A Novel, Intensive Home-Visiting Intervention for Runaway, Sexually Exploited Girls
"This study both describes a home-visiting intervention program for young, sexually assaulted runaways (10-14 years old) and provides preliminary outcomes from the first 20 female participants. Following the one-year intervention, teens' risk behaviors decreased, including truancy, runaway episodes, sexually transmitted infections and substance use."
Addressing Elder Sexual Abuse: Developing a Community Response
This multimedia curriculum is created to promote community partnerships in combating elder sexual abuse. This is a joint project of the Pennsylvania Coalition Against Rape and the Pennsylvania Department of Aging and is funded bythe Pennsylvania Department of Aging and the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime & Delinquency.
Alcohol and Sexual Violence Perpetration
This Applied Research paper examines the frequent co-occurrence of alcohol and sexual violence perpetration. Identifying the different ways alcohol relates to perpetration can aid in the development of effective sexual violence prevention strategies. The authors off suggestions for practitioners based on available scientific knowledge.
An Evidence-Based Review of Sexual Assault Preventive Intervention Programs (pdf)
RTI International performed a comprehensive literature review of existing Sexual Assault Preventive Programs (SAPIs). This document provides an evidence-based review of their findings and includes extensive evaluations of existing SAPIs, identifies areas where there appear to be significant gaps, as well as provides recommendations for the change of current/future SAPIs. *This file is very large, please be patient as it downloads*
Child prostitution: global health burden, research needs, and interventions
"In this article we estimate morbidity and mortality among prostituted children, and propose research strategies and interventions to mitigate such health consequences."
Confronting Sexual Violence in Conflict Situations (pdf)
"This document is one of four sections to be published in the organization's upcoming handbook, 'Women Claiming Justice: Using International Law in Conflict and Post-Conflict Situations'. The report outlines the various manifestations of sexual violence frequently exhibited in conflict zones, specifically highlighting rape and sexual abuse, domestic violence, sexual exploitation, and trafficking. Also provides a “Peace Builders Action Toolkit” with resources for activists working to create peace and justice. "
"This Applied Research paper provides a review of the research focusing on LGBT survivors of sexual trauma and offers recommendations for culturally competent service provision to LGBT clients."
Culture Handbook (pdf)
"This handbook is designed to be used by advocates and professionals who work with those who are victims of domestic and sexual violence. It provides some basic information on how to understand culture and begin the process of challenging oneself to become more aware of the ways in which culture impacts our work and the lives of those who are victims."
Current Trends in Psychological Assessment and Treatment Approaches for Survivors of Sexual Trauma (pdf)
This document provides a review and critique of current trends in mental health assessment and treatment for sexual trauma survivors with an emphasis on early intervention. Treatment approaches are restricted to psychotherapy.
Date Rape: A Hidden Crime (pdf)
"This Australian report provides an overview of main issues underlying date rape including: incidence, difficulties in measuring extent; complicated issues around sexual consent; impact on victims; and, obstacles and options in prevention and treatment."
Domestic Violence and Sexual Violence in Minnesota: Strategies for Prevention and Intervention (pdf)
This planning tool addresses the issue of domestic and sexual violence as they relate to health care and public health in Minnesota.
Elder Mistreatment: Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation in an Aging America
This full book link is provided courtesy of The National Academies Press. This is an online book and can be read in its entirety front to back, by chapter or skimmed by topic of interest. Published in 2002, this book details everything from the definitions and concepts of elder abuse to the public policy implications as well as to the types of interventions available for working with this population.
Employee Training on Addressing Sexual Harassment (word)
This module is intended to train in identifying the various forms of sexual harassment, encouraging employees to report it, and discussing options for addressing sexual harassment in the workplace.
Engaging Bystanders in Sexual Violence Prevention (pdf)
"This book presents a compelling orientation to the importance of engaging bystanders in sexual violence prevention. The narrative provides background on the development of an approach that empowers each of us to be involved in prevention. It discusses various reasons why individuals who witness a range of inappropriate behaviors may or may not take action, and presents ways to encourage and develop greater bystander involvement. Finally, this book serves as an excellent training resource; it provides activities and trainer instructions throughout that make it a useful educational guide on bystander engagement in sexual violence prevention."
Facts About Child Sex Tourism (pdf)
This provides a brief overview of the sexual exploitation of children worldwide. This fact sheet includes a definition of child sex tourism, both the global and U.S. response, and suggestions for what governments, citizens and business can do to combat child sex tourism.
Family Violence: An Intervention Model for Dental Professionals (pdf)
Efforts to strengthen responses by health care professionals to family violence have increased dramatically in recent years. As a result, more health care providers are able to recognize the signs of abuse and assist patients who are victims. However, dental professionals appear to be the least likely of all clinicians to suspect and intervene in family violence, even though injuries to the head and neck are present in 60 percent or more of abuse cases. Although they may see abuse-related injuries during patient visits, dental professionals typically have not been trained to recognize the causes of these injuries or how to offer intervention and referrals to patients. This bulletin describes a training model that teaches dental professionals how to recognize symptoms and patterns of abuse, create a safe environment for disclosure, intervene appropriately, refer patients to appropriate services, and file mandatory reports. The bulletin also underscores the importance of including dental professionals in community efforts to coordinate response to family violence.
Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting: Data and Trends (pdf)
The Population Reference Bureau estimates that between 100 and 140 million girls and women worldwide have undergone female genital mutilation (FGM) and more than 3 million girls are at risk for cutting each year on the African continent alone. Global and national efforts to end FGM and cutting have supported legislation targeting excisors, medical professionals, and families who perpetuate the practice, but political will and implementation remain an issue.
Final Report: Focus Group on Public Law 280 and the Sexual Assault of Native Women
"The Office on Violence Against Women (OVW) hosted a focus group in Green Bay, Wisconsin to discuss challenges to, and opportunities for, collaboration between states and tribes in Public Law 280 jurisdictions to address sexual assault in Indian country."
First Response to Victims of Crime Who Have a Disability (pdf)
"This handbook was created for law enforcement officers on how to approach and help crime victims with disabilities. It offers guidance and tips on approaching and interacting with victims who have Alzheimer’s disease, mental illness, or mental retardation, or who are blind, visually impaired, deaf, or hard of hearing."
Forensic Evidence Collection and Care of the Sexual Assault Survivor: The SANE-SART Response
This Violence Against Women Online Resources commissioned document outlines the components of a coordinated Sexual Assault Response Team (SART) model and illustrates the techniques and implementation strategies that should be utilized when gathering forensic evidence post sexual assualt.
Gender Approaches in Conflict and Post-Conflict Situations (pdf)
This manual aims to increase effectiveness of humanitarian and recovery interventions through integration of a gender perspective in conflict and post-conflict situations. It includes a chart to depict different levels of possible gender violence dimensions along the timeline of pre-conflict and post-conflict.
Global Consultation on Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting (pdf)
A report on the prevalence of female genital mutilation (FGM) and analyzes shifting global patterns of FGM and methods used to eliminate its occurrence. The report also illustrates the effects of FGM on maternal and infant health and notes law enforcement and non-profit agency efforts to combat FGM.
Guatemala’s Femicide Law: Progress Against Impunity? (pdf)
This report places femicide within a particular historical, cultural and socio-political context describing the 36-year internal conflict that resulted in rape, torture and murder of tens of thousands of Guatemalan women and girls. Although the government has made some progress in implementing some aspects of the Law Against Femicide, the report also points out that the lack of understanding of the law, continued social unrest, poor media portrayal, and inadequate efforts to implement the law stand in the way of serious progress. The report concludes with recommendations for the government including improving investigation and prosecution of crimes of violence against women, and protection of the victims of violence and their children.
How to Write a Letter to the Judge for Victims of Rape, Domestic Violence and Child Abuse
Gives information that should help you write a more effective letter. Provides four examples of different kinds of letters you as a victim or victim advocate, may want to write to the judge in the criminal case. Also available in Spanish.
Improving Judicial Response to Sexual Harassment in the Courtroom (word)
This module is intended for judges, court personnel, and other legal professionals to strategize about improving the judicial response to sexual harassment in the courtroom and in their profession generally.
Juveniles Who Have Sexually Offended: A Review of the Professional Literature
Posted by the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP). A comprehensive and annotated account of the characteristics of juveniles who commit sex offenses and their families and the type of offenses they commit. A broad array of clinical assessment tools, including psychological testing, are described, and a thorough discussion of recidivism rates and issues is presented. The Report concludes with a review of treatment approaches and settings and a look at program assessment.
Let's Talk: Adults Talking to Adults about Child Sexual Abuse (pdf)
The brochure also outlines what someone can do in three very different circumstances:how to report if someone finds out that abuse has been perpetrated, how to add in protective factors if no child has been abused, but someone is at risk to abuse, and how to talk about healthy sexual development when the lines of communication need to be opened.
Making a Difference: Strategic Communications to End Violence Against Women (pdf)
A toolkit for planning strategic communications to raise awareness about and combat gender-based violence around the world. It gives step-by-step information on developing a media campaign. Alternate version available in Russian.
Marital Rape (pdf)
This VAWnet report provides an overview of the research on marital rape with (1) a brief legal history of marital rape; (2) a discussion of the occurrence of marital rape;(3) a summary of the effects of marital rape; and (4) an analysis of practitioners' interventions with marital rape survivors.
Marital Rape: New Research and Directions
Provides an overview of the research on marital rape including a brief legal history of marital rape; a discussion of the occurrence of marital rape; a summary of the effects of marital rape; and an analysis of practitioners' intervention with marital rape survivors.
Measuring Intimate Partner Violence Victimization and Perpetration: A Compendium of Assessment Tools (pdf)
"This compendium provides researchers and prevention specialists with a set of assessment tools with demonstrated reliability and validity for measuring the self-reported incidence and prevalence of Intimate Partner Violence victimization and perpetration. The information is presented to help researchers and practitioners make informed decisions when choosing scales to use in their work."
Moving Upstream (pdf)
"The theme of this issue is "Revisiting Healthy Sexuality and Sexual Violence Prevention". The feature article profiles two programs using a healthy sexuality approach, and also reports on key policy and practice developments that have come to light since the original healthy sexuality articles were published in 2005. There is also an article examining how one local Virginia agency implemented the Care For Kids child sexual abuse prevention program in their community. "
Must Boys Be Boys? Ending Sexual Exploitation & Abuse in UN Peacekeeping Missions (pdf)
This report argues that a hyper-masculine culture has evolved within UN peacekeeping missions that breeds a tolerance for such extreme behaviors. The report calls on the UN to insure that the necessary funding and resources are made available to fully address the problem.
NCEA Releases New Study on Abuse of Adults Age 60+ (pdf)
The 2004 Survey of Adult Protective Services, the most rigorous national study of state-level APS data conducted to date, offers important new insights into the troubling elder abuse problem.
Ohio Elderly Abuse Interdisciplinary Team Manual (pdf)
This manual outlines how to create interdisplinary teams to deal with issues of elder abuse. The manual provides best practice models and scenarios.
Online Learning Tools on Violence Against Women
"This collection provides a sampling of available Online Learning Tools with subject matter related to violence against women prevention and intervention. The resources listed here can be used for the purposes of staff development (by individuals), or as tools for trainers (in groups).Many of the tools in this list offer Continuing Education Credits (CEUs) to fulfill licensure requirements for professionals in certain disciplines."
Poverty and Sexual Violence: Building Prevention and Intervention Responses (pdf)
"The Pennsylvania Coalition Against Rape announces a new resource, Poverty and Sexual Violence: Building Prevention and Intervention Responses. There is a complex and often reciprocal relationship between poverty and sexual violence. This guide is intended to support rape crisis centers in their economic advocacy efforts at all levels of the organization, using the Spectrum of Violence Prevention as a blueprint in responding to the needs of victims, survivors, and communities. To these ends, the guide includes: a definition and discussion of terms, literature review, discussion of the philosophical framework for economic advocacy, ways to apply economic advocacy to the work, tools and resources, and fact sheets."
Programming to Address Violence against Women (pdf)
"This is the second volume in a series that focuses on prevention and response tools for violence against women. The publication features eight case studies that highlight initiatives that have proven successful in combating violence against women: Algeria, Guatemala, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe. The UNFPA hopes to support current efforts in the eight case study countries and encourage other countries to take steps toward ending violence against women."
Protecting Children in Cyberspace: The ICAC Task Force Program (pdf)
January 2002 Bulletin. Discusses efforts by OJJDP's Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force Program that address emerging online threats, such as computer-facilitated sex crimes, directed at children and teenagers. The ICAC Task Force Program helps State and local law enforcement agencies develop effective responses to online enticement and child pornography offenses. Responses include investigative, forensic, community education, and victim service components. The information in this OJJDP Bulletin is intended to help parents, policymakers, and practitioners create an Internet environment in which children can participate safely.
"This study of a group of women engaged in sex work at a popular truck stop in South Africa was undertaken to explore the social context that places them at high risk for HIV infection, and to assess how this context influences their ability to reduce their risk."
Report Concerning the Assessment of USAF Sexual Assault Prevention and Response (pdf)
"Provides an assessment of the Air Force's capability to prevent and respond to sexual assault. This assessment was conducted in response to allegations made in January 2003 of sexual assault at the United States Air Force Academy."
"In 2002 RTI conducted an environmental scan to identify programs in the relatively new field of prevention of first-time perpetration of sexual violence. The current report provides updated information on 23 of the original 37 programs and adds information on 36 new programs that have been developed since the 2003 report. This report offers a catalogue of programs targeting prevention of first-time male perpetration of sexual violence."
Reproductive Health for Communities in Crisis (pdf)
This document illustrates that communities that face natural disaster, war and internal conflicts are likely to experience violence against women and reproductive health challenges. The document explores how to address sexual violence, HIV/AIDS, reproductive health, and how to maintain safety in prolonged crisis.
Reproductive Health in Refugee Situations: An Inter-Agency Field Manual
The purpose of the Field Manual is to serve as a tool to facilitate discussion and decision-making in the planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of reproductive health (RH) interventions. Chapters in the manual include: sexual and gender based violence, reproductive health concerns, and legal information.
Responding to Violence and Abuse: Educating Minnesota Professionals for the Future
1995 report of four statewide task forces convened to review, revise and recommend violence education for nine professional areas (61 pages).
Restorative Justice Responses to Sexual Assault
This VAWnet Applied Research paper examines restorative justice for sexual assault from the perspective of survivors. A large international literature promotes restorative justice options as satisfying and empowering to crime victims.
Risk Factors for Abusive Relationships: A Study of Vietnamese American Immigrant Women
"This study identifies risk factors for Vietnamese American women's abuse. Patriarchal gender arrangements in the family, arguments about fulfilling gender and family roles, and partner's threat that divorce would compromise the participant's immigration status put women at risk for each type of abuse. "Picture brides" were at heightened risk for sexual abuse. For women with limited resources, education and interventions within the ethnic immigrant community are critical to addressing wife abuse."
Sex Trafficking Needs Assessment for the State of Minnesota
This 2008 report, focuses on trafficking for commercial sex exploitation and prostitution, highlights successes in combating sex trafficking and suggests ways to improve responses to this complex problem in Minnesota.
Sexual Assault and Current Mental Health: The Role of Help-Seeking and Police Response
In this study, the authors examine the extent to which seeking help from social service agencies, family and friends, reporting to the police, or responses by the police might buffer or exacerbate the impact of sexual assault on mental health outcomes among sexual assault victims. The authors found that in many cases help-seeking and police response exacerbates the impact of sexual assault victimization. Also the association of depression and rape penetration was greater among those seeking help from social services and those reporting their victimization to the police.
Sexual Assault Risk Reduction Curriculum
The curriculum was specifically developed to reduce the incidence of adolescent sexual assault through risk-reduction educational strategies. It is a powerful tool to assist school personnel, police, and community agency staff in their efforts to implement high-quality educational programs. The curriculum includes lessons for high school and middle school aged youth and can be used in either school or non-school settings.
"This briefing paper was prepared for the Symposium on Sexual Violence in Conflict and Beyond, which took place in June 2006. It provides information on the nature and scope of the problem as well as evaluation of efforts to combat it."
Sexual Violence Surveillance: Uniform Definitions and Recommended Data Elements (pdf)
This document contains definitions and data elements that can be used to create instruments for surveillance.
Shattered Lives: Immediate medical care for victims of sexual violence
A recently released report depicting the experiences of victims of sexual violence, as well as those who provide immediate care to victims. The report focuses on the individual stories of those who have been sexually assaulted, and those who provide medical, counseling, and other types of support services to victims. Through these stories,the organization hopes to convey the importance of making emergency medical and other services immediately and readily accessible to victims.
Teen Dating Violence: Information and Resources (pdf)
This is an information packet developed by the National Resource Center on Domestic Violence (NRCDV) as an introduction to the dynamics, prevalence and consequences of teen dating violence. The packet explores issues specific to teen dating violence, examines current provision of support services for teens and presents information about a variety of promising prevention /intervention strategies. The intent of packet contents is to examine some of the key dating violence issues currently facing teens and their advocates.
Testing Justice The Rape Kit Backlog in Los Angeles City and County (pdf)
"A March 2009 report from Human Rights Watch revealed that 12,669 rape kits containing DNA and other evidence of rapes remain untested in the city and county of Los Angeles, California. The report highlights the nature and scope of the backlog, consequences of untested kits, and responses from professionals."
The Economic Dimensions of Interpersonal Violence (pdf)
This document examines the economic effects of interpersonal violence, including sexual violence, as well as the economic effects of interventions seeking to reduce violence and the ways in which economic factors such as poverty and income inequality contribute to violence.
The Impact of Armed Conflict on Women and Girls (pdf)
This report of a consultative meeting is intended to contribute to the United Nations study on the Impact of Armed Conflict on Women and Girls, requested by the United Nations Security Council. This report reflects the purpose of the meeting which was twofold: first, to examine and explore the impact of armed conflict on women and girls; and, second, to formulate strategies and tools to ensure that reproductive health programmes accurately reflect this population’s needs, specifically by addressing them through a comprehensive, gendersensitive approach.
The Prevalence and Circumstances of Child Sexual Abuse among Latina Women
"This study examined the prevalence and circumstances of child sexual abuse in a community sample of Latina women, 18 to 50 years of age. Chi-square tests of independence and t-test procedures were used to assess the prevalence, characteristics of the victim, assault, perpetrator, disclosure, and long-term effects. One in three Latina women reported incidents of sexual abuse, regardless of acculturation or citizenship status. More than one third of the women also experienced revictimization, with more than 80% of initial incidents occurring from the age of 7 years. Treatment implications and community-based interventions for Latina survivors of child sexual abuse are discussed."
An empirical study on adult rape survivors' recommendations for interview practice. Survivors were asked what interviewers should know about rape and how they should interact with participants. The data revealed that interviewer training needs to emphasize diversity so that researchers are capable of working effectively with individuals with different life circumstances. The survivors also emphasized that interviewers need to show warmth and compassion and allow them to exercise choice and control during the interview process.
Treatment of Adult Sex Offenders
"This Applied Research paper provides an overview of the current state of treatment of adult male sex offenders, with a focus on the effectiveness of treatment."
This booklet, designed by the West Virginia Bureau for Public Health, helps young adults understand the dynamics of healthy relationships; the signs of controlling relationships; the strategies for dealing with dating violence; and the resources available to end the cycle of violence.
Understanding Treatment for Adults and Juveniles Who Have Committed Sex Offenses (pdf)
"The purpose of this brief is to provide a broad overview of current research, professional literature, and practice trends relative to treatment for sexually abusive individuals."
Violence Against Women - Synthesis of Research on Offender Interventions (pdf)
This report provides an overview of the latest research on interventions for men who assault women—wives, girlfriends, and acquaintances. The assaults may be physical or sexual, and they almost always involve psychological abuse. The overview begins with a description of the major components of current programs and then describes what is known about effective assessment and treatment methods. Several topics are covered that are often of interest to practitioners, including methods for enhancing treatment motivation, assessment of dangerousness, and culturally competent practice. The role of research in resolving controversial issues and the characteristics of sound evaluations are also discussed. Programs reviewed will be those commonly labeled as "social service," "treatment," and "psycho-educational," as opposed to purely criminal justice interventions.
Violence in Families: Assessing Prevention and Treatment Programs
This is a full-text online book made available courtesy of The National Academies Press. This important book, published in 1998, details out chapter by chapter the different types of interventions to be utilized by different types of professionals, as well as makes recommendations.
What Research Shows about Female Adolescent Sex Offenders (pdf)
"This fact sheet offers information about female adolescent sex offenders based on the limited research that is available. The information provided includes characteristics of this population as well as assessment and treatment issues. "
This study was developed to inform programming and advocacy within the context of UNIFEM programming, and builds on country-level visits conducted in early 2007. The study looks at five areas of intervention: peacebuilding and conflict resolution initiatives, reconciliation mechanisms, increasing access to justice, access to support services, and conflict monitoring systems. These sections examine the barriers women face and highlights examples of women’s successful engagement in peacebuilding at the community level.