Supporting a Survivor

Supporting a survivor of gender-based violence requires putting the rights of each survivor at the forefront of ALL RESPONSE actions and ensuring that each survivor is treated with dignity and respect.

Putting the survivor at the center of the caring process means establishing a relationship with them in a way that promotes their emotional and physical safety, builds trust, promotes their recovery, reduces the risk of further harm to themselves, helps them to restore some control over their lives and reintroduces confidence.

How to Support Survivors of Abuse

Believe survivors
Do not blame the survivor, blame the abuser
Do not make excuses for why the abuser committed acts of abuse against the survivor
Offer survivors specific help and do not make them feel powerless.
Do not ask survivors to endure abuse or offer examples of other survivors who endured abuse.
Remember to refer survivors to someone they can talk to.