Sexual Assault Awareness Month Recognition Resolution of 2026

26th Council Period (2025-2026) Introduced by Brooke Pinto

Designates April 2026 as Sexual Assault Awareness Month in DC and urges community support for survivors and prevention, without new obligations or funding.

Resolution ACR26-0138, Effective from Mar 31, 2026 Published in DC Register Vol 73 and Page 008446

Overview

CER 26-0141, titled the Sexual Assault Awareness Month Recognition Resolution of 2026, is a ceremonial resolution in the District of Columbia Council. Its primary purpose is to designate April 2026 as Sexual Assault Awareness Month in DC and to urge residents to support victim-survivors and to work on preventing sexual assault, abuse, harassment (including online harassment), and sex trafficking.

Main Purpose and Intent

Officially declare April 2026 as "Sexual Assault Awareness Month" in the District of Columbia.

Encourage public support for victim-survivors.

Promote efforts to prevent sexual violence in its various forms, including child sexual abuse, sexual harassment, online harassment, sex trafficking, and rape.

Key Provisions and Changes

Formal declaration that April 2026 is Sexual Assault Awareness Month (Sec. 2).

A statement urging residents to support victim-survivors and engage in prevention efforts related to:

Sexual assault and harassment (including in the workplace and online)
Abuse and exploitation such as sex trafficking

The resolution provides a broad context and rationale, including historical notes about the Sexual Assault Awareness Month movement, statistics related to prevalence and impact (across women, men, LGBTQ+ individuals, people with disabilities, and various racial/ethnic groups), and the importance of prevention, advocacy, and awareness.

Who/What Would Be Affected

The District of Columbia community, including:

Residents, workplaces, schools, and local organizations are encouraged to recognize and participate in awareness activities.
Victim-survivors of sexual violence are explicitly acknowledged, with an emphasis on support.

No new statutory requirements or funding allocations are introduced. The measure is ceremonial and symbolic, aimed at awareness and alignment with national observance.

Procedural and Timeline Aspects

Introduced by Councilmember Brooke Pinto (co-sponsor listed) and considered as a ceremonial resolution.

Status history indicates:

Introduced and retained by the Council on March 31, 2026.
Final readings and approval occurred on March 31, 2026, with the resolution approved as ACR26-0138 (likely a related procedural step for ceremonial resolutions).

Effective date: Immediate upon final passage (Sec. 3 states the resolution shall take effect immediately).

Ranking: As a ceremonial resolution, it does not amend DC code or authorize new programs or funding; its impact is commemorative and advocacy-oriented.

Notes on Content and Context

The resolution includes extensive “whereas” clauses detailing statistics and aspects of sexual violence, including:

Historical context of Take Back the Night
Prevalence statistics from sources like RAINN, CDC, and other organizations
Vulnerable populations (racial/ethnic groups, transgender and LGBTQ+ individuals, people with disabilities, immigrant and housing-insecure groups)
The broad spectrum of sexual violence and the importance of workplace harassment as a form of violence

While informational, these statements serve to educate and contextualize the observance.

Bottom Line

CER 26-0141 is a ceremonial measure designating April 2026 as Sexual Assault Awareness Month in the District of Columbia and urging broad community support and prevention efforts. It consolidates historical context and public health rationale to emphasize awareness, support for survivors, and preventive action, without creating new legal obligations or funding.