According to the Prevention Institute, prevention is “a systematic process that promotes healthy environments and behaviors and reduces the likelihood or frequency of violence against women occurring.” Primary prevention is taking action before violence occurs.
Sexual violence approaches can be divided into the following three categories: primary prevention, secondary prevention, and tertiary prevention.
Before a person has acquired risk factors for perpetrating sexual violation — and before sexual assault/abuse has been perpetrated.
Decrease perpetrator risk factors; increase perpetrator protective factors; promote positive behaviors.
Individuals; Families; Communities; Organizations; Systems; Societal norms
Respect campaigns, providing info about healthy relationships, anti-bullying initiatives.
After a person has acquired risk factors for perpetrating sexual violation—and before (or very soon after) sexual assault/abuse has been perpetrated.
Address perpetrator risk factors; Promote appropriate bystander behavior; Share victim risk-reduction techniques.
Potential perpetrators; Potential bystanders; Potential victims.
Rape whistles, watching your drink at a bar, taking a self-defense class, walking with a partner
After a person has perpetrated sexual assault/abuse—and the problem is chronic and/or entrenched
Sex offender prosecution and/or treatment; Sexual assault crisis services for victims
Known sex offenders; Known victims of sexual assault/abuse
Crisis hotlines, victim services, court advocacy, sex offender registries, prison sentences
These activities include efforts to change community norms that support perpetration, including addressing bystander behavior and parenting styles. Program activities may also focus on strengthening protective factors, helping develop those attitudes and beliefs that prevent individuals from becoming perpetrators. In addition, realizing that education needs to be supplemented with changes in the environment, programs may expand the focus to include social marketing and media campaigns, as well as participation in collaborative efforts
It consisted of professionals from DCF (Department of Children and Families), Children’s Trust Fund, AHEC (Area Health Education Center), St. Francis Hospital Children’s Center, Connecticut Children’s Medical Center, and CONNSACS’ member centers. The committee’s purpose was to provide input for the development of a statewide sexual violence prevention action plan. Recommendations resulting from this collaborative effort included:
Data collection for monitoring purposes;
Identification, testing, and evaluation of “best practices” in direct interventions intended to reduce the risk of perpetration behaviors;
Media literacy activities;
Support for healthy parenting; and
The development of community-based sexual violence prevention community action teams to identify risk factors for perpetration, increase protective factors, and support the prevention of perpetration of sexual offenses.
These recommendations, along with findings obtained through ongoing research, will be used to guide the refinement, enhancement, and expansion of effective primary prevention programs in Connecticut.
In order to end sexual violence, all men need to be actively engaged in addressing cultural norms that support sexual violence.
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