Tools for Success

INTERACTING WITH DIFFERENT

VICTIM TYPES, VICTIM RELATIONS,
AND TEAM COMMUNICATION

SUMMER 2013

Session Learning Objectives

2

Interacting with Different Types of Victims

Explain common assumptions and the impact of these assumptions on

supporting different types of victims.

Outline steps for providing the most effective support possible
according to victim type.

Victim Relations
Identify ways to establish trust with for a Volunteer through

demonstrating acceptance, empathy, support, and transparency.

Team Communication
Recognize the importance of, and strategies for, effective team

communication when supporting Volunteer who have been victims of

sexual assault.

Materials for this session are in Tab 7 of your binders.

Interacting with Different Victim Types

3

Factors that may impact our response to Volunteer

victims of sexual assault:
How the Volunteer demonstrates the impact of the assault:

Are they crying, hysterical, avoiding the situation, closedoff, etc.

The characteristics of the assault: Was the offender a
stranger or someone the Volunteer knew; Was there
alcohol involved, etc.
Who the Volunteer is: are they male/ female, young/old,
gay/ straight?

Interacting with Different Victim Types

4

Activity Instructions: Move to a flipchart that describes

a sexual assault that is particularly interesting to you
or with which you might find it challenging to work.

Your options are:

A female Volunteer raped by a male host country national;
A male Volunteer sexually assaulted by a male Peace Corps

Volunteer;
A lesbian volunteer raped by a female Peace Corps Volunteer;
A gay male Volunteer raped by a host country national male;
A female volunteer with a disability sexually assaulted by a host
country national male.

Five- Minute Presentations

5

Work with your group to design a five-minute

presentation that addresses the below questions

about the victim type you selected.

Name at least two assumptions that could be made about this

Volunteer following a sexual assault.
How might these assumptions impact the way in which Peace
Corps staff, local law enforcement, or friends and family back
home interact with this person?
What steps might you take to better respond to this Volunteers
needs?

Language Tips
6

Language to Use
What you are experiencing is

perfectly acceptable, given what

youve been through.

I think it is great that you want

to do something about this
situation.

You took a big step. That must

have been difficult for you.

Youre certainly a resourceful

person, to have been able to

Language to Avoid
Why?
Everything is going to be alright
Dont worry about that right now
Please dont cry
You shouldnt feel that way
We can fix this
What you can expect to happen

next is

Victim Relations
7

Work with your country team to complete the victim

relations handout in your binders.

How can you demonstrate acceptance; empathy;

support and honesty/ openness

Through

Words?
Through Actions?
Non-Verbally?

Team Communication
8

Communication of important details with the

response team is crucial to ensuring Volunteers are
provided with effective support following a sexual
assault.
In your experience, what strategies have you found
useful for achieving effective team communication?

Role Plays
9

Instructions for SARL/SSC: Read the tips related to the

Volunteer you are supporting. Do your best to demonstrate

acceptance, empathy, support and transparency. Take notes
as needed on important next steps, information you still need
as well as ideas for how you can obtain this information.

Instructions for Volunteer: Read the notes about the assault,

how you are feeling and the information you are seeking. Do
your best to imagine how you would interact with Peace Corps
staff if you were this Volunteer.

Instructions for Observer: Take notes on how the SARL/ SSC

interacts with the Volunteer in the observation checklist in

your binder. Provide feedback to the SARL/SSC based on your
observations following the role play.