For the past 22 years, Denim Day has been recognized as part of an international movement to bring attention to harmful behaviors and attitudes around sexual violence. On this day, hundreds of thousands of elected officials, business leaders and community members around the globe will wear denim to raise awareness of sexual assault.

The campaign began after a ruling by the Italian Supreme Court where a rape conviction was overturned because the justices felt that since the victim was wearing tight jeans she must have helped the person who raped her remove her jeans, thereby implying consent. The following day, the women in the Italian Parliament came to work wearing jeans in solidarity with the victim.