Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network

The Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN) is an American nonprofit anti-sexual assault organization, the largest in the United States.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> RAINN operates the National Sexual Assault Hotline, as well as the Department of Defense Safe Helpline, and carries out programs to prevent sexual assault, help survivors, and ensure that perpetrators are brought to justice through victim services, public education, public policy, and consulting services.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

RAINN was founded in 1994 by Scott Berkowitz, with initial funding from The Atlantic Group and Warner Music Group.<ref name="Newspapers">Template:Cite news</ref> Tori Amos was the organization's first spokesperson.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="edition.cnn.com">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="books.google.com">Template:Cite book</ref> Christina Ricci has been the national spokesperson since April 25, 2007,<ref>Martinez, Edecio (September 11, 2009). "Christina Ricci Shines Light on Sexual Violence in Huffington Post Template:Webarchive". The Huffington Post</ref> and she is a member of its National Leadership Council.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>"RAINN Announces National Leadership Council Members Template:Webarchive". RAINN. August 23, 2018.</ref>

In 2025, RAINN began limiting services for certain groups, removing more than two dozen resources for LGBTQ people, immigrants, and other marginalized groups from its list of permissible referrals, citing guidance from the American federal government.<ref name="nytimes-15may2025"/>

History

RAINN was founded in 1994 by Scott Berkowitz.<ref name=Newspapers/> In 2006, its National Sexual Assault Hotline received its one-millionth caller.<ref name=Rainn>Template:Cite web</ref>

After Senate unanimously reauthorized the Debbie Smith Act in May 2019, RAINN gathered 32,000 signatures from online petitions in hopes to push Senate Bill 820 toward House passage. The Debbie Smith Act, which aims to eliminate the backlog of untested DNA and rape kit evidence by allocating $151 million annually to state and local labs, was passed by the House in December 2019.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In February 2022, RAINN supported the EARN IT Act, which removes blanket immunity for violations of laws related to online child sexual abuse material (CSAM). U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal and Lindsey Graham introduced bipartisan legislation to incentivize tech companies to remove child sexual abuse imagery on their platforms.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Also in February, RAINN partnered with Congresswoman Deborah Ross and Congressman Dave Joyce on the Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners (SANEs) Act, which is designed to address the nationwide shortage of Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners (SANEs) and improve care for survivors of sexual violence. It bill was also endorsed by the American Nurses Association and the National Network to End Domestic Violence.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In April 2022, Insider published an article about RAINN's workplace culture in which 22 current and former staff members alleged racism and sexism. A rape survivor story by a higher-ranked Navy physician was chosen to be published on RAINN's web site, but later was not published due to Berkowitz not wanting to jeopardize RAINN's $2Template:Nbspmillion contract with the United States Department of Defense. When The Lily interviewed a woman for International Women's Day, she said she was tired of the homophobic lies about the LGBTQ community, which risk the murder of black trans women. The interview noted the woman was employed at RAINN. RAINN's vice president of communications said the interview was "too controversial" and might jeopardize RAINN's contract with the Department of Defense, and the employee was fired later that day.<ref name= insider>Template:Cite news</ref> Six of RAINN's executives resigned soon after Insider published its investigation.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

RAINN supported the PROTECT Our Children Act of 2022, which passed the United States Senate on November 15, 2022, as well as Congress on December 6, 2022. The act reauthorizes funding for the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (ICAC) and provides support to investigate and arrest perpetrators of sex offenses against children.<ref name=Congress>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In December 2022, RAINN collaborated with HBO on an original documentary series titled Unveiled: Surviving La Luz Del Mundo, which tells the story of child sexual abuse within the La Luz del Mundo church.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

National Sexual Assault Hotline

The National Sexual Assault Hotline is a 24-hour, toll-free phone service that routes callers to the nearest local sexual assault service provider. More than 1,000 local partnerships are associated with RAINN to provide sexual assault victims with free, confidential services.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Since 2008, RAINN has provided anonymous, on-line crisis support through its National Sexual Assault Online Hotline via instant messaging.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Professional wrestler and writer Mick Foley is a member of RAINN's national leadership council and has worked as a volunteer on its online hotline. He became involved with the charity through his friendship with Tori Amos, his favorite musician.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> During a 15-month period ending in April 2011, Foley logged more than 550 hours talking to victims online. The same month, he offered to mow anyone's lawn who donated up to a certain amount to the organization, saying, "If you want to help survivors of sexual assault, or just want to see a big guy with long hair mowing your lawn in front of your friends, please take part..."<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Watch Mick Foley's Appearance On CNN Headline News Discussing RAINN Template:Webarchive</ref><ref>Mick Foley's #10forRAINN Campaign | RAINN | Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network Template:Webarchive</ref>

During the Depp v. Heard trial, RAINN noted an increase in hotline calls. RAINN says it provided help to 28% more people in May 2022 than in May 2021, and, on verdict day, it served 35% more people than on average.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Following the premiere of Surviving R. Kelly III: The Final Chapter, calls to RAINN's National Sexual Assault Hotline increased by 46%.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

RAINN Day

RAINN sponsors an annual campaign geared toward raising awareness and educating students about sexual violence, bystander intervention, and recovery resources on college campuses. Since 2018, RAINN Day is held every April to coincide with Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month (SAAPM).<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Public positions

RAINN has published press releases in support of multiple survivors facing media scrutiny, including Christine Blasey Ford.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

RAINN's president, Scott Berkowitz, has also issued multiple public statements, including his belief that arguing against the Keystone pipeline's expansion as a potential conduit of sexual violence is "unusual":<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Template:Blockquote

When a former staff assistant in Joe Biden's U.S. Senate office alleged that Biden had sexually assaulted her in 1993, RAINN tweeted,

Controversies

In 2014, RAINN attracted controversy for its criticism of the concept of rape culture and its promotion of primarily criminal justice system solutions in its recommendations to the White House Task Force to Protect Students from Sexual Assault.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In response, Zerlina Maxwell created the hashtag "#RapeCultureIsWhen."<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Wagatwe Wanjuki,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Amanda Marcotte,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Jessica Valenti,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> and others asserted that rape culture exists and denounced relying on the criminal justice system to prevent sexual violence on college campuses.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In February 2025, journalist Mady Castigan noted that RAINN had recently removed references to trans people and trans survivors of sexual violence from their website as well as their entire "inclusion policy" on which groups they intend to serve. Castigan speculated that the change was related to the second Trump administration's restrictions on funding trans-supportive organizations.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> RAINN also prohibited employees and volunteers answering phone calls and text chats from recommending specialized resources for the LGBTQ community and other marginalized groups.<ref name="nytimes-15may2025">Template:Cite news</ref>

See also

• Post-assault treatment of sexual assault victims
• Rape in the United States

External links

• Template:Official website