Preventing Physical Assaults,

Sexual Assaults, and Robbery

Learn how to help staff understand how to avoid and deal with
physical assault, robbery, and sexual assault.

Discouraging Physical
Assault and Robbery

Note to Learners
The information and guidelines contained in this course are for general information purposes only.
Reliance on any information or guidelines is therefore at the user’s sole risk. If you rely on any
information or apply any guidelines contained in the course, you do so at your own risk and Save
the Children will have no responsibility or liability under any circumstances.

Discouraging Physical Assault and Robbery

For various reasons, aid agency staff may become victims of both physical violence and robbery.
These crimes can occur within or near a residence (home, hotel) or office, as well as in the community.
It is important to take steps to enhance your personal safety and security.

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General Guidelines
These are basic guidelines for minimising the risk of assault and robbery.

Seek detailed information on assaults and robberies in your area. Consult trusted law enforcement
and ask local persons.

Vary routes and travel times. Avoid developing patterns.

Keep information about your movements confidential.

Be aware of the ambush techniques used by attackers.

Avoid carrying valuables such as cash.

Avoid traveling at night or in unfamiliar areas.

Location Specific Guidelines

The best way to deal with threats to your security is to avoid them in the first place. There may be
exceptional security risks in the area where you are working; while dealing with these, it’s easy to forget
basic personal security measures associated with travelling or working in unfamiliar environments.

Hotels
Choose hotels approved by your organisation or Country Office.
Contact the appropriate embassy for security and evacuation
information for that location

Be observant of the people loitering in front of the hotel or in the

lobby.

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 Request for a room between the second and fourth floors
to avoid the access from outside, but still within reach of
fire-fighting equipment.

Be aware of being followed to the room.

Inform colleagues about the hotel location and room number.

Be aware of the evacuation route in case of fire or emergency.

Keep a flashlight handy to aid emergency evacuation.

Secure doors when inside the room using locks and security
chains.

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 Examine the room, including cupboards, bathrooms, beds and
window areas for anything suspicious.

Check to see if the telephone of your room is working properly.

Keep the room curtains drawn during dark hours.

Do not open the door to visitors (including hotel staff) unless

positively identified. Use the door peephole or call the front desk
for verification.

Leave the light and TV or radio on when away from the room.

Use the hotel’s safe deposit for storing cash and other
valuables. Do not leave behind valuables or sensitive documents
in the room when you are away. Leave your luggage locked

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Home

9 Keep doors locked.

9 Keep windows locked. Only open them if protected by bars or grills. Ensure they are hinged to allow
escape during a fire.

9 Keep curtains or blinds drawn at night.

9 Keep valuables and possessions away from open windows, even if they are protected by bars.

9 Be wary of unexpected visitors, especially after dark. Identify all visitors before opening the door.

9 Mark house key so that it can be identified quickly in the dark.

9 Do not go inside if you discover a broken/open door or window. Leave quietly and summon help.

9 Ensure there is adequate outside lighting.

Office

Æ Keep doors and windows locked.

Æ Maintain security gates that are high, solid, and reinforced to block view from outside and
prevent criminals from scaling it easily.

Æ Ensure there is adequate outside lighting.

Æ Clear or trim vegetation around the perimeter, especially large overhanging trees that can be
used to scale walls or bushes that can be used as hiding places.

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Community

Seek reliable advice on safe walking areas. Consult a local street map before leaving and
carry it along.

Be aware of surroundings. Avoid groups of people loitering on the streets.

Avoid traveling alone, especially at night. Use well-travelled and well-lit routes.

Avoid walking too close to bushes, dark doorways, and other places of concealment.

Avoid disputes or commotion in the streets.

Never hitchhike or accept a ride from strangers.

Do not approach the vehicle of strangers.

Cross the street or change direction if you suspect someone is following you. If necessary,
cross back and forth several times. If you suspect the person is a threat, use whatever
means necessary to attract the attention of others.

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 Carry all belongings in a secure manner to prevent snatch-and-run theft.

Have the proper token or change ready when approaching the ticket booth or machine.

During off-peak hours, wait for the train or bus in a well-lit, designated area.

Public transportation:
• Consider using a reputable taxi company. Sit behind driver.
• Consider using a reputable bus company. Sit by driver. Avoid riding on deserted trains or
buses.
• Consider using a reputable train system. Select a middle car that is not deserted and sit
by a window. This provides a quick exit in the event of an accident.
• Leave any public transport that feels uncomfortable or threatening. After exiting, check
to be sure that no one is following you.

Dealing with an Incident

Your reaction when attacked or robbed will depend on your knowledge of previous incidents and your
perception of the attackers’ intentions. If you determine that the intent is to rob you, you should give up
any property as demanded and not take unnecessary risks. If you perceive that lives are threatened,
you may take more evasive action.

General Guidelines

• Remain calm. Speak clearly and respectfully.

• Control your reaction (don’t react suddenly or
aggressively).
• Evaluate your situation (assess your risk).
• If faced by multiple individuals, identify the leader and
speak directly to him/her.
• Escape if you have a safe route and do not believe it
will lead to further aggression.
• Go to a safe location with a group of people.
• Pay attention to the situation to provide details to your
organisation and local authorities.

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 Robbery Specific

Always hand over any valuables demanded by armed

assailants. Property is replaceable, your life is not.

Assault Specific

If you are being physically assaulted there are techniques

to surviving the attack:
• Shout, scream, confront, or convince the criminal in
order to survive the incident. This will help you to get
others’ attention or let the criminal know that you are
not an easy target.
• Pretend to be sick, soiling yourself by urinating or
vomiting, or saying that you have a disease. This
makes you an undesirable target and may change the
mind of the attacker.
• Turn your fear to fury and fight hard. Use any means
necessary —punch, slap, kick, scratch, poke, or bite.
Use any available sharp or pointed object as a weapon
such as keys, pen, stick, or stone.

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 Sexual Assault

Sexual Violence
Sexual violence is a threat in any society; all ages, ethnic, and economic groups are at risk. The vast
majority of sexual assaults are committed by men against women, but attacks on men do occur as
well.

Perpetrators may target victims known to them or will select them opportunely such as when carrying
out another crime. The motive for sexual violence against aid agency staff could vary widely. It could
be a politically motivated act to intimidate an organisation or the aid community. It could also be
committed by the perpetrator to exhibit power or influence over an individual or an agency.

Reducing the Risk

Be Prepared

• Travel with a friend or colleague. Do not travel

alone with someone you do not trust or know well.

• Get to know your neighbours.

• Stay sober.

• Walk only through lighted areas after dark.

• Keep home, hotel, and car doors locked.

• Have a plan.

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 Be Assertive

• Speak with confidence.

• Show strong body language, stand tall and confident.

• Learn how to say “NO” in the local language.

• Do not “go along” for the sake of cultural harmony.

• Be assertive but not aggressive or disrespectful.

• Do not make things up; stick to facts.

• Watch for warning signs from your partner in intimate situations.

Be Alert

• Trust your instincts. If a place or person feels unsafe, it probably is unsafe.

• Watch for signs of trouble such as strangers in private areas or persons loitering in places where
they should not be.

• If you sense danger:

LJ Move to a safe place quickly.

LJ Attract help in any way you can.

• Do not dress in view of a window.

Dealing with an Incident

There are no ‘correct’ ways to deal with the aftermath of a sexual assault. Everyone copes with trauma
in his or her own way. Here are a few points that a victim should consider after the assault.

Immediately move to a safe place.

Report the incident to your organisation immediately to obtain appropriate medical and
professional support.

Sexual assault is a traumatic event. Post-traumatic symptoms may present in very different
ways. Talk to someone you trust. It is important to get emotional support as quickly as possible
after the event. Seek professional counselling as necessary.

Take care of yourself. Take time off to recover. Remain in your location where you will have
support from colleagues and friends. Ultimately, the decision should be yours.

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 Seek local legal counsel to understand the implications of reporting sexual assault to
authorities. If you report the crime to police, they may get a hospital examination done,
which includes a test for sexually transmitted diseases. They may also question about the
circumstances of the event.

Take post-exposure prophylaxis within 72 hours, ideally within the first 24 hours of potential
exposure to reduce the risks of HIV infection. Seek medical advice to determine your level of
exposure and to discuss the benefits and risks of PEP treatment. You will most likely be given a
course of medications to take. You must follow all medical advice and not miss a dose.

Consequences of Sexual Assault

The effect of a sexual assault varies from person to person. These effects can be broadly categorised as
physical, social and psychological.

Physical Social

• Pain Sexual assault impacts the way family and community

members perceive the victim, including:
• Bruises
• Demeaning the victim
• Broken bones
• Sympathising
• Vomitting
• Character assassination
• Headaches
• Stigma
• Pregnancy
• Outcasting
Psychological

Sexual assault causes emotional or psychological effects that are more severe than those resulting
from other crimes, including:

• Anger

• Self-blame

• Shame, guilt or embarrassment

• Fear or anxiety

• Erratic mood swings

• Depression or denial

• Flashbacks or panic attacks

• Nightmares

• Eating disorder

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