NSVRC Blogs

Research demonstrates the many ways in which economic strain increases the risk of child sexual abuse. The UN warns that, due to the unique circumstances of the Coronavirus lockdown, children are at a heightened risk to be sexually abused, including by adults seeking to make a financial gain on the growing demand for child pornography. “School closures may also lead to an escalation of child trafficking cases. Many children have lost their subsidized school meals, which is posing a new burden on fragile families economies. Consequently, many children might be forced into child labor or child

Just as COVID-19 has disproportionately affected people of color, the pandemic has inequitably impacted people of color who identify as survivors of sexual violence. New research indicates “COVID-19-related financial insecurity is greatest among Black and Brown women survivors” — drawing on already established systems of racism in medical care. Members of Black, Native, and Latino communities are nearly twice as likely to die from COVID-19, and already face heightened risks of victimization from domestic and sexual violence — all while being less likely to receive adequate care

The economic impact of rape and sexual assault is estimated to be over $122,000 per victim throughout their lifetime. The financial consequences of experiencing rape for survivors who are already facing poverty and economic hardship can impact their ability to maintain housing, and feed and care for their family. Economic insecurity is also a risk factor for experiencing sexual violence. During the pandemic, many people are experiencing economic insecurity, and with the mass loss of jobs and the impact of school and daycare closures due to COVID, the ability for survivors to achieve economic

Each April we have the honor and privilege of recognizing Sexual Assault Awareness Month, and this year is no exception. It may continue to look a little different than previous years, but the importance and the meaning is still the same. This year’s campaign focuses on building safe online spaces. What better way to highlight a few fabulous library resources than building those safe spaces. The first book on this list gives practical suggestions on ways to talk to kids. Following this is a book highlighting ways to help adults talk to teens about sex. I also chose a couple of books in our

When we talk about creating online spaces that are safe from abuse and respectful for everyone, that must mean a space where rape jokes are not tolerated. Rape jokes are always harmful — including in online spaces. When unchecked, rape jokes send a negative message that the trauma of sexual assault is not taken seriously — and that it’s okay to use that trauma to be deliberately offensive or shocking for attention on the internet.  Sexist jokes, rape jokes, and victim-blaming comments may not seem like that big of a deal because they are verbal and not physical, but they contribute to

The verdict in the Derek Chauvin trial is a long-awaited symbolic outcome, yet we still have a long way to go to end the police violence and systemic racism faced every day by Black and Brown people throughout this country. The trial made clear, once again, how far and wide and deep the trauma of racial injustice is in our communities. Accountability for one individual officer does not take down an unjust system of policing built on racial bias evident throughout the criminal legal system. Police violence is an ever-present threat to the dignity and safety of Black people, and it’s one of

In our nation exists a ubiquitous amount of inequity. We see it evidenced in our history, yet it’s also very much a part of our present. Although we work in sexual violence, at its heart, this work is about inclusion — about the dream of a just society where everyone can be free from harm, violence, and trauma. The overwhelming number of police-perpetrated murders upon people of color destroys that dream. It destroys the lives of its victims, their families, their communities, and the principals for which our belief of an equitable society stands on. We understand and believe fully that

PRESS RELEASE: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Honorees include lawmakers, advocates, activists, forensic nurses, local organizations, and more  HARRISBURG, PA – The National Sexual Violence Resource Center (NSVRC) announced today 31 recipients of its 2021 Visionary Voice Awards — a diverse group of honorees from across the country who represent a wide range of disciplines and were selected for their outstanding work toward ending sexual harassment, misconduct and abuse.   This year’s recipients include New Hampshire State Senator Jeb Bradley, who was instrumental in advancing several

PRESS RELEASE: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Supporters are invited to participate on social media and share a photo wearing teal on the April 6th Day of Action  Harrisburg, PA –The National Sexual Violence Resource Center (NSVRC) commemorates the start of Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM) in April with their ‘We Can Build Safe Online Spaces’ campaign to highlight how to practice consent online and build respectful online communities. The internet has become the new public square where we connect with romantic partners, friends, family, co-workers and even strangers, and this year's campaign

What does preventing sexual violence look like in a pandemic? And how have people been adapting their work in light of the health inequities being revealed by COVID-19? These are the big questions we brought to the seven-episode COVID-19 and Health Equity series of NSVRC’s podcast Resource on the Go. The series consists of five interviews with people doing great prevention work in the pandemic. The interviewees recognize that the pandemic didn’t create health inequities but rather magnified them, and they’ve focused their work on the root causes of these inequities. They shared great insight