How can we as a community prevent Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence?

The Guam Coalition Against Sexual Assault and Family Violence (GCASAFV) purpose is to address sexual assault and family violence issues with one united voice providing education, outreach and training regarding sexual assault and family violence. The goal of the Coalition is to achieve commitment in the community to prevent sexual assault and domestic violence, by identifying gaps in services to victims of sexual assault and family violence, as well as making recommendations for changes; speaking out so that victims of sexual assault and family violence on Guam can readily get the services that they need; building the capacity of organizations and networks through training and education in order to meet Guam’s sexual assault and family violence needs; and ensuring that voices of survivors of sexual assault and family violence guide the work of the Guam Coalition Against Sexual Assault and Family Violence.

To prevent Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence, we as a community need to work together to educate, prevent, and promote awareness on sexual assault and domestic violence. In order to prevent these things we must first understand its meaning. Sexual assault is a crime motivated to control, humiliate, and harm. Perpetrators use sexual assault as a weapon to hurt and dominate others. Sexual assault is forced or coerced sexual contact without consent. Consent is the presence of a clear “yes”, not the absence of a “no”.

Similarly, domestic violence is a pattern of behavior used to establish power and control over another person through fear and intimidation, often including the threat or use of violence. These are manifested typically with violent and aggressive behaviors within the home involving the violent abuse of a spouse, partner, relative, or children.

As a community, we can prevent sexual assault and domestic violence by working collaboratively with local service agencies to improve the capacity of Guam in responding to victims of sexual assault and domestic violence through the expansion of informational resources available to stakeholders, both service agencies and the general public. In enhancing community outreach efforts and united awareness on sexual assault and domestic violence, engaging the community/public at large will achieve these objectives.  Awareness and education would also be effective in the high school level. 

We have to improve our capacity to collect data involving SA & DV cases to better understand the demographics of these incidences.  Better intervention would benefit by a clear identification of the causes of SA&DV.  Treatment and rehabilitation using programs such as the Batterer’s Intervention Program would also be beneficial.  Supporting parents through availability of parenting classes would help.

Ensuring that everyone is respected and treated equally should be part of the core of all of the community efforts.