Vision
The New York City Alliance Against Sexual Assault dares to envision a world without sexual violence.

Mission
The mission of the New York City Alliance Against Sexual Assault is to develop and advance strategies, policies and responses that prevent sexual violence and limit its destabilizing effects on victims, families and communities. We accomplish this through: 1) research to document the extent of sexual violence in NYC and determine the effectiveness of current intervention and prevention efforts, 2) education about the devastating aftermath of sexual violence and opportunities for its prevention, and 3) advocacy for responsive policy development, practice and legislation with public officials and service providers.

Description:
The Alliance tirelessly advocates for services essential to rape victims’ healing by engaging rape crisis centers, specialized law enforcement and criminal justice units, child advocacy centers and the health care system in dialogue and problem-solving to advocate for rape survivors.

The Alliance is the only organization to consistently develop public education campaigns about sexual violence in New York City. We create a number of unique public events such as Sexual Assault Yearly Speak Out (SAY SO!), which brings together participants from across a broad spectrum of the city’s residents to speak out against sexual assault. The Alliance also develops pioneering awareness campaigns, including Know When to Use Your Pause Button, the only media campaign targeting 11-13 year old boys for sexual assault awareness.

The Alliance is the leading resource in New York City for information about sexual violence. Our web site www.nycagainstrape.org, contains over a thousand pages about sexual violence issues, including public laws, popular myths, history and up-to-date resources and information.

The Rape Crisis Training Institute of the Alliance provides a broad spectrum of quality, innovative trainings annually. Each year over 200 professionals are trained in the Alliance’s Sexual Assault Forensic Examiner Training Program

The Alliance adds to current knowledge by conducting innovative research in NYC.

History:
The New York City Alliance Against Sexual assault was created 7 years ago as a result of many forces in the sexual violence field. Namely, the expansion of sexual assault/abuse service providers over the past 15 years produced the need for a citywide voice, while increased service provision led to the identification of system-wide problems that require a citywide response. NYC’s sexual violence programs identified the need for such an organization which, unencumbered by the mandate to provide direct service, unites representatives of rape crisis centers, specialized law enforcement and criminal justice units, child advocacy centers and the health care community. Through advocacy, education and research initiatives, the Alliance responds to newly identified needs that include broadening the base of support for sexual violence issues by reaching out to a larger community who shares the concerns about survivor response and prevention.

Contact people:

Harriet Lessel, Executive Director, (212) 229-0345, (email) Chris St. John, (email)

Address:

27 Christopher Street New York, NY 10014 (See a map)

Directions:

Nearest Metro/Subway Stop: Christopher Street and West 4th stop,   Walk distance (in minutes): 2