Originally posted on PreventConnect by Tori Vandelinde 

 

Those working at the intersections of public health and sexual violence prevention may be familiar with the term health equity. But what are health equity approaches to preventing sexual violence? The National Sexual Violence Resource Center and Prevention Institute partnered on a new report, A Health Equity Approach to Preventing Sexual ViolenceRead on for key takeaways from the report, and join us on August 24th for a web conference highlighting this report and some programs featured in it.

What is a health equity approach to preventing sexual violence?

Sexual violence prevention must address the root causes of violence such as oppression, systemic injustice, and historical and contemporaryabuses of power. According to the National Sexual Violence Resource Center (2019), a health equity approach to preventing sexual violence “means that we need to both understand and address the factors that contribute to violence and safety and factors that expose some communities — especially communities that have been historically oppressed — to higher rates of sexual violence.” This requires grounding sexual violence prevention in anti-oppressive frameworks and centering the needs and strengths of the communities preventionists work within.

What are some ways people, organizations, and communities have begun to use a health equity approach to prevent sexual violence in their work?

The new report from the National Sexual Violence Resource Center and Prevention Institute highlights five themes within the ongoing work that uses a health equity approach to preventing sexual violence: 1) elevating community leadership and resilience; 2) creating spaces for healing in prevention efforts; 3) facilitating internal organizational change; 4) addressing underlying factors that contribute to violence and safety; and 5) partnering across fields and movements.

What are examples of health equity approaches to prevent sexual violence in action?

For each of the themes listed above, the National Sexual Violence Resource Center and Prevention Institute also dive into stories about health equity approaches to prevent sexual violence from organizations doing the work. Many of these stories and organizations have also been featured on PreventConnect, and are linked below.

  1. Elevating community leadership and resilience
  2. Creating spaces for healing in prevention efforts
  3. Facilitating internal organizational change
  4. Addressing underlying factors that contribute to violence and safety
  5. Partnering across fields and movements