Fight Rape

Rape remains an issue shrouded in a cloak of mystery – the most common victims are intimate partners and many do not have the fortitude to testify against a ‘loved’ one. Research since the women’s movement in the 1970’s confirms the magnitude of the rape problem. In 2005, the National Crime Victimization Survey estimates 192,000 rapes and sexual assaults occurred against people age 12 or older. The following are some must-know facts about

Intimate Violence
NCVS figures show that intimates accounted for more than a quarter of all rapes and sexual assaults in 2005. Non strangers account for 73 percent of all rapes and sexual assaults in 2005. Battering is even more common than rape. According to the NCVS, about 48,000 aggravated assaults and over 276,000 simple assaults were committed by intimates against women in 2005.

Age
Age plays a large factor in intimate-partner violence. Younger women are far more likely than older women to experience IPV. According to data collected between 1993-2004, Women in the 20-24 age group are most likely to experience IPV.

Social Class
The idea that rape and battery transcends social class is a common idea, however, NCVS statistics have found that the poorest women have rates of rape and battery 6.6 times higher than those for women in the highest income bracket.

Despite federal efforts, as well as NGO efforts, to compile useful statistics, data on rape is decidedly unreliable. Take for instance, Catholic Church sexual-abuse scandal that reached public attention in early 2002. The lack of visible signs of injury contributed to an estimated 11,000 cases of molestation since 1950.

Laws.com is devoted to helping prevent crime as well as stopping crime in its tracks. The following is a list of organizations that advocate for rape victims, they are listed in no particular order. If you would like to see your organization on this list, please contact us at Editor@Laws.com.

Men Can Stop Rape

Men Can Stop Rape is an international organization that mobilizes male youth to prevent men’s violence against women. They help individuals build the capacity to challenge the harmful aspects of traditional masculinity, to value alternative visions of male strength, and to embrace their vital role as allies with women and girls in fostering healthy relationships and gender equity.

DC Strength Training
This is Men Can Stop Rape’s most comprehensive strength training. Held twice a year (January and July) in Washington, D.C. Their next session will convene on January 7-9, 2010.

Campus Strength Program
The nation’s most comprehensive strategy to engage college and university men in rpeventing violence against women. This is an especially crucial part of their mission, as women between the ages of 20-24 are the most likely to experience unwanted sexual advances.

Strength Trainings & Workshops
Having trained more than 9,000 professionals and provided technical assistance to more than 200 agencies and organizations.

Arming Women Against Rape and Endangerment (AWARE)

Founded in 1990, AWARE’s mission is to educate the public, organizations, and individuals about issues related to personal safety. They are a source of training, information, and support for people – primarily women – learning how to cope with violence. AWARE training focuses on self-protection and self-defense skills that can enable women to avoid, resist, and survive situations ranging from low levels of aggression to extremely violent assault.

2010 Course Schedule
Assault Prevention
Basic Pistol
Basic Shotgun
Defensive Aerosol
Defensive Handgun
Defensive Shotgun
Handgun Retention
Persuader Use
Responsible Use of Lethal Force
Private Lessons Available

RAINN: Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network

The Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network is the nation’s largest anti-sexual assault organization. RAINN operates the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1.800.656.HOPE and the National Sexual Assault Online Hotline at rainn.org, and publicizes the hotline’s free, confidential services; educates the public about sexual assault; and leads national efforts to prevent sexual assault, improve services to victims and ensure that rapists are brought to justice. Here are some of their programs:

National Sex Assault Hotline
Among its programs, RAINN created and operates the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1.800.656.HOPE. This nationwide partnership of more than 1,100 local rape treatment hotlines provides victims of sexual assault with free, confidential services around the clock. The hotline helped 137,039 sexual assault victims in 2005 and has helped more than one million since it began in 1994.

National Sexual Assault Online Hotline
In 2007, RAINN expanded its hotline services with the National Sexual Assault Online Hotline, the nation’s first secure web-based hotline that provides live and completely confidential help to victims through an interface as intuitive as instant messaging. In November 2007, RAINN won the 2007 NPower Greater DC Region Technology Innovation Award for its innovative use of technology in the National Sexual Assault Online Hotline.

Helping Policymakers and the Media
RAINN is a frequent resource for television, radio and print news outlets — as well as local, state and national policymakers, law enforcement and rape treatment professionals — on the issues related to rape and sexual assault.

National Sexual Violence Resource Center

The National Sexual Violence Resource Center serves as the nation’s principle information and resource center regarding all aspects of sexual violence. It provides national leadership, consultation and technical assistance by generating and facilitating the development and flow of information on sexual violence intervention and prevention strategies. The NSVRC works to address the causes and impact of sexual violence through collaboration, prevention efforts and the distribution of resources. Here are some of their programs:

National Sexual Assault Conference
A two and a half day advocacy conference providing advanced training opportunities and information regarding sexual violence intervention and prevention.

Engaging Bystanders in Sexual Violence Prevention
This project highlights resources, research and tools that support the development of bystander intervention approaches to prevention.

Preventing Sexual Violence in Disasters
The NSVRC works to increase access to information on the prevention and response to sexual violence occurring during and after disasters.

Rape Prevention & Education
By providing resources and technical assistance to sexual violence coalitions, health departments, and other organizations working to develop comprehensive prevention strategies.

Sexual Assault Response Teams
This project includes resources to support the development and enhancement of SART’s.

Health-care Initiative
In collaboration with the CDC, this project supports health care professionals as active partners in sexual violence prevention.

Walk A Mile In Her Shoes

Frank Baird first proposed Walk a Mile in Her Shoes®: The International Men’s March to Stop Rape, Sexual Assault and Gender Violence in 2001. The Men’s March started out small and has grown each year since, with larger crowds attending each March and Marches held in multiple locations benefiting multiple rape crisis centers. Check their calender, by clicking here, for a full list of events.

Scheduled Walks
February 13, 2010 – Nairobi, Kenya, Africa
March 6, 2010 – Suwanee, GA
March 8, 2010 – Miss State, MS
March 10, 2010 – Missoula, Montana
March 26, 2010 – Fayetteville, NC
April 1, 2010 – Arlington, TX & Grass Valley, CA
April 7, 2010 – Muncie, IN
April 10, 2010 – Coral Gables, FL; Laredo, TX; Redding, CA; Weldon, NC
April 11, 2010 – Bethlehem, PA
April 13, 2010 – Concord, NH
April 16, 2010 – Kankakee, IL
April 17, 2010 – Lubbock, TX; Plymouth, NH; Springfield, IL; Troy, NY; Watseka, IL; Westminster. MD; Williamsburg, VA
April 18, 2010 – Bloomington, MN; Milford, CT
April 22, 2010 – Pittsburgh, PA
April 24, 2010 – Findlay, OH; Howell, MI
May 1, 2010 – Joliet, IL; Madison, WI; Rockland, Ontario, Canada