Around 2% of young people in England and Wales has experienced some form of sexual assault. That equates to just under nine hundred thousand people aged sixteen and over. That’s the alarming statistic that was revealed for the year ending March 2025. And has been published in time for Sexual Assault Awareness Month. This is an international campaign which takes place every April to raise awareness of sexual violence, support survivors and promote prevention efforts.
There were around 71, 000 rapes recorded by police recorded in 2024 which illustrates that there is a rising trend of such crimes in modern day society. It also illustrates that more is being done to bring issues about such criminal behaviour to the forefront in an effort to prevent them from happening in the future.
Even though there is a relatively large number of recorded rape cases, police data has revealed that very few result in charges being brought or trials being put on. There can be miscarriages of justice in which the perpetrators of such incidents get off Scot free leaving the victims feeling traumatised and in need of further support. Only just under 3% of cases result in charges being brought or any punishments handed out.
This means the vast majority of reported cases do not progress, in many cases because of evidential difficulties, which account for over half of rape case outcomes (rising to around 68% in latest data. Even if a charge is brought against someone, many cases can collapse due to the fact that the victim no longer wants to continue with the case or they have been too emotionally and mentally scarred because of the events which have happened.
At the prosecution stage, conviction rates for cases that do reach court are higher. CPS data suggests around 50% of rape prosecutions result in conviction, but this reflects a much smaller pool of cases that make it that far.
There is a large gap between the number of reported cases and the number of prosecutions brought for sexual assault crimes which can leave the vast majority of victims being left traumatised and isolated by official bodies. This means that there is little or no support available for anyone who may have been a victim of such crime.
Survivors in the UK can access NHS Sexual Assault Referral Centres (SARCs), which provide medical care, forensic examinations and emotional support whether or not someone reports to police.
Wear Teal: Day of Action on Tuesday, April 7, 2026
The first Tuesday of every April is the SAAM Day of Action. This is an opportunity to start the month with highly visible and coordinated actions.
Use wearing teal as a conversation starter and share why preventing sexual violence is important to you.
Share photos of you wearing teal with Alexandra House on Facebook and Instagram: @AlexHouseMN, #SAAM2026.
Denim Day: Wednesday, April 29, 2026
Join millions of people worldwide who will wear jeans with a purpose, support survivors, and educate themselves and others about all forms of sexual violence.
There are also a number of events being put on around the world to commemorate the occasion including:
April 24th 2026 – 12pm-1pm
Daley Plaza, 50 W Washington St, Chicago, IL 60602
People are invited to join for Standing Silent Witness, Resilience’s signature event for Sexual Assault Awareness Month (#SAAMChi). In this powerful visual demonstration of the silencing of survivors of sexual violence, participants will gather silently for one hour, wearing t-shirts adorned with messages and stories protesting sexual violence and rape culture.
People are invited to stay for as long as you feel comfortable—whether standing or sitting. This event unites community members, advocates, volunteers, and survivors, all amplifying the voices of those too often silenced. At the end of the hour, break the silence and hear directly from survivors.
This event is free and open to all. Together, show our strength in numbers, spark essential conversations, and raise awareness about the impact of sexual violence.
If you’d like more information on Sexual Assault Awareness Month and the events that might be open to you, please visit:
