Denim Day 2019: Are You Wearing Denim?
Wear your jeans with a purpose tomorrow. Join Peace Over Violence and millions of people around the world on April 24, to don denim in support of sexual assault survivors and send the message that sexual violence will not be tolerated. This now-annual Denim Day was sparked 20 years ago when Italian Supreme Court justices overturned a rape conviction and cited the victim’s tight jeans as evidence of her consent. The following day, outraged women in the Italian Parliament wore denim in a demonstration and people around the world followed suit.
Learn more about Peace Over Violence and #DenimDay here: https://www.denimdayinfo.org/
Two decades later, this issue still demands our attention. April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month, an opportunity to reflect on the pervasiveness of sexual violence: one in five women have experienced a rape or attempted rape, and one in four girls will be sexually abused before they turn 18 years old. Despite 20% of women experiencing sexual assault on college campuses, more than 90% of campus assaults are never reported.
#SSAM is also a chance to reaffirm our commitment to stopping sexual assault. Tomorrow we will wear denim, but each day it’s important to: Believe survivors, challenge victim blaming, and respect boundaries.
CWLC is dedicated to ensuring that women and girls have access to resources that will help prevent and respond to violence. You can learn more about our work, including our educational and training programs, here.