Prevention Against Sexual Assault (PASA)

PASA is a speakers bureau of women and men committed to the prevention, through education, of sexual violence. Our speakers support young people and community members in reporting and reducing the risk of sexual harassment, sexual assault, and dating violence. We believe that helping adolescents and adults examine their attitudes and behavior in relationships is crucial to breaking the cycle of sexual violence.

Statistics

According to the FBI Uniform Crime Reports for 1998:

• New Mexico ranks #2 in the nation for the amount of reported rapes per capita.
• More than 50% of rape victims are 17 years old or younger.
• 1 in 3 girls will be sexually abused before the age of 18.
• 1 in 6 boys will be sexually abused before the age of 18.
• 1 in 4 women will be sexually assaulted in their lifetime.
• 1 in 10 men will be raped at some point in their lifetime.
• 56% of girls and 76% of boys in high school believed forced sex was acceptable under some circumstances.
• About 80% of all perpetrators of sexual violence know the victim.
• Only about 15% of all rapes are reported to law enforcement nationwide.

Education to end violence

PASA speakers offer presentations at middle schools, high schools, colleges, and community organizations in Northern New Mexico. Young women and men are most likely to be victims or perpetrators of sexual violence. By their mid-teens, many have been involved in incidents of sexual harassment, abuse, assault, or dating violence. PASA speakers help young people explore alternatives to the peer pressure, media messages, and traditional gender expectations that are the roots of much violence between men and women.

What PASA offers

Topics addressed by PASA speakers include:

• Appropriate personal boundaries.
• Date and acquaintance rape.
• Effective communication.
• Gender roles and attitudes.
• Healthy and unhealthy relationships.
• Peer pressure and media influences.
• Prevention and risk reduction.
• Sexual harassment: flirting vs. hurting.
• Reporting and responding to sexual violence.

Our presentations encourage questions and discussion. The content and style of presentations are tailored to the age and specific needs of the audience. While respect for self and others is a "bottom line" for all presentations, participants are encouraged to examine their attitudes toward relationships and sexuality.

How we do it

PASA offers educational approaches, including:

• Answers to student questions.
• Date-rape comic book.
• Debate format.
• Gender-specific group discussions.
• Interactive games.
• Panel discussions.
• Printed brochures and information.
• Role plays.
• Survivor speakers.
• Values continuum.
• Video presentations.
• Spanish-speaking presenters when needed.

We request each student to complete a brief evaluation form about the presentation. This information is utilized to keep our content and approaches as relevant as possible.

Special programs

Sexual-violence prevention curriculum

PASA offers a 6-hour curriculum on gender respect, relationships, and sexual-violence prevention to Northern New Mexico middle and high schools. The opportunity to meet with students over several weeks creates safety, encourages greater participation with group discussions, and permits exploration of a greater range of topics in depth.

Professional-training seminars

PASA offers training on identification, prevention, and response to sexual harassment and assault to school administrators and faculty, management and employees of local businesses, police officers, and emergency medical technicians. These seminars may be scheduled as part of a regular training program or in response to specific situations.

Community education

PASA believes that the responsibility for ending violence is shared by all members of the community. We offer presentations and consultation on the prevention of sexual violence to members of civic and political organizations, churches, and special interest groups. We also address these topics through radio and television appearances, printed media, and the annual Take Back the Night event.

More information

Scheduling

If you are a school or college administrator or faculty member, or a director of a civic organization or professional agency, please call 505.988.1951 to schedule a PASA presentation or to obtain more information. We request at least two weeks' notice on presentation requests.

Volunteering

If you are a woman or a man 18 years or older and wish to offer your services as a volunteer speaker, please call 505.988.1951 for information on the PASA program and our volunteer training. All volunteer speakers receive training that includes information on sexual violence, preventative approaches, and presentation skills.

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