BELIEVE. SUPPORT. REPORT. Denim Day April 30, 2025

BELIEVE. SUPPORT. REPORT. Denim Day April 30, 2025

Pawnee Reserve (April 30, 2025) – The Pawnee Nation (PN) TIHARASA Program took a stand and showed support for victims during Sexual Assault Awareness Month. T-shirts were distributed to PN employees and many employees showed their support by sending in pictures wearing the T-shirts with jeans!

April is Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month (SAAPM). Sexual violence is a serious public health issue that affects millions of people each year, leading to long-term physical, emotional, and mental health consequences.

Healthcare providers, educators, and communities play a crucial role in prevention by:

✔️ Promoting consent and healthy relationships

✔️ Providing trauma-informed care for survivors

✔️ Addressing risk factors through education and policy

Learn more: [Insert Resource]

Need support? National Sexual Assault Hotline: 800-656-4673

#SAAPM#PreventionMatters

Denim Day was established in 1999 in response to an Italian court ruling that overturned a rape conviction, citing the victim’s tight jeans as a sign of consent. This prompted women in Italy’s Parliament to wear jeans as a protest and solidarity with victims of sexual assault. The movement spread internationally, becoming a day to raise awareness and support survivors of sexual assault. 

  • The Italian Supreme Court Decision:In 1992, an Italian Supreme Court overturned a rape conviction, arguing that because the victim was wearing tight jeans, she must have helped her attacker remove them, thus implying consent. 
  • The Protest in Italy:In response, women in the Italian Parliament protested by wearing jeans on the steps of the court. 
  • Denim Day’s Origins:The protest in Italy was widely reported and became the inspiration for Denim Day, which was first observed in Los Angeles in April 1999. 
  • The Campaign’s Purpose:Denim Day aims to raise awareness about sexual violence, challenge misconceptions surrounding sexual assault, and show solidarity with survivors. 
  • International Expansion:Denim Day has become a global campaign, with people around the world participating by wearing denim to show their support for survivors of sexual assault. denimday.org

For more information, visit TIHARASA