Sexual Assault Awareness Month - Declared by Obama in 2009
As early as 1976, Take Back the Night marches rallied women in organized protest rape and sexual assault.[2] These marches protested the violence and fear that women encountered walking the streets at night. Over time these events coordinated into a movement across the United States and Europe. Because of this movement broader activities to raise awareness of violence against women began to occur.
In the late 1980s, the National Coalition Against Sexual Assault (NCASA) informally polled state sexual assault coalitions to determine the preferred date for a national Sexual Assault Awareness Week.[3] A week in April was selected. By the late 1990s, many advocates began coordinating activities and events throughout the month of April, advancing the idea of a nationally recognized month for sexual violence awareness and prevention activities. SAAM was first observed nationally in April 2001.
In 2009, President Obama was the first United States president to proclaim April as Sexual Assault Awareness Month.[1]
April is also sexually transmitted disease awareness month in the United States, started in 2009 to promote education about STDs and prevention.[4]