The Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network, better known as RAINN, is an organization dedicated to raising awareness and preventing sexual assault. RAINN raises public awareness and leads the national effort to prevent sexual assault, improve help given to victims and prosecute rapists. RAINN does an extensive amount of work with the media and government to make sure people are informed throughout the country about sexual assault prevention, recovery and punishment.

RAINN was founded in 1994 and with it created the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1.800.656.HOPE. The hotline provides sexual assault victims with free and confidential help 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. It has helped over one million people since its inception in 1994. In 2007, RAINN started the National Sexual Assault Online Hotline. The online hotline is the county’s first secure internet hotline that gives live and anonymous help to victims through a system similar to instant messaging. RAINN seems intent on expanding the ways in which they can help assault victims.






Not only does RAINN help victims recover from their abuse they also offer expert advice to the media and policymakers. RAINN is often a source of expertise, either from survivors or experts, on sexual assault and the issues surrounding it. They offer statistics as well as resources on the different types of sexual assault, its effects and recovery.

Besides being a resource to law makers and the media RAINN also goes out and educates the public themselves. RAINN goes out into the community to get information out to men and women in hopes of preventing sexual abuse. Every September, RAINN coordinates RAINN Day on college campuses nationwide to combat sexual assault against college women, who are more likely to be victims than any other age group. Through their community and media outreach RAINN educates over 120 million Americans a year about sexual assault.






RAINN has also been able to bring a lot of attention to their cause by partnering with the entertainment industry. RAINN has partnered with television networks including NBC, FOX and Lifetime to get the message out about sexual assault. Celebrities have also supported RAINN’s message. Actress Christian Ricci is their National Spokesperson. Tori Amos, Jennifer Aniston, Mariska Hargitay, and Kevin Smith have all provided their fame to RAINN’s cause.

To learn more please visit their website