Sexual Violence is a Public Health issue that is preventable. Prevention can be categorized into 3 areas:
Primary – Actions that take place before sexual violence has occurred to prevent first-time perpetration or victimization
Secondary – Immediate response after sexual violence
Tertiary Prevention – Long-term response after sexual violence
Prevention strategies do not include self-defense classes for females, encouraging females to wear less-provocative clothes or to encourage females to drink less alcohol – these are just some examples of how our society victim blames those who become survivors of sexual violence.
Instead, prevention initiatives evaluate the root causes of sexual violence, as well as the ecological model for a framework that includes individual, relationship, community and societal factors.
Please click here to read a general overview of key primary prevention initiatives. Or visit our Campaigns, Resources, and Step Up. Step In. pages for more information about prevention initiatives. Or contact us for more information.