Prevent Campus Sexual Violence & Empower Survivors

The Sexual Violence Prevention Association (SVPA) applauds President Joe Biden and Congress for passing the Jenna Quinn Law, the Stop Campus Hazing Act, and the Stop Institutional Child Abuse Act. These three pieces of legislation are vital for preventing sexual violence. 

The Jenna Quinn Law will prevent child sexual abuse by providing funding for vital prevention programs. This bill authorizes existing grant funds to be used to train and educate students, teachers, school employees, caregivers, and other adults who work with children on sexual abuse prevention. The legislation was named after Jenna Quinn, a Texan who survived abuse as a young child and is now a vocal advocate. There are many streams of funding available for addressing child sexual abuse but there are limited funding streams for its prevention. We owe it to children nationwide to adequately fund both prevention and support services. This bill is a step in the right direction, ensuring funding for sexual violence prevention across the country.

The Stop Campus Hazing Act will require colleges to improve reporting and prevention of hazing on campus. Currently, hazing is very common, with more than 50% of students involved in some form. A significant portion of these harms include hazing-induced sexual violence. This bill is vital for creating a standard definition of hazing, providing transparency and accountability, tracking the issue, and helping educators take action. This bill will ensure students and campus stakeholders are educated about hazing, know how to report it, and possess skills to help prevent it. The Stop Campus Hazing Act will prevent hazing-induced sexual violence on college campuses across the U.S.

The Stop Institutional Child Abuse Act will safeguard the health and well-being of youth in residential programs across the United States. Currently, sexual violence is rife in these programs due to the lack of transparency and oversight. This bill will prevent sexual violence by requiring these programs to adhere to protective standards and transparency measures. It would establish an interagency Federal Work Group on Youth Residential Programs to research and implement best practices, disseminate guidelines, provide education for administrators, and provide oversight. By strengthening inter-agency coordination, increasing transparency and accountability, and paving the way for future systemic improvements, the Stop Institutional Child Abuse Act will prevent sexual violence against thousands of youth in residential programs.

The SVPA proudly endorsed the Jenna Quinn Law, the Stop Campus Hazing Act, and the Stop Institutional Child Abuse Act. Keep up to date with our legislative advocacy by following us on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, or LinkedIn.

The Sexual Violence Prevention Association (SVPA) has been working on the issue of non-consensual deepfake pornography.  Recently, the DEFIANCE Act, our bill to address and prevent deepfake pornography unanimously passed the Senate!

Deepfake pornography uses artificial intelligence to generate fake sexually explicit videos or images of someone without their consent. As of 2023, over 98% of deepfakes on the internet were pornography. There were over 500,000 deepfakes shared online in 2023. The number of deepfakes online is doubling every six months. 

Currently, there are no federal laws addressing deepfake pornography. The Disrupt Explicit Forged Images and Non-Consensual Edits Act of 2024 (the DEFIANCE Act) is a bipartisan bill to address and prevent non-consensual deepfake pornography by empowering victims to seek justice. 

The DEFIANCE Act has been met with significant support from victims as well as organizations dedicated to women’s rights, sexual violence, and victim advocacy. Over 40 organizations have endorsed the bill including RAINN, the National Women’s Law Center (NWLC), and the National Organization for Women (NOW). Check out our Defiance Act Webpage to see the full list of endorsements and legislative updates!

“With the unanimous passage of the DEFIANCE Act in the Senate, I and other victims of deepfake pornography are now a step closer to being able to take legal action and seek justice,” said Omny Miranda Martone, Founder and CEO of the Sexual Violence Prevention Association. “This vote is a huge step for victim advocacy and sexual violence prevention across the country.” 

Now the DEFIANCE Act must be passed in the House of Representatives in order to become a federal law! Tell your elected officials to pass the DEIANCE Act by completing our form today! 

Links:

• Defiance Act Webpage