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About Us

Introduction to RAAP Founded in 1983, the Rape Assistance and Awareness Program (RAAP-pronounced "rap") is metro-Denver's only rape crisis center, and has served more than 423,000 individuals since its inception. In addition to providing a comprehensive range of quality victim services, RAAP is a leader in educating the public about preventing sexual violence.

Mission Statement
RAAP's mission is to work towards the elimination of sexual violence, and our primary goals are to assist victims and educate the public about sexual violence and its prevention.

Vision Statement
“We have dreamed of a world without violence. This dream is our vision and our beginning: it will sustain us as we work toward transforming vision into reality, which is our end.  Our contribution to this goal is to dedicate ourselves to the eradication of sexual violence. We categorically affirm that it is within our power to do so: sexual violence is not isolated and we are not isolated. We have committed ourselves to uniting our collective power and energies to achieve our common objective: sexual violence can and must be stopped.  We choose to no longer be silent and isolated. We choose instead, to rejoice in who we are, to summon forth and release our power universally, as breath held too long.”
~Adapted from Meredith Branscombe

RAAP's Beliefs:
  • Victims of sexual assault are NEVER responsible for the crime.
  • Everyone has the responsibility to behave non-violently.
  • Every person has the right to defend her/himself from sexual assault.
  • Sexual assault is an abusive act of power and control.
  • Perpetrators of sexual violence are responsible for their behavior.
  • Those who abuse others generally have more real or perceived power then those who are abused, whether it is economic, physical, or status awarded on the basis of class, race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, religion, age, or physical ableness.
  • Male and female gender roles are socially constructed and these roles contribute to the problem of violence in our society.
  • Sexual assault contributes to everyone being less trustful, less honest, and less spontaneous with each other and the capacity for intimacy both emotional and sexual is diminished by the presence of sexual violence in our lives. The cost for both men and women is immense.
  • The majority of men do not rape nor do they support such behaviors.
  • Violence is an ingrained societal problem, the solution to which is a large-scale change in our social fabric.
  • Attitudes of entitlement to sex under certain circumstances contribute to an environment where sexually assaultive behavior occurs. Aspects of popular media, in particular, transform people into objects making sexually assaultive behaviors more acceptable.
  • We believe that all violence represents a cycle in our society that must be broken by education, intervention and support.
  • Sexual violence can be prevented through the education of potential perpetrators, bystanders and victims.
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