Denim Day – Raising awareness for Sexual Assault
April 24
We encourage all workplaces, individuals, teams, and families to get involved and dress in the most denim you can fit into an outfit and send us a photo to place on the Sexual Assault Action Group social media page.
This is a day for raising awareness and to protest the many misconceptions surrounding sexual violence. Read the story below to understand why Denim Day is now a statement across the world.
Use your fashion statement to make a social statement!
We ask for photos to be emailed through to CentacareSouthBurnett@bne.centacare.net.au to be uploaded to our SBSAAG FB page.
For more information contact:
Sharon Collins
Coordinator
Specialist Family and Support Service, Sexual Assault Service and Neighbourhood Centre
South Burnett
15 Albert Street, Kingaroy QLD 4610
p: 4162 5439
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The Denim Story
“The Denim Day story begins in Italy in 1992, when an 18-year old girl was raped by the 45-year old driving instructor who was taking her to her very first driving lesson. He took her to an isolated road, pulled her out of the car, removed her jeans and forcefully raped her.
She reports the rape and the perpetrator is arrested and prosecuted. He is then convicted of rape and sentenced to jail. Years later, he appealed the conviction claiming that they had consensual sex. The Italian Supreme Court overturned the conviction and the perpetrator was released. A statement from the Court argued that because the victim was wearing very tight jeans, she had to help him remove them, and by removing the jeans it was not rape but consensual sex. This
became known throughout Italy as the “jeans alibi.”
Enraged by the verdict, the women in the Italian Parliament launched a protest wearing jeans on the steps of the Supreme Court. This protest was picked up by international media which inspired the California Senate and Assembly to do the same on the steps of the Capitol in Sacramento. Patti Occhiuzzo Giggans, Executive Director of Peace Over Violence, saw this in the media and thought everyone should be wearing jeans to protest all of the myths about why women and girls are raped. Denim Day in LA was born. The first Denim Day in LA event was held in April of 1999, and has continued annually since.”
Information taken from: https :/ /www. denimdayinfo. org/about