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Contact us for free, confidential support at any time, 365 days a year. We are always here for you.
A safer Philadelphia, for better tomorrows.
For 50 years, WOAR – Philadelphia Center Against Sexual Violence has provided an empathetic ear, a caring heart and a helping hand to anyone who has experienced sexual violence recently, or at any time in their life. Each year, we helped thousands of survivors of sexual violence in Philadelphia through our hotline and in-person support and advocacy.
WOAR is here for survivors of sexual harassment, abuse, and assault because generous donors, like you, made it possible. Generosity gives everyone the power to make a positive change in the lives of others. WOAR is here because you make it possible!
Please stand with us by making a donation to WOAR.
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You are not alone.
We’ve been there.
“When I was put in a fight or flight situation, I did neither. I froze. And I want to make it clear to other survivors that froze, you made it out alive. Your body protected you the best it could. You did everything right, and now you are a survivor. A SURVIVOR. Also, survivors of this kind of trauma should always remember it is never your fault. You did not choose this – no matter what people say or don’t say.”
Isabella, Survivor and Volunteer
On Martin Luther King Jr. Day, I keep coming back to this: “The time is always right to do what is right.”
That can be as simple and powerful as choosing to march peacefully, boycotts, teach-ins/sit-ins, voter registration, calls to elected officials, and caring for your neighbors in real and practical ways.
Because as Dr. King reminded us, “In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends.” Let us not be silent. Be steady, be organized, and move justice forward with courage and care.
Our offices are closed today, but our 24/7 hotline is ALWAYS open. If you need support, please call or text 215-985-3333.
January 18 is Stalking Awareness Action Day. Stalking can look like repeated following or unwanted contact without consent that leaves someone feeling afraid or deeply distressed. In Pennsylvania, stalking includes non-consensual following or communication intended to cause reasonable fear of bodily harm or significant emotional distress.
What you can do today:
• believe someone who says they’re being stalked
• help with a safety-plan: keep a phone charged, save emergency contacts, vary routines, and tell someone they trust
• practice digital safety: tighten privacy settings, disable location sharing, avoid tagging or posting photos/details without consent
• remember stalking can happen offline, online and through technology
If you or someone you know needs support, call or text WOAR’s free, confidential, 24/7 hotline at 215-985-3333.
There is no single “type” of trafficking survivor. Children and adults, people of all races, genders, sexualities, abilities, U.S. citizens, and immigrants can all be affected.
Trafficking thrives on vulnerability, not weakness. Factors like housing instability, financial stress, isolation, or prior abuse may increase risk, but exploitation is never the survivor’s fault.
Believing survivors starts with understanding the facts.
If you or someone you know needs help, support is available. Contact WOAR - Philadelphia Center Against Sexual Violence at https://www.woar.org/, or call 215.985.3333.
Sexual exploitation, abuse, and the systems that allowed harm to continue saw renewed attention due to the recent release of documents pertaining to the Jeffrey Epstein case.
However, transparency is only the beginning. Disclosure alone does not equal justice. True accountability means centering survivors, addressing institutional failures, and ensuring that power is never again protected at the expense of people’s safety.
If this moment is difficult or upsetting, support is available 24/7 by calling or texting 215-985-3333, WOAR`s 24/7 crisis response hotline.
What comes next? The answer is action: believing survivors, strengthening systems of accountability, and investing in prevention and survivor services that protect people before harm occurs.
If you or someone you know needs support, please call or text WOAR at 215-985-3333. We are here for you. You are not alone.
Wear BLUE on Sunday, January 11 for #WearBlueDay.
This is local. Human trafficking isn’t “somewhere else.” It happens in Philadelphia, and it can look like a neighbor, a classmate, a coworker, or someone you pass every day. Trafficking is exploitation—often hidden in plain sight—where someone is pressured, controlled, or forced into sex or labor through threats, manipulation, debt, violence, or withholding basic human needs like food. It can affect children, teens and adults, people of all genders, and it doesn’t always involve kidnapping.
Awareness matters because recognizing the warning signs can help connect someone to safety and support.
4 ways you can take action and show support in Philly:
1. Wear blue on January 11 and tell people why you’re wearing it
2. Post a photo/video (solo, with friends, or at work) and use #WearBlueDay
3. Learn to recognize the signs of human trafficking: https://tinyurl.com/HT-PCAR
4. Share WOAR’s 24/7 hotline: 215-985-3333
If you or someone you know needs support, call or text WOAR’s 24/7 hotline at 215-985-3333. You are not alone.
One of the most common myths about human trafficking is that it always involves kidnapping by a stranger. In reality, trafficking often happens through emotional manipulation, threats, financial control, or false promises.
Survivors may be trafficked by someone they know and trust, which can make it harder to recognize and leave unsafe situations. Understanding the reality of trafficking helps communities respond with compassion instead of judgment.
If you or someone you know needs help, support is available. Contact WOAR - Philadelphia Center Against Sexual Violence at https://www.woar.org/, or call 215.985.3333.
January is Human Trafficking Awareness Month, and at WOAR - Philadelphia Center Against Sexual Violence, we take this month to center survivors, increase understanding, and strengthen pathways to safety and support.
Human trafficking is a serious form of exploitation that occurs in communities across Pennsylvania. It involves the use of force, fraud, or coercion to control another person for labor or commercial sex.
Trafficking doesn’t always look the way we expect, and it often goes unrecognized. This month, we’re sharing facts to raise awareness, challenge myths, and connect survivors with support.
If you or someone you know needs help, support is available. Contact WOAR - Philadelphia Center Against Sexual Violence at https://www.woar.org/ or call 215.985.3333.
WOAR is honored to walk alongside survivors and supporters as we move into a new year filled with hope and purpose. As we step into 2026, we honor the resilience and strength of survivors, and the community that supports them. From all of us at WOAR, thank you for standing with survivors and supporting our work this year. Wishing you strength, connection, and renewal in 2026. 🎉✨ 🕛
If you or someone you know needs support, our hotline is open 24/7, even on holidays: 215-985-3333. You’re never alone. 💛 💜 💙
As you celebrate New Year’s Eve, having fun and staying safe should go hand in hand. Whether you’re at a party, a gathering, or out at a bar or club, these 7 tips can help you get home safely as the ball drops:
1. Bring a friend you trust and look out for each other
2. Have a plan, including meeting points and a safe word
3. Bring your phone and use it to stay connected
4. Pay attention to your surroundings and trust your instincts
5. Look for warning signs like escalating arguments or aggressive behaviors
6. Don’t be afraid to ask for help from friends or call 911
7. Don’t be afraid to say no — you always get to set your own boundaries
The best celebrations are ones where safety, respect, and community come first. If you or someone you know has experienced sexual violence, please call WOAR`s 24/7 hotline at 215-985-3333 for immediate crisis support including holidays.
Due to the state budget impasse, WOAR operated without critical funding for 4½ months. But survivor needs didn’t stop — even as we faced the heartbreaking layoff of 22 dedicated staff members.
Still, we did not close our doors.
Our 24/7 hotline remained open and responsive. Counseling and advocacy continued. Survivors were not turned away — because donors like you stepped in during challenging times. That continuity was possible because donors like you stepped in during challenging times.
With the last few days of 2025 upon us, your gift before December 31 is critical. You gift helps keep services free, available, and survivor-centered — ensuring survivors always have a place to turn.
With just a few days left before December 31, please consider giving today. 💙 Donate now at https://tinyurl.com/WOARDonate.
Thank you for believing in this work and the people behind it.
Download our holiday resource guide for survivors at WOAR.org. For immediate crisis support, please call 215-985-3333.
WOAR will be closed on Wednesday, 12/31 and Thursday, 1/1. If you or someone you know needs support, our hotline is always open 24/7/365, even on holidays: 215-985-3333. You’re never alone.💜💙
