Preventing interpersonal violence is a huge task, and one person can't take it on alone. However, being a knowledgeable, active bystander is one way you can affect real change that will ripple out to your community.
When one person stands up or intervenes in a situation where harm is occurring,
it can empower others to do the same, either at the moment or in the future.
of Bystander Intervention
Delayed intervention is when you check in with the individual who experienced harm after a moment of harm has passed.
You can ask if they are okay, assure them that they did not deserve to experience harm, and check in to see if they need any support or resources.
Distracting involves diverting the attention of those involved.
It stops the immediate moment of harm, providing an opportunity for the person being targeted to leave the situation, or allowing you time to further assess the situation.
Delegating is asking for help!
Getting someone else to look into the situation is still an intervention. In situations where we are particularly worried about our safety,
delegating is a great option.
You can ask a friend or someone who holds more authority in a situation to check in
with you or on their own.
Direct intervention is interacting with the people involved, checking in with them, expressing that you’re concerned or that what is happening is unacceptable.
You can check in with the person experiencing the harm or address the person causing the harm.
When using this strategy, remember:
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Make sure the person has access to safety first before recording
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Do not share it publicly or take any actions without explicit permission from the survivor
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Respect their wishes regarding the use of the documentation
Documenting can look like taking notes or recording an incident of harassment.
Note: Not all of these strategies work for every situation!
Read this article to learn more about context and how to be an effective bystander/upstander.