Culturally Specific Advocacy Considerations

Every community and culture has different perspectives and responses to sexual violence, justice, and healing. Because of this, a core principle of trauma informed advocacy is that, as advocates, we are sensitive to, and consider the role of, culture in a survivor's lived experience, service needs, and decision-making. Cultural competency is not a finite process. It is more than a life-long learning process but a openness to the self-determination of survivors. 

As advocacy programs, it is integral that we strive to meet the needs of individuals in culturally and linguistically meaningful ways. These community perspectives and responses reflect how violence is a fundamentally different experience from survivor to survivor.

Perspectives on the culturally specific impacts of sexual violence as well as culturally responsive service provision are reflected in the resources in this section.