North Raleigh Today

Governor Josh Stein announced April as Sexual Assault Awareness Month to honor survivors and promote awareness. The National Sexual Violence Resource Center reports that sexual assault and harassment affect 81% of women and 43% of men during their lifetime.

Residents of North Carolina and individuals across the nation are invited to participate in "Wear Teal Day" on April 1 by wearing teal and sharing supportive messages on social media with the hashtags #WearTealDay and #SAAM2025.

"This month we recognize the survivors of sexual assault in our state," stated Governor Josh 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."

North Carolina Department of Administration’s Secretary Gabriel J. Esparza highlighted the prevalence of sexual assault in the US: “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. We must continue to educate communities on the importance of consent and to be aware of the signs of sexual abuse."

The scope of sexual violence encompasses unwanted physical or verbal advances, involving sexual activity, abuse, harassment, and assault. In the 2023-24 fiscal year, over 8,500 individuals in North Carolina sought help from a CFWYI-funded rape crisis center due to sexual violence, including 1,577 children under 18 and more than 27,400 crisis calls. Only 4% of victims reported being assaulted by strangers.

The NC Department of Administration’s Council for Women and Youth Involvement (CFWYI) finances programs across 96 counties to tackle these issues, offering counseling, 24-hour crisis lines, transportation, and legal advocacy.

Governor Stein's past efforts included addressing the backlog of untested rape kits as Attorney General. In line with these initiatives, his current budget proposal recommends establishing a cold case unit to resolve sexual assault cases.

Anyone facing sexual violence is urged to seek help. Support resources, including a directory of state-funded sexual assault agencies, are accessible on the NC Council for Women and Youth Involvement website.