Pittsburgh Action Against Rape (PAAR) is the only organization in
Allegheny County solely devoted to the issues of
sexual violence
Sexual violence is any sexual act or attempt to obtain a sexual act by violence or coercion, act to traffic a person, or act directed against a person's sexuality, regardless of the relationship to the victim.World Health Organization., World re ...
. It was founded in 1972
as a volunteer organisation by
Anne Pride, and was the first
rape crisis center
Rape crisis centers (RCCs) are community-based organizations affiliated with the anti-rape movement that work to help victims of rape, sexual abuse, and sexual violence. Central to a community's rape response, RCCs provide a number of services, su ...
in
Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania (; ( Pennsylvania Dutch: )), officially the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, is a state spanning the Mid-Atlantic, Northeastern, Appalachian, and Great Lakes regions of the United States. It borders Delaware to its southeast, ...
. In 1977 it became one of the first
rape crisis centers in the United States
Rape crisis centers in the United States, usually capitalized as Rape Crisis Center and often abbreviated as RCC, are community-based organizations affiliated with the anti-rape movement in the U.S. Rape crisis centers in other countries offer si ...
to receive federal funding.
PAAR offers training, education, and counseling in responding to trauma to community groups, individuals, professionals and agencies throughout Allegheny County. PAAR provides free, confidential, one-on-one counseling to hundreds of survivors of
sexual assault
Sexual assault is an act in which one intentionally sexually touches another person without that person's consent, or coerces or physically forces a person to engage in a sexual act against their will. It is a form of sexual violence, which ...
and abuse each year,
[ and to their friends and relatives. PAAR’s counselors provide on-site supportive counseling and crisis counseling.
]
See also
*Anti-rape movement
The anti-rape movement is a sociopolitical movement which is part of the movement seeking to combat Violence against women, violence against and the abuse of women. The movement seeks to change community attitudes to violence against women, such ...
References
Rape in the United States
Allegheny County, Pennsylvania
1972 establishments in Pennsylvania
History of women in Pennsylvania
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