Each day, people witness actions and behaviors. Some are respectful and safe. Others are sexually abusive and violent. When we see violent behaviors, we can intervene in responsible ways.
This primary prevention approach helps to create spaces where people are safe in their relationships, families, neighborhoods, schools, workplaces, and communities.
The 2011 SAAM Campaign provides bystander intervention resources, scenarios, and opportunities to share your stories. We can all address behaviors before sexual violence occurs.
Resources, Scenarios, Stories, Media
Engaging Bystanders Resources
It’s time…to incorporate bystander intervention into sexual violence prevention (2011)
This three-page fact sheet presents a brief overview of the bystander intervention approach to sexual violence prevention, key points about this type of intervention, evidence-based outcomes regarding the effectiveness of the approach, and key resources for finding additional information about this model. It is also available in Spanish.
Engaging Bystanders in Sexual Violence Prevention by Joan Tabachnick (2009)
This booklet reviews the concept of bystander intervention and explores some factors that lead people to respond.
Comprometer a los espectadores en la prevención de la violencia sexual (2009)
Este libro presenta la necesidad de una orientación urgente sobre la importancia de comprometer a los espectadores en la prevención de la violencia sexual
Bystander scenarios, diagrams & discussion points
The following scenarios depict everyday interactions among people and offer discussion activities and possible responses about intervening. Research shows that practices scenarios like these ones can make you feel more confident and more likely to get involved.
It’s time ... to talk to your family
It’s time ... to discuss boundaries with your neighbors
It’s time ... to listen to your customers
It’s time ... to help your friends
It’s time ... to protect your students
It’s time ... to respect your coworkers
It’s time ... to speak up in your community
Share Your Stories Project
It’s time to share your experience
The NSVRC Share Your Stories Project collects stories about the everyday ways that people intervene to stop sexually violent actions and behaviors. People share their stories about how they seized opportunities to get involved in sexual violence prevention. Read the stories that other people submitted or share your own.
Media Activism
A sample Letter to the Editor template letter about being an active, engaged bystander to prevent sexual violence for local or campus media outlets.
Reporting on sexual violence is a difficult task and we appreciate the media’s commitment to doing so with integrity. The NSVRC created a packet for journalists about reporting on sexual violence. It includes a fact sheet on engaging bystanders.
For additional campaign planning tools and tips, join the conversation at the SAAM blog. To request a resource CD, join our mailing list by contacting resources@nsvrc.org. Many resources are also available in Spanish.
