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Here's How You Could Help Stop A Sexual Assault

An Indian ad agency created a video encouraging witnesses to intervene in case of sexual assault.

By: Melissa Prax

Posted at 1:48 PM, Mar 20, 2017

and last updated 2017-03-20 13:48:18-04

How would you respond if you saw a sexual assault take place?

This video shows what would happen if you stood on the sidelines and didn't do anything.

While the video was made by an Indian ad agency to highlight sexual assault in India, this could happen anywhere.

Research suggests that people are less likely to intervene in an emergency when there are other witnesses around — a phenomenon called the "bystander effect."

And in the U.S., 63 percent of sexual assaults aren't reported by the survivor. That's more than any other crime.

The anti-sexual violence organization RAINN suggests these techniques to help prevent sexual assault: create a distraction, ask the person in trouble if they need help, call the police or 911, or find a backup like another bystander to help you out.