NSVRC Blogs

Based in France, Paye ta Truelle is on a mission to stop sexual harassment in archaeology, which has been rampant since its inception as a field of study. In order to raise awareness, Paye ta Truelle created a visual exhibition which has toured international universities to shed light on experiences of sexism in academia. Not only does the work of Paye ta Truelle showcase what resistance looks like, but it also highlights the big efforts being made by students against sexual violence prevention.  We sat down with initiative leaders Amanda, Laura, Béline, and Ségolène to learn more. NSVRC:

Jordyn’s Story In September 2019, the San Diego county child abuse hotline received a call about Jordyn*, a six-year-old girl who was being sexually abused by her father. An investigation confirmed the heartbreaking allegations, and Jordyn was taken from the only home she’d ever known to an emergency children’s shelter. Just imagine how terrifying and confusing this experience would be to a kindergartener. What is this strange place? Why can my brothers stay home with Mom, but not me? Will I be here forever? That November, Jordyn’s father was arrested on felony charges of child sexual abuse

I wrote this blog 18 months after the SARS-CoV2 virus landed with an American passenger in Washington state. In March 2020, the virus was declared a pandemic, and the world went into quarantine. For some people, this was a welcome respite from their daily commute and a chance to spend more time with family. For others, the time spent at work or school was the only period they were free from the silent pandemic that existed long before COVID-19. Sexual violence is a non-legal term used to describe nonconsensual or coerced sexual activity. One in three women and one in four men have experienced

The last year and half has shown me just how many skills I’ve developed since experiencing trauma. For many of my friends and family, I’m the person to go to when sh*t hits the fan. “Hey you used to be a mess, maybe you can help?” Needless to say, I’ve gotten a lot of phone calls since April 2020. As a rape survivor, “you used to be a mess” traditionally made me feel isolated and misunderstood. While it’s no joy that the last year and half has been a series of traumatic events, I’ve been finding myself grateful that for the first time, we're all starting to speak a bit more openly about

Human trafficking, at its most basic level, is the exploitation of a person’s vulnerability to gain something of value. When we look at marginalized communities, vulnerabilities increase exponentially. COVID-19’s impact – specifically economic impact – has resulted in marginalized communities falling more deeply within the cracks of society. As job opportunities dried up, people were laid off and housing and food security dwindled, it made already existing fissures in society become gaping canyons. This issue of homelessness throughout the pandemic is alarming. To put it in perspective

Xenophobia and anti-Asian sentiment are not new; however, they have been on the rise since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. In order to understand the connection between the Asian & Pacific Islander community and sexual violence in relation to COVID-19, we sat down with Baonam ‘Nam’ Giang of the National Organization of Asians and Pacific Islanders Ending Sexual Violence (NAPIESV), which is a program under Monsoon Asians and Pacific Islanders in Solidarity.  NAPIESV was established in 2010 to focus primarily on sexual violence because of growing concerns among advocates about

2021 saw an explosion of #MeToo conversations in the brewing and hospitality industry. The Instagram testimonials of one user, Ratmagnet, fueled many survivors to come forward and tell their stories. As such, new media coverage, collectives, movements, and  support groups began to form, such as The Women’s Craft Beer Collective, the Pink Boots Society,  #NotMe Solutions, and Brave Noise. Creative events dedicated to awareness and prevention of sexual harassment have also begun to flourish. For example, activist Paulina Olivares was featured at a Sacramento Comedy spot in September

Lockdown, as a result of the global pandemic, has not changed much for me, except to make me reflect on my own behaviours. Non-disabled people protesting about lockdown restrictions, do not know how privileged they are. After lockdown they can go back to normal, but this is my normal. For a long time I have restricted when and where I go in order to reduce the amount of unwanted attention I receive. As a person with dwarfism, every outing will include the risk of being stared at, pointed at, laughed at, called names, or even photographed. The one place people with dwarfism can supposedly feel

The past two years have been a period of rapid change. Since the onset of the COVID-19 crisis, NSVRC has been paying keen attention to the ways in which the pandemic has impacted not only survivors, but also service providers, advocates, activists, and communities at large. In remaining loyal to the importance of showcasing community members’ voices and not speaking on their behalf, the following guest blog series explores the different narratives within the social justice community and community working to end sexual violence. As we look back at 2021 in review, we are amazed at the

This list aims to provide a comprehensive array of contacts, support resources, and recommended materials which members of the transgender community and their allies may find helpful.  Crisis Lifelines The Trevor Project's 24/7/365 Lifeline at 866-4-U-TREVOR (866-488-7386);  TrevorChat, their online instant messaging option; or TrevorText, a text-based support option. If you are looking for peer support, you can visit TrevorSpace from anywhere in the world. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-TALK (8255) Trans Lifeline at 877-565-8860 Do you live outside