The National Sexual Violence Resource Center (NSVRC) is the leading nonprofit in providing information and tools to prevent and respond to sexual violence. NSVRC translates research and trends into best practices that help individuals, communities and service providers achieve real and lasting change. The center also works with the media to promote informed reporting. Every April, NSVRC leads Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM), a campaign to educate and engage the public in addressing this widespread issue. NSVRC is also one of the three founding organizations of RALIANCE, a national, collaborative initiative dedicated to creating equitable, respectful, and safe environments. NSVRC is a primary division of Respect Together.
Mission and Vision
The mission of Respect Together is to work to eliminate all forms of sexual violence and advocate for the rights and needs of victims of sexual assault.
Respect Together’s main divisions are the National Sexual Violence Resource Center (NSVRC), which provides resources and prevention strategies at the national level, and the Pennsylvania Coalition to Advance Respect (PCAR), which focuses on advocacy in Pennsylvania. Collectively, we are working together to create a culture in the United States – and beyond – that values and upholds all people being treated with respect and free from all forms of sexual violence and oppression.
History
NSVRC was launched in July 2000 as a national information and resource hub to help communities respond to and prevent sexual abuse, assault, and harassment. Respect Together (formerly the Pennsylvania Coalition Against Rape) received funding from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as part of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) to expand their work nationally through NSVRC. NSVRC is governed by Respect Together’s Board of Directors and leadership team.
We offer comprehensive support by:
- Collaborating with partners to provide resources and promote promising initiatives.
- Helping communities prevent sexual violence by using research and community-based practices to create safe and respectful environments.
- Identifying and disseminating resources related to all aspects of sexual violence.
- Responding to requests for information about sexual violence and its prevention.
- Working with the media to promote informed reporting by providing training, background information, and referrals.
- Coordinating the national Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM) campaign in April.
- Sharing news and resources to shift public thinking about sexual violence via our social media platforms, monthly email newsletter, and blogs.
- Promoting research and statistics pertaining to sexual violence, trends, and best practices in sexual assault prevention.
NSVRC’s work is supported by our Advisory Council, which represents a diverse range of disciplines, perspectives, and organizations across the anti-sexual violence movement. The purpose of the Advisory Council is to help our staff broaden the scope and strengthen the quality of our work as a national organization. NSVRC also maintains strong partnerships with state, territory, and tribal anti-sexual assault coalitions and allied organizations across the country.
NSVRC supports organizations that provide direct services to sexual assault victims, including; rape crisis centers; national, state, and local agencies; and allied programs.
We refer requests for direct victims’ services to the appropriate state coalition and/or a local program conveniently located to the caller. A caller looking for services may also access and search the location and phone numbers of state and territory coalitions on our website.
National Award Programs
NSVRC supports two award programs:
- The Visionary Voice Awards are given each April to individuals who have demonstrated outstanding work to end sexual violence.
- The Gail Burns-Smith Award recognizes people who have made significant contributions to preventing sexual violence through their work to facilitate effective partnerships between advocates working on behalf of victims and survivors and those working in the area of sex offender management and treatment.