Every once in a while, sexual assault hits the media in a big way. And yet we hardly ever elevate the work of advocates for victims of sexual violence, who work day in and day out to make a better world & are rarely heard. There are lots of constructive things you can do to help.
Did you know that most rapes reported to law enforcement are pretty much ignored? Rape kits not tested, witnesses not interviewed, reports not even written. Do you know what this looks like locally for you?
Did you know that many victims are turned away from the hospital, because there isn’t widespread access to forensic exams? A brave survivor named @leahegriffin is trying to change that: seattleweekly.com/news/how-one-s…
Did you know that many crisis centers are constantly looking for donations and are struggling to stay aflot? Find your local domestic violence shelter and donate things they need. Ditto for sexual assault advocacy services
Did you know that almost half of sexual assault victims are under the age of 18, and yet most school districts have nothing in their curriculum to proactively address comprehensive sex education? Tell your local school board that you want children to be educated properly
Did you know that the reauthorization for the Violence Against Women Act is faltering this year? Even folks who don’t agree with everything in it agree that reauthorization is absolutely crucial. Call your elected representatives urging them to pay attention to VAWA
Did you know that many survivors going through the legal system are not truly advocated for by the prosecutor’s office, and domestic violence survivors are often prosecuted for self defense? Work on a local level to elect a more progressive DA than the one you probably have now
Did you know that many survivors in the US can’t afford basic preventative healthcare and therapy? Start advocating for access to healthcare for everyone. Everyone. Everyone deserves an opportunity to be healthy, both physically and mentally.
Did you know that many states don’t provide treatment for folks committed of sexual offenses, and the sex offender registry is downright inhumane and may actually increase recidivism? Call your legislators and urge a response based on rehabilitation & facts, not fear & punishment
Did you know that sex workers are often victimized by law enforcement while sex traffickers go completely ignored and not addressed? Listen to sex workers, and listen to victims of trafficking too. Stop spreading hoaxes and misinformation.
Did you know that a system that harms victims of crime is also one that harms defendants, particularly those who are a person of color, in poverty, or otherwise marginalized? Never, ever forget that the system is broken in more than one way.
Did you know that many victims of sexual assault have an intellectual disability and are, just like so many survivors, rarely taken seriously? I can guarantee this is happening locally for you. npr.org/2018/01/08/570…
Did you know that shelter services for male victims of domestic violence are almost nonexistent, and trans victims suffer from this dynamic as well? Start pushing on a local level to provide inclusive crisis services that don’t discriminate.
Did you know that many victims of sexual abuse and assault end up struggling with addiction? Start increasing your attention on local addiction services and nationwide efforts to treat addiction with science and compassion, not shame and incarceration.
Did you know that bystander intervention training (Green Dot in particular) can actually decrease rates of sexual assault and violence in grnrtsl? Ask your local school district if they utilize any bystander intervention curriculum for children and teenagers in your area
I deleted this tweet to try and fix a typo and then made the exact same typo again, so I’ll take that as my sign to stop the thread for now. But seriously. There are awesome people doing this work every day. Elevate them and thank them and care even when it’s not trending 😊
