We are heartbroken by the U.S. Supreme Court’s unprecedented decision to upend settled law and overturn Roe vs. Wade. The decision will disproportionately impact those who are already marginalized: people of color, the LGBTQ+ community, low income patients, undocumented individuals, and many others. Given this precedent, we are concerned about the ways privacy and equity […]
What is Grooming? Grooming is a tactic in which someone methodically builds a trusting relationship with a child or young adult, their family, and community to manipulate, coerce, or force the child or young adult to engage in sexual activities. The person grooming identifies vulnerabilities, erodes the child’s or young adult’s boundaries, and builds up […]
A letter signed by seven victim service organizations to Governor Lamont urged his support for victims of crime by offsetting a temporary but significant loss of funding to crime victims in Connecticut. The federal Victims of Crime Act (VOCA), administered […]
The Connecticut Alliance to End Sexual Violence joined Senator Richard Blumenthal and fellow anti-violence agencies outside the Capitol building in late December to highlight the impending vote on the reauthorization of the Violence Against Woman Act (VAWA). “We’re really excited about the amount of funding that’s going to be going into prevention,” said Director of […]
Teaching bodily autonomy results in a child who is capable of setting boundaries, feels empowered to say ‘no,’ and is able to navigate a world that often does not set them up for success. 1. Let children know they’re the boss of their bodies. Emphasize and create opportunities for them to understand they’re […]
Author’s Note: A version of this piece was published in the Hartford Courant on March 27, 2021. Through numerous email and phone exchanges over the course of two weeks, I conceded to changes to its contents to make the op-ed viable for publication. Those changes included removing any reference to the relationship and gender of […]
As educators and students have had to adjust to distance learning, The Rowan Center has pivoted to do the same, making sure that education about sexual violence is still reaching the community. Their series, ‘Rowan Talks,’ delivers bite-sized video snippets every Tuesday, providing information about consent, supporting friends and loved ones who disclose trauma, self-care […]
When Nikki Adams turned to yoga to heal the trauma she endured as a survivor of childhood sexual abuse, she found that the same spaces which often preached inclusivity were unwelcoming. “When you walk in and you lay your mat down and you get stares. It’s micro stuff, it’s all the isms, it’s more than […]
What’s the most difficult part of leading Youth-led Participatory Action Research? Ensuring that the project is, indeed, youth-led, according to violence prevention specialist Katelyn Owens. As a facilitator at the Center for Family Justice’s ‘Pathways to Justice’ program, Owens has been busy coming up with ways to make sure the seven young students are leading […]
“As a ‘spitfire’ teenage activist who grew into an attorney, Rayna Dyton-White’s varied background prepared her for her eventual role as the Director of Diversity and Inclusion and Title IX Coordinator at the University of St. Joseph. Her transition from court to campus, while unexpected, was a natural fit for Dyton-White who’d also worked […]
Coming to the close of a year fraught with continued challenges, Johanna DeBari has found a silver lining in the face of tumult.Social distancing amid the pandemic threatens to depersonalize the student survivors she strives to support at Wesleyan University as Director of the Office of Support, Healing, Activism, and Prevention Education (SHAPE). And […]
As the shared experience of ‘Zoom fatigue’ sets in, those who work with children are especially strapped to find a way to keep their screen-partners engaged and connected. But with a little inspiration from Pinterest, one Women and Families Center advocate was able to bring a personalized touch to brighten what can often be […]
Event program available here. This half-day conference includes speakers, panelists, and group discussion as we explore best practices in providing support to survivors of sexual violence on college and university campuses in our state in light of the recently released, revised Title IX regulations. Viewers will have the opportunity to learn what prevention and response […]
When the YWCA New Britain’s Sexual Assault Crisis Service (SACS) opens back up to visitors, clients will be welcomed into a new, spacious area, complete with a cozy counseling room and modern conference space. The new space allows advocates to collaborate and consult each other without interruption as they work to support survivors from […]
The Ct Alliance to End Sexual Violence, Every Voice Coalition CT and legislators met Monday to voice their support for a proposed bill that would extended protections for survivors of sexual violence on college and university campuses and express a need for the bill to be heard during Connecticut’s upcoming special session of the general […]
Voyeurism is the act of watching unsuspecting and non-consenting persons while they are undressing, naked, showering, or engaging in sexual activity for sexual pleasure. Voyeuristic Disorder is defined under the Diagnositc and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders- 5th Edition (DSMV) as a paraphilic disorder. While not all those who exhibit voyeuristic behaviors meet the […]
Any sexual touching that occurs without the explicit consent of the recipient is sexual violence. No one has the right to touch you in any way without your consent. Touching without consent can happen anywhere. It can happen in the subway on your way to work. It can can happen in the workplace, from co-worker […]
Drug-facilitated sexual assault occurs when the person assaulted is under the influence of a mind-altering substance. Drug-facilitated sexual assault occurs in two ways: when the perpetrator drugs a person unknowingly, creating a situation where the person is easily manipulated and/or controlled, or by taking advantage of a person who is already under the influence of […]
Human sex trafficking is the sexual exploitation of one person in exchange of goods or money to benefit the exploiter. Human sex trafficking affects all communities around the world and does not discriminate based on culture, race, or socioeconomic level. Many mistakenly make the assumption that human trafficking doesn’t happen in their own backyards; […]
Sexual photos should never be taken or distributed without consent. Each person has a right to their own body, and has a right not to have nude or sexual images of that body taken without consent in any environment or relationship. Additionally, if a person consents to take and share a sexual photo or video, […]
Child pornography is created any time an person under the age of consent is featured in pornographic pictures or videos. The child, who was exploited and victimized in the creation of that content, is re-victimized every single time these images are distributed and viewed. Additionally, creating a demand for that content through possessing it […]
Cyberbullying can be a form of sexual harassment and violence that takes place over text, through social media, in gaming or other social chatrooms. Cyberbullying often includes sending, posting, or sharing false, derogatory, personal or private information about another individual. But other forms of cyberbullying, which unfortunately have become commonplace, can turn sexually abusive […]
Preventing sexual objectification starts with education – about respect, about bodily autonomy, and about consent. The Alliance’s certified advocates are available if you’re interested in hosting a prevention workshop or training at your workplace, school or in your community. Let’s end this together.
Dear Alliance Allies, Friends and Community, To protect the health and safety of our staff and those we serve, The Alliance has closed our offices and moved our staff to working remotely. We will continue to be available during regular business hours and all our staff can connect with you via phone or email during […]
Senator Richard Blumenthal joined the Alliance Thursday to highlight federal funding set aside to be used for the processing of sexual assault evidence collection kits. The latest federal budget earmarks approximately $48 million to be used to support the Sexual Assault Kit Initiative. “We’re talking about respecting and honoring survivors who are willing to […]
When Joshua Frazer entered the criminal justice system at the age of 13, he found himself in a cycle that he would battle for years to come – leaving the system when he reached adulthood only to return when he found no support on the outside. “The problem is you have no money, you have […]
Join The Alliance and The Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP) Sunday, Nov. 3 at state-wide rallies in front of three Connecticut cathedrals.
“Give Victims Time” Bill – The new bill was passed during the 2019 legislative session and is effective as of October 1, 2019. The new bill – which can be viewed in full here – extends various deadlines for those who wish to report sexual violence and: Increases statute of limitations to 20 years from […]
The Alliance was joined by Senator Richard Blumenthal in demanding further background checks and an accessible reporting system.
The Joyful Heart Foundation – a national organization working to end the backlog of untested sexual assault kits – announced that Connecticut has reached “full reform” of its sexual assault backlog. This means the state meets each of the organization’s six pillars of reform and now: 1) Counts untested sexual assault kits annually 2) Tests […]
