1.3 What is Advocacy?

Advocacy empowers survivors of sexual assault.

On an individual level, advocacy helps survivors of sexual assault ensure that their voices are heard and that their rights are respected.

On an organizational level, advocacy focuses on changing behaviors, attitudes, values or policies so that all survivors’ rights are recognized and respected.

At its most basic, advocacy provides survivors with information about their options so that they can make educated choices. Advocacy ultimately encourages survivors to advocate for themselves, giving them a voice when they are too weak to speak.

Sexual assault advocacy helps survivors to cope with the event of a sexual assault and addresses safety issues and risks that survivors face.

In this training, we focus on sexual assault advocacy in a medical setting as a survivor presents at a hospital emergency room or health center to receive treatment.

Crisis intervention focuses on helping the individual develop an action plan and connect to appropriate support.

In your community, it’s important to know which resources are available and appropriate for follow-up support.