This is the continuation of my post, Helping a rape victim
Let the victim know that only the perpetrator is to be blame. You should never ask them what they wear, say or do. No one asked to be sexually assaulted. It is never the fault of the victim.
Let your friend know that the fears, guilt, anxieties and anger are all normal and understandable.
No one ever deserves to be abused or harassed.
Reassure your victim that you will always be by their side no matter what. Let him or her know that your door is always open and you're always just a phone call away.
Allow the victim to decide how much he or she wants to tell you by not pressing for details. Ask him or her how you can help.
Don’t make decisions for your friend. Though they may be having issues with decisions that are complex, but making decisions for them may make them feel powerless.
Help the victim to identify different available options and allow him or her to decide and support his or her decision
It is not easy for the survivor to forget the experience or move on. It takes time to recover and individual moves at his or her own pace.
Encourage your friend to seek medical attention and report the case. Encourage your friend to see a doctor and receive proper medical attention after a sexual assault. He or she may need treatment for STDs or pregnancy testing after the assault. Remember as I have said earlier, don’t push them. Allow them to make their decision, they own their life and whatever they decide, support their choices.
Encourage your friend to speak to a counselor trained to help victims of rape if he or she seems to be having a particularly hard time recovering from the rape
Your friend trusts you to keep her secret, that is why he or she approached you in the first place. Don’t tell others what the victim told you. Don’t share his or her information with people that are not involve. Allow him or her to decide who to tell and who not to tell.
If there is need, maybe for security reason or whatsoever to share information of the survivor with others, make sure you get his or her permission. Let him or her know exactly what you are going to share and with whom you are going to share the information.
Don’t attack or confront the culprit. Allow the victim to decide how to handle the issues by reporting to the appropriate quarters if he or she wants. You cannot fix the situation by confronting the abuser as that can only make things worse.
