Everyday steps towards a world free from sexual violence and abuse
Exploitation in Rotherham, Rochdale, Oxford and many more towns and cities across the world, Jerry Sandusky, Jimmy Savile, Donald Trump, Harvey Weinstein, #MeToo… Sometimes it can feel like sexual violence, abuse, harassment, exploitation and harm is everywhere. And in some ways, it is. We all know someone who has experienced it, or heard of someone who has. And they’re just the ones we know about. As we hear more about people’s experiences and what they’ve had to endure, and how they’ve been silenced, we can feel stunned, worried, distressed, angry, and sometimes we can be left wondering, what can be done? How can we change something that’s so big, so widespread? But: all of us can change it, all of us can help prevent sexual violence and abuse, all of us can help create a world free from sexual harm.
Together, we can be the change that we’re looking for. We all do small, everyday things that contribute to preventing sexual violence and abuse in some way. And if we don’t, then we can! Maybe it feels like our voices and actions are so small that they’re not worth acknowledging, or that they’re too small to make a difference. But the things you’re doing, the things we’re all doing, can collectively become the change we all want, need and deserve. This site is a space where we can share, acknowledge and celebrate all of the little and big everyday things we do to make and create a world free from sexual violence and abuse. Share what you’re doing by clicking on Contribute or tweet @EverydayPrevent. And see the posts below or @EverydayPrevent to celebrate, support and feel inspired by what we’re collectively achieving together.
Small prevention actions by lots of people everyday can add up to some big leaps over a few months. Think big, act SMART and encourage others. #preventionworks
When people tell me about their experiences of sexual violence I make sure that I listen to them carefully, trying not to interrupt or talk about my own experiences.
I challenge negative comments made about women and girls by kid’s sports coaches. I think sexism plays a part in violence against women and needs to be addressed.
I have found that sharing examples on sites such as @everydaysexism and @EVB_Now Helps young people better understand #sexualviolence
In conversations with friends and family, I remind them how important it is to believe survivors and not belittle people’s experiences
This year I went to the NOTA conference and was able to talk to others about how researchers and practitioners can work together to prevent sexual violence.
This weds we have our www.nota.co.uk prevention committee call. Looking forward to some great conversations about this new site and what people are doing across the UK and internationally to prevent sexual abuse and violence
I talk to my kids about respect and consent. This helps reduce issues around #sexualcoercion and #violenceagainstwomenandgirls. I think we should be talking to our kids about this in age appropriate ways from being young.
I tweet and Facebook about #sexualviolenceagainstwomenandgirls to break the taboo and get the conversation started. It’s discussion with friends, family and society in general that’s going to make the change we need.
When the Women and Equalities Select Committee asked for views on sexual harassment and sexual violence in schools, we submitted our views online. We can all submit our views to an inquiry. The inquiries are listed at: https://www.parliament.uk/business/committees/committees-a-z/commons-select/women-and-equalities-committee/inquiries/ . We made a submission by clicking on the inquiry and then ‘send a written submission’. It’s important that our voices are heard.
I challenge the idea that people who sext are to blame if their images are forwarded without their consent
Women don’t feel safe. They don’t feel safe at night, walking alone, going to the pub, anywhere. Women worry about being approached and assaulted by men. What can we do to change this? I always talk to anyone that makes me feel uncomfortable and explain why. Doesn’t always work but making one man stop and think and hopefully not do the same thing again is one step forward.
In my work I make sure to listen to and share ideas with young people about sexual consent
Yesterday I had a great conversation with the police on their role in preventing sexual abuse and violence. We all have a role to play whether a big organisation or us and our neighbour next door. Abuse and violence is preventable – let’s pass that message on.
When people question why survivors don’t report, I talk to them about the difficult reporting process and the importance of empowering survivors to make their own decisions