SEXUAL VIOLENCE AND THE SPECTRUM OF PREVENTION:

TOWARDS A COMMUNITY SOLUTION

 Sexual Violence and the Spectrum of Prevention: Towards a Community Solution ( PDF)

Written by Prevention Institute staff, Rachel Davis, Lisa Fujie Parks, and Larry Cohen and published in July 2006 by the National Sexual Violence Resource Center, this article describes a primary prevention approach to addressing sexual violence.  Resistance to sexual violence has been occurring for centuries. Building on these acts of opposition, women began a movement to end sexual violence more than 30 years ago. The movement has made strides in breaking society’s collective silence, addressing issues of oppression and inequity, and forging new policies, all while supporting survivors, families, and friends. The rich history of advocacy provides a set of tools, knowledge, networks, and skills for intervention after sexual violence, as well as prevention before violence has occurred – that is, primary prevention. Primary prevention helps create environments where we can be more confident that people are safe in their relationships, homes, neighborhoods, schools, work places – in any environment.

Sexual violence is a learned behavior that can not be learned in the first place. In other words, sexual violence is preventable. Grounded in the belief that a single individual or sector cannot address the problem alone, the article explores the conditions that create environments in which sexual violence occurs, and provides a tool, the Spectrum of Prevention, for effectively developing a comprehensive prevention strategy. It is designed for advocates, practitioners, and educators who are interested in advancing a community solution to preventing what is unacceptable, yet all too common – sexual violence.

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