5 Organizations Dedicated To Ending Sexual Violence

Groups Fighting To End Sexual Violence

Signs Of Domestic Violence & Abuse

If these signs, laid out by the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services apply to you or someone you know, reach out to someone you trust, contact an organization that can help, or (in case of immediate danger) call 911.

You may be experiencing domestic violence if your partner:

• Controls what you’re doing
• Checks your phone, email, or social networks without your permission
• Forces you to have sex when you don’t want to
• Controls your birth control or insists that you get pregnant
• Decides what you wear or eat or how you spend money
• Prevents or discourages you from going to work or school or seeing your family or friends
• Humiliates you on purpose in front of others
• Unfairly accuses you of being unfaithful
• Destroys your things
• Threatens to hurt you, your children, other loved ones, or your pets
• Hurts you physically (e.g., hitting, beating, punching, pushing, kicking), including with a weapon
• Blames you for their violent outbursts
• Threatens to hurt themself because of being upset with you
• Threatens to report you to the authorities for imagined crimes
• Says things like, “If I can’t have you, then no one can”

What Is Sexual Violence?

Intimate Partner Violence Statistics

• 35.6% of women and 28.5% of men in the U.S. report having experienced rape, physical violence, and/or stalking by an intimate partner in their lifetime
• Nearly 20 people per minute are physically abused by an intimate partner in the United States
• Women with disabilities have a 40% greater risk of intimate partner violence than women without disabilities
• Approximately 63% of homeless women have experienced domestic violence
• A woman is assaulted in the U.S. every 9 seconds
• Domestic violence is the leading cause of injury to women
• Men who witnessed domestic violence as children were twice as likely to abuse their own wives than sons of nonviolent parents
• From 1994 to 2010, roughly 4 in 5 victims of intimate partner violence were female
• 1 in 5 teenage girls said they have been in a relationship where the boyfriend threatened violence or self-harm if a breakup was to occur
• Since 2003, 18,000 women have been killed by men in domestic violence disputes

In Depth

Sexual violence is an issue that affects women, men, and children of all ages. It happens when an individual is coerced by an abuser into sexual activity against their will. The offender might either be a friend, colleague, relative, or stranger. It is a very serious public health concern in the United States and can prove to be devastating for its victims, as well as for their families and communities. Fortunately, there are a few organizations who have dedicated their efforts towards putting a stop to sexual abuse. In no particular order, here are five groups working towards ending the vice permanently.

For #1 we have the Wisconsin Coalition Against Sexual Assault. The W.C.A.S.A works to offer assistance to agencies that provide the necessary information and support to victims of sexual violence. Founded in 1985, the organization's goal is to help build a world where people put high value on healthy sexuality. The group strongly seeks to end all forms of related abuse in American society. It plans on achieving this objective by providing assistance on technical matters associated with sexual assault through legal advocacy and policy development.

Because W.C.A.S.A is a membership group of various agencies, the organization does not restrict its operations to fighting sexual assault. It fully believes that to stop sexual abuse, all forms of societal oppression such as racial injustice and domestic violence must come to an end. To achieve this, the agency has the confidence that education and public awareness on the dynamics of diversity are strong agents of social change. Support the organization by donating any amount of money you want to on the group's website.

Because W.C.A.S.A is a membership group of various agencies, the organization does not restrict its operations to fighting sexual assault.

At #2 is the Boston Area Rape Crisis Center. Established in 1973, the B.A.R.C.C has emerged as the sole rape crisis group in the greater regions of Boston. It is dedicated to putting an end to every manner of sexual assault in society. Through partnering with local communities, the organization is working to achieve that goal by creating environments that support victims, and hold abusers accountable for their actions. The agency envisions a society in which everyone's bodies, identities, and energies are respected by engaging in consensual sex.

As an organization founded by survivors of sexual assault, the group works diligently to provide confidential support and informational services to victims of sexual abuse aged 12 and above. They strive to empower survivors by letting them know what options they have available as per their human rights. Depending on the choice of the victim, B.A.R.C.C also provides the resources for the survivor to pursue further action. Support them by donating or selecting them as a beneficiary of your purchases when you shop online.

Coming at #3 is the Washington State Coalition Against Domestic Violence. The organization aims at ending all sorts of intimate partner abuse within the state of Washington. Domestic violence is a behavior displayed by one individual to control their partner in a relationship. It could be manifested through physical aggression, emotional manipulation, or even sexual assault. Founded in 1990 by survivors of domestic abuse, the mission of the group entails improving how communities respond to disagreements in their homes, so that everyone can live in a society without fear.

Founded in 1990 by survivors of domestic abuse, the mission of the group entails improving how communities respond to disagreements in their homes, so that everyone can live in a society without fear.

The organization is a non-profit group of domestic violence programs that work together across Washington. These programs work to assist victims regain their freedom and safety. They make this possible by offering legal, housing, and even financial assistance to fully realize their aim of supporting survivors. The agency is also focused on advocacy for public policies regarding domestic abuse. Show the group support by making a contribution of your choice on its site.

Arriving at #4 is the Cleveland Rape Crisis Center. Established in 1974, the institution has grown from the grassroots level to a non-profit agency, operating a 24-hour hotline service. The organization also has 20 satellite offices that operate across Northeast Ohio, with its main office located in downtown Cleveland. It is geared towards giving support to victims of rape, with a vision of completely eradicating sexual violence by advocating for social change.

The CRCC is committed to creating and sustaining a welcoming environment where survivors and the ones they hold dear can find a safe space for peace and healing. By offering support to victims of rape, the organization realizes its vision of completely eradicating sexual violence. The group works to realize that vision by advocating for social change and by offering counselling services to survivors of all ages. Help the agency keep its operations running by making a donation on their site.

The CRCC is committed to creating and sustaining a welcoming environment where survivors and the ones they hold dear can find a safe space for peace and healing.

Finally, at #5 is the Utah Coalition Against Sexual Assault. The organization was founded in 1996 by a group of people with the desire of uniting Utahans against sexual violence. U.C.A.S.A collaborates with state agencies and service providers to avoid all forms of sexual assault, as well as offer support to its victims. The group has a mobile app through which they help survivors by providing information, tips, and insights about healing. They also have a 24-hour crisis line to provide assistance to victims located anywhere in Utah.

U.C.A.S.A has initiated programs such as the Sexual Assault Prevention Program and the Coordinated Community Response Project. These initiatives are designed to motivate change in society and foster a culture that does not tolerate any forms of rape. The agency has worked together with the community on multiple occasions to create other anti-oppression groups. Such groups include the Young Emerging Leaders Council and the LGBTQ Coordinating Council that were both founded in 2017. Help the agency keep its work going by signing up as a volunteer on their website.