The world can be a scary place sometimes, and the Western Region understands that anyone can be impacted by interpersonal violence. We’re working with Cavers Against Sexual Harassment (CASH) to present this information on responding to violence. Additional resources are listed below.
Don’t be a silent bystander.
- Notice a problematic situation and interpret it.
- Evaluate the incident’s problematic nature and decide if it requires your intervention.
- If a situation appears ambiguous, be willing to observe, stand by, or step in to clarify what is happening.
- Assume responsibility for intervening.
- Know and decide how to approach the situation.
- Choose to take action.
The 5 D’s: distract, delegate, document, delay, direct.
- Distract: Indirectly diffuse the situation by interrupting the harasser and the target (e.g. commotion, small talk, etc.).
- Delegate: Ask a third party for assistance in intervening, preferably an individual in a position of authority.
- Document: If it is safe to do so and someone is already helping the target, write
notes or take a video of the discriminatory situation (permission to share the
situation belongs to the target). - Delay: Check in with the person who was discriminated/harassed (e.g. support,
offer assistance, etc.). - Direct: If everyone is physically safe, speak firmly and clearly against the
harassment/discrimination taking place (prioritize assisting the target over debating the harasser).
- Listen with a calm, nonjudgemental presence.
- Offer practical support. “Can I get you a bottle of water?”
- Respect the individual’s privacy. Ask for their consent before sharing anything they’ve told you and before divulging any personally-identifiable information.
- Ask for what is needed.
- Prioritize the survivor’s agency. Give them options, and don’t pressure.
- Be patient. Processing an experience of violence can take time.
- If you need support or aren’t sure what else to do, consider calling a sexual assault hotline or resource center for advice like Brave Bay Area at 510-800-4247.
What does consent culture look like?
- Ask for consent before touching someone. “I can help you adjust your harness, but may I touch you?” “Can I hold your hand?”
- Accept that consent can be revoked at any time.
- Pay attention to body language. Not everyone is comfortable with or able to express themselves verbally.
- Respect others’ boundaries. This includes physical, emotional, financial/material, time, and digital/communication boundaries.
- Respect “no” as a complete sentence.
Alameda Health Systems’ Sexual Assault & Domestic Violence Program (SARRT) located at Highland Hospital in Oakland | 510-534-9290
Bystander Intervention Tip Sheet from the American Psychological Association