this empowering event to the University of Washington.

Love Letters to Survivors

LiveWell and SARVA
April 6-10, 2026, 4-6 p.m.
Odegaard Undergraduate Library, 4060 George Washington Lane Northeast, Seattle, WA 98195

A kind message can make a world of difference. Stop by anytime during our tabling events to write a short letter of support for survivors of sexual and gender-based violence and learn ways you can support survivors this Sexual Assault Awareness Month. Letters will be donated to Solid Ground, a nonprofit that helps relocate and support survivors of domestic violence.

5K Teal Run

SARVA and the Husky Run Club
April 11, 2026, 9 a.m.
Mary Gates Hall, NE Grant Ln, Seattle, WA 98195
Teal Run RSVP

Join SARVA and the Husky Run Club for a 5K in recognition of Sexual Assault Awareness Month. This community-centered event raises funds for local domestic violence shelters in the Seattle area, with 100% of proceeds going directly to support survivors.

Participants are welcome to run, walk or jog at their own pace. Everyone is encouraged to join! Registration is $15, and all participants will receive a water bottle and bag (available through the day of the run). Those who sign up by March 20 will receive a free event T-shirt.

Denim Day Fashion Shows

SARVA, Homeroom and MODE UW
April 13, 14, and 16, 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Red Square, 4063 Spokane Ln, Seattle, WA 98105

In honor of Denim Day, SARVA, Homeroom and MODE UW are bringing awareness to Sexual Assault Awareness Month through a series of pop-up denim fashion shows in Red Square. Viewers can see these shows between class periods to see students showcase denim looks that spark conversation, challenge harmful myths and stand in solidarity with survivors. Stop by, learn more about the meaning behind Denim Day, and be part of this impactful campus tradition.

Stay tuned for more events!

2026 Sexual Assault Awareness Month event calendar

University of Washington resources

If you or someone you know has experienced sexual or gender-based violence, you may wish to seek our resources or support. The resources below provide guidance on how to navigate these situations and provide support while respecting a survivor’s privacy.

Additional resources

Sponsors

UW LiveWell

LiveWell: Health Promotion & Prevention is a dedicated unit of professionals who believe in the impact of health promotion, advocacy, and education. The team works collaboratively to deliver effective educational programming and intervention services to students at the UW. Our goal is to foster a community where individual agency is powered to positively impact health and well-being in our communities and in our own lives.

ASUW SARVA

Sexual Assault and Relationship Violence Activists (SARVA) is a student-led entity of the Associated Students of the University of Washington (ASUW) dedicated to combating sexual assault and relationship violence in the UW community. We serve as liaisons between the student body and institutional resources, providing advocacy, education, and programming for survivors and allies. SARVA works to raise awareness, dispel myths, and foster open discussions about sexual assault and relationship violence. Through activism and education, we aim to create a sex-positive culture while advocating for survivors and providing vital support to the UW community.

Questions?

If you have any questions or would like to learn more, please email lwevents@uw.edu.