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RESEARCH
Meaningful change starts with strong evidence
The Alliance Against Sexual Violence (The Alliance) conducts and publishes pioneering research on the state of sexual violence across New York, identifying where gaps in services exist and who is most impacted. We use these findings to inform our advocacy, strengthen the organizations we support, and hold systems accountable. We also serve as a resource hub for survivors, allies, and organizations working on the front lines, connecting people to what they need and building the collective capacity to prevent and respond to sexual violence statewide.
The Alliance’s 2024 New York City Mapping Initiative revealed what survivors and the organizations that serve them have known for years: Where you live shapes what you can access, and for too many people, particularly in low-income communities and communities of color, the gaps are significant.
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To learn more about our research or to inquire about data and findings, please get in touch with The Alliance.
RESEARCH INITIATIVES
Sexual violence prevention in New York City is happening across all five boroughs, in schools, community centers, nightlife spaces, campuses, and beyond. But it is fragmented, underfunded, and operating without the coordination it needs to reach its full potential.
Our June 2026 report, “Building a Coordinated Prevention Infrastructure for Sexual Violence in New York City,” offers the first comprehensive look at the city’s sexual violence prevention landscape. Drawing on interviews, surveys, focus groups, and geographic mapping with 72 diverse organizations, the report documents where prevention is happening, where programs are concentrated, and where communities are being left without adequate resources or support.
Key findings include:
- Most prevention programs operate with only one or two dedicated staff members.
- Prevention efforts are siloed across sectors with few formal mechanisms for coordination or shared learning.
- Communities most impacted by sexual violence face the largest gaps in prevention access.
The report also highlights the considerable strengths organizations have built through community trust, adaptable programming, and youth leadership. It outlines concrete recommendations for building a stronger, more equitable citywide prevention system.
As this mapping work expands statewide, the questions this report raises about capacity, coordination, and investment are only becoming more urgent.
Survivors of sexual violence in New York City are not all receiving the same quality of care across boroughs. Where you live shapes what you can access, and for too many people, particularly in low-income communities and communities of color, the gaps are significant.
Our 2024 project, “Mapping Sexual Violence in New York City,” pinpointed gaps in the city’s sexual violence response system. Drawing on data analysis and geographic mapping across all five boroughs, we documented what survivors and the organizations that serve them have long known: the biggest gaps in services exist in the communities experiencing the highest rates of sexual violence, which tend to be low-income communities of color in the outer-boroughs.
Key findings include:
- The Bronx has only 1 rape crisis program and just 11 advocates to serve the entire borough.
- Queens had only 2 SAFE-certified hospitals until 2024, leaving many survivors without access to specialized forensic care.
- Brooklyn is losing emergency departments, further straining an already limited response system.
- Staten Island has no active in-person advocate response at any hospital.
- Despite a state mandate guaranteeing advocacy services, only 3 of the hospitals surveyed reported having enough advocates on call to meet survivor needs.
“For years, survivors and the organizations that support them have told us where the system is falling short. The Alliance’s research puts data behind those lived experiences, strengthening the case for the investment, coordination, and policy changes New York needs to better serve survivors.”
Emily Miles
Executive Director
Learn More About Our Work
Training & Technical Assistance
We train the people survivors turn to first. From healthcare providers to legal professionals, we deliver specialized, trauma-informed training that strengthens the entire sexual violence response system.
Policy Advocacy & Legislation
We advance policy change that strengthens New York’s response to sexual violence, advocating for the legislation and resources that support survivors and the organizations that serve them.
Prevention
Sexual violence is preventable. We equip communities across New York State with the knowledge and skills to prevent sexual violence and respond effectively when it occurs.