Prevention Actions

Overview
Prevention is about social change. Focusing on prevention may help create an environment where people are safe in their relationships, homes, neighborhoods, schools, workplaces, and more. All elements of a community, including workplaces, are vital in the development of comprehensive sexual violence prevention strategies. The more sectors involved and the more strategies implemented, the more likely we are to succeed in decreasing sexual violence. To help communities connect the concepts of awareness and prevention, we have provided a selection of “Prevention Actions” for various segments of the population.

Community

Organize or support local SAAM events in April.
Write letters to the editor about preventing sexual violence in your community.
Motivate community leaders to address the issue of sexual violence.
Interrupt behavior such as bullying, sexist joking, and harassment.
Support legislation and local policies designed to prevent and respond to sexual violence efficiently and effectively.

Healthcare

Talk with all patients about human development, healthy sexuality, and sexual violence.
Encourage partnerships between sexual assault programs and healthcare providers.
Engage your professional organizations in discussions regarding sexual violence prevention.
Look for signs of bullying, violence, extreme control of family members and/or intimate partners and make appropriate prevention and/or intervention referrals.

Colleges and Universities

Make consent a priority and a norm on your campus.
Use campus media to educate others about campus safety, sexual violence prevention and respectful behaviors.
Encourage language, behaviors, and visual images that promote safety and respect.
Invite leaders from all groups on campus to collaborate to promote sexual violence prevention, campus safety, healthy attitudes, and healthy relationships.
Create policies on your campus that promote safety, respect, and accountability.

Workplaces

Address behaviors such as bullying, sexist or racist joking, and other forms of harassment.
Develop and enforce workplace violence and harassment policies.
Develop partnerships with local organizations involved in anti-violence work.
Require employee and supervisor trainings in the areas of diversity, anti-oppression, and sexual harassment.
Apply expectations for nonviolent and respectful behavior equally in your organization, regardless of the employee’s age, gender, or position.

See more detailed information on creating healthy, violence-free workplaces in the Current Campaign section of the website.