Power Based Personal Violence

Power-based personal violence is a form of violence that has as a primary motivator the assertion of power, control and/or intimidation in order to harm another. This includes partner violence, sexual assault‚ stalking‚ and other uses of force‚ threat‚ intimidation‚ or harassment of an individual. It also includes the use of alcohol or drugs to commit any of these acts. Men can be victims of power-based personal violence and this kind of violence can happen in gay and lesbian relationships, meaning perpetrator and victim can be of either sex.

Sexual violence: Any sexual contact that lacks consent and/or capacity to give consent.

Partner violence: physical, sexual, or psychological harm, or threat of harm, by a current or former partner.

Stalking violence: course of conduct targeted at an individual or group that would cause a reasonable person to feel afraid (following, face-booking, texting, calling, unwanted letters, gifts, etc.)

Though rates of sexual violence, stalking violence and partner violence are at levels unacceptable to all of us; and though the challenge of effectively intervening and actually reducing violence can seem overwhelming and insurmountable – there is good news to be found

Good News #1: We Outnumber them. A lot.

Mathematically, logically, reasonably – this astounding rate of violence should not exist. Consider that only a small percentage of any given population commits the vast majority of violent crimes. Most do not. No matter what the violent crime – non violent community members out number their violent counterparts by 20, 30, 40 to 1! The only difference between those committing these crimes – and those who are not – is simply that they are active and determined each day...while those who are not remain passive and silent. By mobilizing the UK community to move one small step – from passive agreement that violence is wrong, to visible action – the non-violent majority can reclaim the right of every individual to live free from violence and fear.

Good News 2: We know what to do and how to do it!

We have the advantage of knowing in advance the very reasons why most of us often do not take active steps, even when we really want to. We are not immoral or indifferent – but more often are simply dealing with obstacles that stand in the way of our action. Sometimes they are personal obstacles, like how shy we are; sometimes it has to do with losing face in front of our friends; and sometimes it has to do with invisible bystander influences that impact all of us. Since we know these obstacles exist, we can address them up front and generate solutions - thus increasing the number of people who move from passive observation to active intervention!