• Suggestions for Promoting Public Education on Sexual Violence
  
• Tips for Guys, Girls and Adults
  
• Key Statistics
  
• Resources and Weblinks
  

Suggestions for Promoting Public Education on Sexual Violence

Effective approaches to eliminating violence against women engage people – women, men and youth – and encourage them to:

• take responsibility for addressing the issue,
• educate themselves and those around them,
• examine and challenge their community’s assumptions and behaviour, and
• speak out against the problem.

The following guidelines are effective in engaging people through public education:

• Frame messages positively,
• Include concrete and actionable suggestions in public education materials,
• Address gender inequity as the root cause of violence against women in all materials and publications,
• Engage a broad spectrum of community members through your message,
• Use an approach that motivates men and boys to desire respect and equality for women and girls.

You can use these key messages to develop public education materials, such as speeches, workshops, displays, brochures and news articles.

General messages:

• All of us must play a role in ending sexual violence in our society.
• We must encourage a shift in societal attitudes and behaviours. Attitudes are formed at a young age. We must teach children and youth about the importance of healthy, equal relationships.
• Talking about the root causes of sexual violence against women and girls is an important step in addressing this serious social issue. We must talk about sexual violence if we are to change attitudes and behaviours.

 

Tips for Guys, Girls and Adults

Guys:

• Learn what sexual violence is. Don’t be afraid to bring it up with the guys.
• Most guys don’t commit sexual violence. But it’s a fact – when it happens, it’s usually a guy who does it. If one of your friends brags about pressuring a girl to have sex, let him know that you think that’s wrong.
• If you’re not sure if she wants to do something sexual, ask. If she says no, take her seriously.
• If one of your friends says something that disrespects women, speak up. Let him know that you think his attitude is unacceptable.

Girls:

• Learn what sexual violence is. Get clear on the myths and the facts. Talk about these with your friends.
• If you don’t want to do something sexual, say so – and expect to be taken seriously.
• Expect respect. When girls are valued and respected, sexual assault will be history.

Adults:

• Young men and women want to talk to you about dating and relationships. Be there for them.
• Sometimes the only messages boys get are the wrong ones. Teach boys the truth about sexual violence.
• Lead by example. Make sure that what you do and say demonstrates that you respect women and girls.

Teach girls about their right to be treated as equals to boys. Teach boys that it’s not cool to disrespect girls, and teach girls not to accept disrespect.

 

Key Statistics

1. More than one third of Canadian women report having had at least one experience of sexual assault since the age of 16.
2. Less than 10% of sexual assaults are reported to the police.
3. 86% of victims of sexual offences reported to the police in 2004 were female and young women under 25 experience the highest rates of sexual assault.
4. Children and young people under the age of 18 represented 58% of victims of sexual offences reported to police in 2004.
5. In cases of sexual assault reported to the police in 2003, the vast majority were female victims (80%). Over half of these victims were girls between 11 and 17 years old.
6. In 86% of cases reported to the police the victim knew the accused – they were peers, acquaintances, co-workers or family members.

Sources:

1-4 Measuring Violence Against Women: Statistical Trends 2006
5-6 Children and Youth as Victims of Violent Crime, 2003