Visual Elements: Designed with a bold navy blue and red color palette, this digital graphic features the campaign slogan in striking white and red block lettering, flanked by decorative white line accents, with a scannable QR code and the OVC department logo positioned at the bottom.

What is National Crime Victims' Rights Week

Since 1981, National Crime Victims’ Rights Week is celebrated every year in April.  This week is dedicated to learn about victimization, the effect victimization has on individuals, families, friends and the community, and to promote laws, policies, and programs to help victims of crime.  Every year, thousands of communities across the nation honor the dedication of those before us that established victim rights and renew commitment to guarantee that all victims have the rights and services they need to recover from crime.  Victim Support Services participates in marches, tree-planting ceremonies, and many other activities that are held each year to promote victims’ rights and to honor crime victims and those who advocate on their behalf.

NCVRW 2026 will be observed April 19-25.

The 2026 theme is LISTEN. ACT. ADVOCATE. Protect Victims, Serve Communities. This year’s theme is a powerful call to action—one that reminds us that supporting victims of crime requires more than awareness. It requires intentional listening, meaningful action, and unwavering advocacy.

Listening is the first and most important step in supporting victims and survivors. It means creating safe spaces where individuals are heard without judgment, believed without question, and respected in their experiences. When we truly listen, we validate survivors’ voices and recognize their strength. Listening builds trust, fosters healing, and ensures that services are guided by the real needs of those impacted by crime.

Listening must be followed by action. Action means providing trauma-informed services, connecting victims to resources, strengthening partnerships, and working to remove barriers within systems. It means responding quickly and compassionately when someone reaches out for help. Action also includes educating our community, engaging stakeholders, and implementing policies that prioritize victim safety and dignity.

Advocacy ensures that victims’ rights are upheld and their voices are represented in the criminal justice process and beyond. It means standing alongside survivors as they navigate complex systems. It also means promoting policies, funding, and community responses that center victims’ needs. Advocacy challenges stigma, confronts injustice, and pushes for meaningful change so that no survivor feels alone or unseen.

When we protect victims, we strengthen entire communities. Safety, justice, and healing are not individual concerns—they are collective responsibilities. By listening, acting, and advocating, we create communities where survivors are supported, rights are honored, and prevention becomes possible.

This National Crime Victims’ Rights Week, we recommit ourselves to ensuring every victim is heard, every voice matters, and every community stands together in support of healing and justice.