Study: Latinos More Likely to Intervene for Victims of Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence, But Issues Remain

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Sexual assault and domestic violence are prevalent among Latinos, but Latinos also are more likely than the general population to intervene for victims and help prevent these issues, according to a new study.

The NO MÁS study, the largest study to date of domestic violence and sexual assault among U.S. Latinos, was released April 21, 2015, by Avon Foundation for Women for Casa de Esperanza: National Latin@ Network and NO MORE.

The study highlights top barriers preventing Latino survivors from seeking help and the steps Latino men and women are already taking to address these issues:

• More than half of the Latinos (56%) in the U.S. know a victim of domestic violence. About 28% know a victim of sexual assault.
• 41% of Latinos believe that fear of deportation is the top barrier preventing Latino victims from seeking help, followed by fear of more violence for themselves and their families (39%) and fear of children being taken away (39%).
• Lack of respect for the opposite sex was seen as a stronger driver of domestic violence and sexual assault than traditional gender roles.
• Nearly two-thirds of Latinos who knew a victim of domestic violence (61%) and sexual assault (60%) say that they intervened and did something for the victim.

In addition to being more likely to intervene, more Latino parents than general-population parents talk to their children about domestic violence and sexual assault.

“This ground-breaking study demonstrates that sexual assault and domestic violence are prevalent issues in the Latino community, which too often faces a number of barriers the general population does not experience,” said Juan Carlos Areán of the National Latin@ Network. “However, the NO MÁS study also reveals the community’s enormous strength and willingness to put an end to these problems. The study, thus, represents not only the issues we face, but also the fortitude we can leverage to eliminate violence.”

The study will inform the fall 2015 launch of NO MÁS, a national awareness campaign engaging Latinos to end domestic violence and sexual assault.

For more information, go here.