Here are just ten ways you can take action, safely and impactfully.
1. Listen to and believe survivors
When someone shares their story of rape or sexual violence, they are taking the first step to stepping out of the shadows.
“We hear you. We believe you. We stand with you.”
2. Teach youth and learn from them
The examples we set for young people shape the way they think about gender, respect and human rights. Start conversations about consent, bodily autonomy and accountability early on, and also listen to what they have to say about their experience of the world. By empowering young people with information, and educating them about healthy relationships, we can build a world without violence.
“Violence is preventable.
If we can learn it, we can unlearn it.
Violence is not healthy for people and other living things.
If we can see it, we can stop it.
Silence is violence.
If we can talk about it, we can change it.”
3. Call for responses and services that are trauma-informed and survivor-centered
Services for survivors are life-saving and life-sustaining.
This means shelters, hotlines, counseling and all support for survivors need to be reimagined and adapted to ensure that some of the most vulnerable populations in our communities - survivors of sexual and domestic violence are protected, even during the coronavirus pandemic.
4. Understand consent
Consent is full, non-coerced agreement between all parties about physical, emotional, and sexual acts and dynamics. Getting agreement needs to be explicit and must take verbal and body language into account.
When it comes to consent, there are no blurred lines.
5. Be An Upstander
You will see and hear attitudes and behaviors that degrade people and uphold rape culture. When your friend tells a joke about rape, say you don’t find it funny. When you read an article that blames a rape survivor for being assaulted, write a letter to the editor. When laws are proposed that limit the rights of survivors, let politicians know that you won’t support them. Do anything but remain silent.
6. Start a conversation
Talk to women, men, trans and gender non-conforming individuals about rape culture and what we can do as a collective to prevent sexual violence.
7. Work against other oppressions and violences
Rape culture feeds off many other forms of violence and opressions-- including racism, homophobia, and religious discrmination. By working against any beliefs and behaviors that promote one group of people as superior to another and deny other groups their full humanity, you support social justice and cultural transformation.
8. Contribute your time and money
Join or donate to an organization working to prevent violence against women. Rape crisis centers and domestic violence agencies count on financial support for their survival and always need volunteers to share the workload.
9. Know the data and demand more of it
To effectively combat gender-based violence, we need to understand the issue.
Relevant data collection is key to implementing successful prevention measures and providing survivors with the right support.
As gender-based violence has spiked during COVID-19, the gaps in data collection have become more glaring than ever. Call on your government to invest in the collection of data on gender-based violence.
10. Don’t ever have sex with anyone against their will. Period.
To learn more
Visit the resources section of this action kit or read through the resources section of this website.