Denim Day

1 in 3 U.S. teens will experience physical, sexual, or emotional abuse from someone they’re in a relationship with before becoming adults.

Since 1999, Denim Day has shown solidarity and support for survivors by renewing our commitment to exposing harmful behaviors and attitudes surrounding sexual violence. Denim Day is recognized on the last Wednesday in April in honor of Sexual Assault Awareness Month. The campaign began after a ruling by the Italian Supreme Court to overturn a rape conviction because the justices felt that since the victim was wearing tight jeans, she must have helped the person who raped her remove them, thereby implying consent. Following the reversal, the women in the Italian Parliament came to work wearing jeans in solidarity with the victim.

Inspired by this case and the activism surrounding it, Peace Over Violence and its Executive Director, Patti Giggans, developed the Denim Day campaign in 1999. Since then, what started as a local event in Los Angeles to bring awareness to victim blaming and destructive myths that surround sexual violence has grown into a worldwide movement.

As the longest-running sexual violence prevention and education campaign in history, Denim Day asks community members, elected officials, businesses, and students, and all individuals to make a social statement with their fashion statement by wearing jeans on Denim Day as a visible means of protest against the misconceptions that continue to surround sexual violence.

Get Involved

• Wearing denim on Denim Day on the last Wednesday in April.
  Share your photos with us on social media by using #SVS.
• Participate in Sexual Awareness Month.