By Joan Tabachnick

We are excited to share an important opportunity for researchers, practitioners, and policymakers in the field of sexual abuse prevention. Sexual Abuse is now inviting submissions for a special issue on “What Works in the Prevention of Sexual Abuse?”

This issue, guest edited by Kieran McCartan, Ryan T. Shields, and Joan Tabachnick, will shine a spotlight on primary perpetration prevention—programs, policies, and practices designed to stop sexual abuse before anyone is harmed.

Join the Conversation

By bringing together evidence, practice, and innovation, this special issue aims to build a stronger foundation to answer the vital question: What truly works to prevent the perpetration of sexual abuse?

We invite researchers, practitioners, and thought leaders from around the world to contribute to this conversation by submitting a Letter of Intent by September 25, 2025.

Why This Special Issue Matters

Preventing the perpetration of sexual abuse is one of the most critical yet challenging areas of work. Unlike treatment or response strategies, primary prevention often requires proving that “something didn’t happen”—an outcome that can be difficult to measure.

Yet across the globe, innovative programs, interventions, and policies are being developed to reduce risk, strengthen protective factors, and create safer communities. This special issue seeks to bring those successes, research, evaluations, and innovations together in one place to help shape the future of perpetration prevention efforts.

Topics of Interest

We welcome contributions that critically examine and expand our understanding of primary perpetration prevention, including but not limited to:

• Evidence of success in primary perpetration prevention programs, including meaningful outcome measures.
• Lessons learned from past prevention efforts—and how they can guide the future.
• Risk and protective factors for first-time perpetration of sexual abuse.
• The role of public messaging, policy, and science in prevention.
• Implementation challenges: overcoming politics, stigma, and sustainability issues.
• Global perspectives: cultural and regional insights that broaden the scope of prevention.

If you have any questions, please reach out to Aniss Benelmouffok, Managing Editor of Sexual Abuse: aniss@atsa.com

Together, we can deepen the science of prevention, learn from one another, and build safer futures for individuals, families, and communities worldwide.

To frame these ideas, she draws on two concepts:

     •    Memes and Memeplexes: Coined by Richard Dawkins in 1976, “memes” are self-replicating cultural units that spread and evolve like genes. Memeplexes—like religions and political ideologies—are networks of related memes.
     •    Mimetic Desire: Introduced by René Girard, this concept suggests we desire what others desire, emulating “models” in our social spheres. This can lead to rivalry and scapegoating.

Asparouhova proposes that if we take these two concepts as "canon," we can see how the internet has poured fuel on them. "Rather than ushering in an era of global peace, the internet made us leap at each other's throats," she says. 

 

What Are Anti-Memes?

Anti-memes are cultural ideas that resist spreading—often because they disrupt social harmony. Asparouhova writes, “Networks have a strong built-in immunity to anti-memes,” noting that these ideas tend to be suppressed because of their disruptive power.

Prevention—especially when it comes to sexual violence—is inherently antimemetic. Like disaster preparedness or gun violence prevention, it rarely garners sustained public or political support unless a recent tragedy has captured public attention. ATSA's Roadmap to Talking About Perpetration Prevention offers a structured approach to breaking through this “immunity” and reshaping how we talk about sexual harm.

Asparouhova herself points to how prevention is deprioritized in public discourse and policy. Consider how media attention surges and fades after mass shootings—or how funding for disaster preparedness lags until catastrophe strikes. Prevention doesn’t spread easily because it requires uncomfortable conversations and long-term thinking—both of which challenge the fast-paced, reactive nature of contemporary communications.

The same is true for conversations about treating individuals who have caused sexual harm. These conversations demand we acknowledge the harm sexual abuse has caused, to consider the harm that may occur, and requires frameworks grounded in science that address its prevalence in our communities.

ATSA's Roadmap to Talking About Perpetration Prevention

ATSA's Roadmap to Talking About Perpetration Prevention is a guide for turning anti-memetic ideas into meaningful conversations. It encourages professionals to lead with values—to explain why they work with people who have sexually harmed others or are at risk to. It provides structure for conversations that highlight our shared goal: ending sexual violence.

Although designed for ATSA members, this roadmap is for anyone ready to talk about prevention with nuance and purpose. It:
     •    Emphasizes collaboration with individuals affected by trauma
     •    Draws on decades of clinical research and evidence-based practice
     •    Makes prevention the focal point of our work—not an afterthought

Why We Need Champions

So how do anti-memes break through? Asparouhova’s answer: Champions. These are people who know how to navigate complex systems and bring difficult ideas into broader conversations. Champions help anti-memes find traction beyond their niche communities.

She writes:
“But to the right champion, even the most labyrinthine system feels like an invitation to create something extraordinary... You will know it when looking at the problem makes your heart expand with possibilities, rather than shrink away.”

If you’re reading this, you might be that champion. Because prevention faces many challenges —we need people willing to carry the message.

A Final Note

The ideas in the roadmap aren’t always easy to share. They’re disruptive. They challenge deeply held beliefs. They’re anti-memes. But they also carry the potential to transform lives and communities.
 
This year, we've been highlighting Changemakers within the ATSA community. Members who have embraced the challenge of sharing the message of sexual abuse treatment and prevention to transform their communities.  I hope you'll join them in sharing these ideas with conviction, even when they're difficult to express. ATSA has your back with evidence-based resources and professional media support when needed—that's how change begins.