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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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“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
Thank you to the 40+ Double Dutch Club for joining us on Teal Day! They brought so much joy, energy, and fun to the day. 😀
Yesterday, we had an amazing Teal Day! We came together with our partners from the Philadelphia Office of Domestic Violence Strategy, City government, our Community Partners, and the people of Philadelphia to show our TEAL in solidarity and support for survivors of sexual violence. We also shared a curated moment of joy and nostalgia with the 40+ Double Dutch Club!
Thank you to the people of Philadelphia who came out to show their support for survivors, as well as to our partners from City government and our Community Partners.
Dr. Nina Ahmad introduced the resolution declaring April as Sexual Assault Awareness Month in celebration of 25 years of SAAM. We appreciate the longstanding partnership and support of Councilperson Nina Ahmad and her staff, who are true legislative champions for survivors in Philadelphia.
Quinn represented WOAR at the University of Pennsylvania’s Take Back the Night campaign, where they hosted a resource table in support of survivors and helped share information with students and community members.
This important event brought the campus together through a rally, march, resource fair, and candlelight vigil to raise awareness about sexual violence, stand in solidarity with survivors, and remind everyone that campuses and communities should be safe and supportive spaces.
The anti-sexual violence movement began with people who refused to stay silent.
In the 1970s, survivors and advocates spoke out and built some of the first systems of support in the Nation. Our state was led by organizations like WOAR (Women Organized Against Rape) in Philadelphia, founded in 1971 (slide 3!), and the Pittsburgh Action Against Rape (PAAR), founded in 1972.
This hard work, through a grassroots movement by local activists and volunteers, led to the creation of PCAR in 1975, forming a statewide network dedicated to survivors
This is where our work begins.
Awareness is where it starts. Action is what creates change.
Sexual violence affects every community, and ending it takes all of us. Today, WOAR is calling on you to take one step. Speak up. Challenge harmful narratives. Support survivors. Be part of the change.
Because when we shift the conversation, we shift what’s possible.
What action will you take today?
April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month.
Join us on Thursday, April 9 in Love Park at 1:15 p.m. for a group picture for Teal Day. Wear something teal, the color of sexual assault prevention and intervention as we show solidarity with survivors of sexual assault.
If you or someone you know needs help after sexual assault, call the @woarphila 24/7 Hotline at 215-985-3333.
WOAR was glad to be part of ConsentFest on April 1 at Temple University’s Bell Tower, 1210 Polett Walk. This campus event celebrated consent, healthy relationships, and sexual health, and WOAR staff were there to share information and connect with students and community members.
Join WOAR – Philadelphia Center Against Sexual Violence as we kick off Sexual Assault Awareness Month 2026!
Sexual Assault Awareness Month is about more than awareness. It is about connection, community, and action. For decades, survivors and advocates have led this movement forward. Now it is our turn to continue that work.
Join us in April 2026 as we focus on Turning Awareness Into Action. Because when we show up together, change happens.
Healing and support do not follow business hours.
WOAR’s hotline is here for survivors 24/7, 365 days a year—including Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays. Whether someone needs immediate crisis support, to talk with someone who will listen and understands what they`re going through, or help finding resources, they do not have to face it alone.
Call or text 215-985-3333.
Statement on Recent Allegations of Sexual Violence Involving César Chávez
By Gabriella Fontan, Esq, Executive Director, WOAR- Philadelphia Center Against Sexual Violence
WOAR- Philadelphia Center Against Sexual Violence (WOAR) is deeply concerned by recent public reporting detailing allegations of sexual violence associated with César Chávez. These reports underscore a difficult but necessary truth: no individual, regardless of status, legacy, or historical significance, is beyond accountability.
When allegations of sexual harm surface, particularly involving individuals in positions of power, they demand thoughtful, trauma-informed engagement—not dismissal, minimization, or reflexive defense. We recognize that it can be painful to reconcile allegations of harm with the legacy of a widely respected public figure.
However, protecting reputations at the expense of survivors perpetuates the conditions that allow abuse to remain hidden. Survivors deserve to be heard without being discredited, ignored, or retraumatized.
WOAR does not investigate individual claims. But we stand firmly in the following principles:
• Survivors must be centered. Their voices and experiences matter, regardless of when they come forward.
• Delayed disclosure is common. Trauma, fear of retaliation, power imbalances, and cultural pressures often prevent immediate reporting.
• Power matters. Allegations involving influential figures highlight systemic barriers that can silence survivors for years or decades.
• Public discourse must evolve. Communities and institutions must resist the urge to discredit survivors in order to preserve legacy or comfort.
We call on institutions, leaders, and the public to respond responsibly:
• Engage with these allegations with seriousness and care
• Avoid victim-blaming narratives and credibility attacks
• Support independent, trauma-informed review where appropriate
• Commit to transparency and accountability, even when it is uncomfortable
READ MORE: https://buff.ly/G3bba78
Media Contact:
LaQuisha S. Anthony
Senior Advocacy Manager
laquisha@woar.org
On Thursday, March 5th, The Salvation Army held a Women’s History Month Luncheon at City Hall.
The luncheon elevated the voices and leadership of women who have survived exploitation while providing a clear picture of how trafficking intersects with housing instability, poverty, gender-based violence, and public safety. The event underscored the importance of survivor-centered, trauma-informed services that prioritize long-term stability, dignity, and economic empowerment.
The luncheon also served as an opportunity to strengthen collaboration between City Council, community partners, and service providers working on the front lines. Attendees heard directly from The Salvation Army about service gaps, emerging trends, and policy priorities that can improve outcomes for survivors across Philadelphia.
By convening leaders during Women’s History Month, the Salvation Army honored resilience, advanced practical solutions, and reinforced our shared responsibility to build systems that promote safety, stability, and opportunity for all women.
Pictured: LaQuisha Anthony with leaders of The Salvation Army in Philadelphia’s City Hall.
Monday, March 2nd, Councilmember Nina Ahmad (D-At-Large), Chair of the Public Health and Human Services Committee, held a productive hearing about the current state of Philadelphia’s reproductive health care system, changes at the federal level affecting reproductive policy, and the City’s role in protecting reproductive freedom.
The hearing brought together public health leaders, direct service providers, advocates, and academic experts to share data, lived experience, and policy recommendations—covering the full spectrum of reproductive health care needs, from contraception and prenatal care to postpartum care and abortion access.
Councilmember Ahmad emphasized that the hearing is part of an ongoing fact-finding effort by City Council to evaluate barriers to care, understand the impact of closures and limited capacity constraints, and develop a coordinated response to these issues with providers, partners, advocates, and community members.
Testimony and participation included Philadelphia Department of Public Health, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) PolicyLab, Women’s Law Project, WOAR – Philadelphia Center Against Sexual Violence, Oshun Family Center, Maternity Care Coalition, Planned Parenthood, AccessMatters, University of Pennsylvania (Perelman School of Medicine/OB-GYN/Pediatrics), Drexel University Thomas R. Kline School of Law, Abortion Liberation Fund of PA, Once Upon A Preemie, Lifecycle Wellness and Birth Center, Mazzoni Center, BAE Culture, and PA Breastfeeding Coalition. Written public testimony was given by Dr. Hilary Rosenstein and Dr. Robyn Faye.
