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Since 1981, National Crime Victims’ Rights Week (NCVRW) has called on our nation to recognize and remove
the barriers that stand in the way of justice for all victims of crime. Each year during NCVRW, we honor the
progress of the victims’ rights movement and reflect on how far we have come—while acknowledging the work
still ahead. It is a time not only to look at systems and policies, but to remember the deeply personal stories
behind them — the quiet, painful rewriting of what once felt like a simple “All About Me.”

Every April, the Office of Justice Programs and its Office for Victims of Crime lead communities across the
country in observing NCVRW. In 2026, NCVRW will be recognized April 19–25 under the theme:

Listen. Act. Advocate.
Protect victims, serve communities.

This year also marks the 25th anniversary of the national Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM) campaign.
The 2026 theme, “25 Years Stronger: Looking Back, Moving Forward,” reflects both a celebration of
progress and a renewed commitment to the future.

For 25 years, SAAM has united survivors, advocates, and communities in the shared mission to end sexual
abuse, assault, and harassment. This milestone honors the strength of survivors, the dedication of advocates, and
the collective work that continues to build safer communities for all.

No one is ever prepared to become a victim of sexual assault or other violent crimes.

Think back to being a child in elementary school. Your teacher hands you an “All About Me” worksheet. You
tuck it carefully into your backpack, excited to take it home and fill in the blanks with your mom or dad. The
next day, it will hang proudly on the classroom wall for everyone to see.

“My name is April. I am 6 years old. I am in first grade. My favorite color is blue. I want to learn about lightning
bugs. My birthday is February 20. Three things that make me smile are puppies, ice cream, and swimming.
When I grow up, I want to be a doctor.”

Year after year, you complete similar worksheets. The answers change as you grow. Your dreams evolve. Your
favorites shift. Life feels full of possibility.

Then one day, at 31 years old, you start a new job. A cheerful Human Resources manager hands you a “Getting
to Know You” survey—the adult version of that childhood worksheet. It’s meant to introduce you to your
colleagues.

This time, your hands begin to shake.

You quietly say, “I’ll take it home and fill it out.”

But you don’t skip through the door when you get home. The thin sheet of paper feels impossibly heavy. Your
breathing grows shallow. Tears blur the words as you try to write.

“My name is… Shame. I am 31 years old.
T-shirt size? Really?
Favorite restaurant? It doesn’t matter—I’ll never go there again.
Favorite drink? I’ll never order it again.
Favorite song? I can’t listen to it anymore.”

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