101 Things You Can Do To Prevent Sexual Assault

1
101 Things You Can Do To Prevent Sexual Assault

• Starting with
• 1- Admit that it does happen in your community
• 2- Understand that sexual violence affects us all

2
EDUCATION!

• Educate yourself on the issues
• Educate others on the issues
• Know the statistics
• Teach others how to stay safe
• Teach others that violence is not the answer
• Teach others about choices and consequences
• Visit the MCASA (Maryland Coalition Against
  Sexual Assault) website at www.mcasa.org

3
BELIEVE!

• Believe survivors
• Believe in equality
• Believe that a safer world is possible

4
Be

• Alert and aware
• Courageous
• Non-judgmental
• Strong
• Aware of how violence is portrayed in the media
• And speak out against the medias portrayal of
  violence!

• Safe and aware when on the internet
• Open to change
• A member of the UMD group SAFER (Student
  Advocates for Education About Rape)

5
The More You Know

• Know that it can happen to ANYONE
• Know your laws
• Know that sexual violence is about power and
  control
• Know that most sex offenders arent strangers
• Know the resources available to the victims in
  your community
• Know that men can be raped
• Know that sexual violence can be a form of
  domestic violence
• Know where your politicians stand on sexual
  violence
• Know the rights of victims
• Know that you do have the power to make a
  difference!

6
R-E-S-P-E-C-T

• Respect a persons right to say NO
• Respect and embrace diversity
• Respect your partner or significant other
• Respect the choices that victims and survivors
  make to survive
• Respect different lifestyles

7
STOP! START!

• Stop yourself from putting a date rape drug into
  someones drink
• Stop others from slipping a date rape drug into
  someones drink.
• Stop your sexual advances if the other person
  says NO
• Stop yourself from taking advantage of someone
  who is passed out or incoherent
• Stop others from taking advantage of someone who
  is passed out or incoherent
• Start your own teal ribbon campaign
• Start an email campaign
• Start a Safe Date pledge drive

8
TAKE ACTION!

• Advocate
• for more rape prevention education programs
• for more youth violence prevention programs
• by making a public service announcement at your
  school about sexual assault
• Support
• your local rape crisis center by attending
  events, making donations, volunteering or
  sponsoring a fundraiser
• Maryland Coalition Against Sexual Assault
• RAINN sponsored events and concerts
• Participate
• in Sexual Assault Awareness Month activities
• in Take Back the Night March
• Write
• Your legislature and political leaders
• A letter to the editor of your paper
• An article for your school paper
• Ask your RA
• For more information about sexual violence
• To create more resources about this topic (like
  bulletin boards!)
• To invite a speaker to your residence hall to
  learn more

9
Do The Right Thing!

• Avoid blaming the victim
• Instead, advocate for victims rights.
• Avoid engaging in, supporting or encouraging
  sexual harassment
• Instead, speak out against all forms of violence.
• Instead, speak out against racist, sexist, or
  homophobic jokes.
• Instead, engage others in discussions about
  sexual violence.
• Avoid making threats or using coercion and
  pressure as a way to get sex
• Instead, encourage others to stop their sexual
  advances if the other person says NO.
• Avoid making assumptions
• Instead, challenge assumptions.
• Avoid buying music that glorifies sexual
  violence
• Urge your local radio stations to stop playing
  music that contains violent lyrics.

10
The Basics

• Trust your gut feeling.
• Listen!
• Empathize.
• Empower!
• Advocate.
• Reach out!
• Have compassion.
• Speak up!
• Get other to speak out against sexual violence.
  Tell your parents, friends and others what you
  know about sexual assault. Applaud those who
  speak out against sexual violence.

11

• Think globally, act locally
• work towards eliminating oppression of all kinds.
• Open your mind, Open your eyes, Open your heart!

12
Break the Silence

• FIND YOUR VOICE!
• Victim Advocate Office
• 2118D University Health Center
• 301.314.2222
• victimadvocate_at_health./umd.edu
• Get help. Or Call for help if you witness acts of
  violence.