What You Can Do about Sexual Violence

Link to Spanish version.

Rape and sexual assault are serious public health concerns.

• 1,526 forcible and attempted rapes of women were reported by law enforcement during 2009. (Uniform Crime Reporting System, Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation)
• 31% of women 18-35 years of age reported experiencing sexual assault in their lifetimes. (Sexual Assault Prevention Women’s Survey, University of Oklahoma Public Opinion Learning Laboratory, 2006)
  • 74% were younger than 18 years of age when the first sexual assault occurred.
  • 32% of women who had been sexually assaulted had experienced more than one sexual assault.
• One in 5 (20%) college women in the U.S. have experienced a completed rape and one in 4 (25%) have experienced an attempted rape. (National Center for Injury Prevention and Control)

Schools and Youth Serving Organizations can:

• Create a climate where violence and harassment are not tolerated. Create and enforce policies that promote respect, communication, and conflict resolution without violence.
• Train teachers and staff to recognize and intervene if they see or hear about sexual violence or sexual harassment.
• Implement education for students on healthy relationships and gender equity.

Colleges and Universities can:

• Create a climate where violence and harassment are not tolerated. Create and enforce policies that promote respect, communication, and conflict resolution without violence.
• Review, revise, and enforce policies on sexual misconduct and sexual harassment including publicizing policies several times a year to remind students, faculty and staff.
• Train students, faculty, and staff to recognize and intervene if they see or hear about sexual violence or sexual harassment.

Faith Organizations can:

• Promote respect and gender equity through sermons, newsletters, and discussions.
• Create a climate where violence and harassment are not tolerated. Create and enforce policies that promote respect, communication, and conflict resolution without violence.
• Train leaders to recognize and intervene if they see or hear about sexual violence or sexual harassment.
• Implement education for students around healthy relationships and gender equity.

Individuals can:

• Be a role model - through your words and actions show that you respect your partner.
• Use communication rather than violence to solve problems.
• Support healthy relationship education in schools and youth serving organizations.

Injury Prevention Service, OSDH, 1000 NE 10th Street, Oklahoma City, OK 73117
Revised July 2012

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