Primary Prevention

Central to our philosophy is the recognition of sexual violence as both a public health crisis and a public safety issue. This dual framing allows us to approach prevention and response comprehensively, addressing not only immediate safety and justice needs, but also the broader social determinants that contribute to vulnerability and resilience. 

We believe that a critical way we address the needs of victim-survivors in the District is to support the primary prevention of sexual violence. We’ve embedded this approach to our work since our founding in 2016, with MCSR – a national leader in mobilizing boys and men to prevent violence against women and girls – serving as a key partner and steward from the very beginning. 

Together, our co-located organizations combat sexual violence in Washington, DC by leveraging our unique strengths to create a comprehensive support and prevention network. Our collaborative initiatives include:

  • Since our founding, we’ve also collaborated with MCSR to support training and technical assistance for service providers and allied professionals. Learn more about MCSR’s training and consulting services at mcsr.org/trainingsconsultingservices.

  • MCSR and the DCCESV work together to raise awareness and promote prevention efforts, such as coordinating events, campaigns, and media to educate and engage DC residents in discussions about sexual violence, such as our Nameless documentary. Produced by MCSR in partnership with DCCESV, the film explores the trafficking of children for commercial sexual exploitation as an often invisible form of gender based-violence.