North Wake News

Governor Josh Stein of North Carolina declared April as Sexual Assault Awareness Month, emphasizing the importance of support for survivors. Data from the National Sexual Violence Resource Center shows that 81% of women and 43% of men experience sexual assault or harassment in their lifetime.

North Carolinians are encouraged to participate in a national show of support by wearing teal on April 1, using social media hashtags #WearTealDay and #SAAM2025.

"This month we recognize the survivors of sexual assault in our state," stated Governor Stein. "Last year we cleared the backlog of older sexual assault kits in our state, but there is more work to be done. That is why I have called on the General Assembly to fund a sexual assault cold case unit – because it is never too late to hold a perpetrator accountable or get justice for a victim of this heinous crime."

Secretary of the North Carolina Department of Administration, Gabriel J. Esparza, also highlighted the overwhelming statistics and the necessity for increased education. "Nobody should be subjected to such horrific acts, so the fact that four out of five women and nearly half of men in this country experience sexual assault or harassment at some point in their lives should raise alarm bells for all of us," Esparza said. "We must continue to educate communities on the importance of consent and to be aware of the signs of sexual abuse."

In the last fiscal year, over 8,500 individuals in North Carolina sought intervention from rape crisis centers funded by the Council for Women and Youth Involvement (CFWYI). Among these, 1,577 were children under 18, and the centers handled more than 27,400 crisis calls and chats. Only 4% of victims reported being assaulted by strangers.

The NC Department of Administration’s CFWYI funds sexual assault initiatives across 96 counties. These programs provide counseling, crisis lines, transportation, and court advocacy services.

Governor Stein's previous efforts as Attorney General were directed at clearing the backlog of untested rape kits. His recent budget proposes establishing a cold case unit to investigate sexual assault cases.

For those affected by sexual violence, resources are available through state-funded agencies listed on the NC Council for Women and Youth Involvement website.