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Sector's new focus on 'respectful' sexuality

Rape Prevention Education - Whakatu Mauri,

The New Zealand sexual violence prevention sector is experiencing a positive shift. Instead of a focus on what is illegal and not okay, we are moving towards education and promotion of respectful sexual interactions.

Brad Perry's work on respectful sexuality - Moving Up Stream - is key to the work of Rape Prevention Education (RPE). The premise is that as respectful sexuality is promoted and adopted, occurrences of illegal, coercive or damaging sexual experiences will decline.

In 2008 RPE employee Veronica Marwitz has been developing this concept through a Vodafone World of Difference award.

She says: "From my experience working with young people, it is all very well for us to educate them about what is illegal, harmful, and not okay (with regard to sexual violence prevention). However, many of them don't have a template of what is healthy and okay."

Central to respectful sexuality and relationships is respect for the self and respect for others.

Perry believes healthy sexuality is found in people who are:

  • experiencing physical, emotional, social, and cultural wellbeing
  • able to express their sexuality responsibly and voluntarily
  • free from fear, shame, guilt, and the coercion that impairs sexual relationships
  • able to enjoy and control their sexual and reproductive behaviour in accordance with personal and social ethics.

Moving Up Stream can be found at: www.vsdvalliance.org/secPublications/newsletters.html.

Contact person Rape Prevention Education
Postal address
Phone (09) 360-4001
Email info@rapecrisis.org.nz
Website address http://www.rapecrisis.org.nz
Submitted by Ns
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