📅 April 18th — Smear Campaign Awareness Day (#SCAD)

We’re asking our community, supporters, and partners to hold this date.

Smear Campaign Awareness Day exists to name and challenge a form of abuse that is too often minimised, ignored, or dismissed despite the very real harm it causes.

Smear campaigns are a deliberate tactic used to:

discredit and silence victims and survivors
punish people for speaking out
avoid accountability
isolate individuals from support
They often include:

false or exaggerated allegations
spreading rumours or distorted narratives
counter-accusations after disclosure
character assassination
encouraging others to take sides
pushing someone out of workplaces, communities, or safe spaces
While commonly seen as post-separation abuse by ex-partners, smear campaigns also occur in:

workplaces after disclosures
professional and voluntary organisations
social and friendship groups
religious and community settings
This is not conflict.
This is psychological and emotional abuse.

On April 18th, The Jessica Project will be sharing:

educational infographics about smear campaigns
survivor-centred content and videos
our petition calling for stronger protection
clear information on the harm smear campaigns cause
…and much more.
We’ll be using gold and white throughout the campaign symbolising truth, dignity, courage, and belief and we invite you to join us.

This issue affects so many survivors.
It causes deep emotional and psychological harm and it is not fair.

We are also calling for smear campaigns, particularly when used to discredit survivors of sexual violence or domestic abuse to be recognised as a criminal, chargeable offence, not a civil matter.

We invite you to:

Hold the date
Share your experiences with us, email or DM us on socials (if it feels safe to do so)
Use the hashtag #SCAD
Stand with survivors and demand accountability
This is not okay, and it must stop.