Petition for Women’s Self-Defense Training by the San Francisco Police Department 🥋🛡️✨

We, the undersigned, call for the San Francisco Police Department to provide accessible, routine women’s self-defense courses—including Rape Aggression Defense (R.A.D.)—to help every woman in our city feel safer, stronger, and more confident. 🌟😊

Why This Matters

San Francisco is the 7th richest city in the world and one of the highest taxed—yet it doesn’t guarantee self-defense classes for women. 💸🏙️

-1 in 5 U.S. women have experienced attempted or completed rape.
-🌎 Our national rate is higher than Australia, the UK, and Europe.

Why Start the Focus for Women
- Women are the vast majority of sexual assault victims—here and nationwide. 👩‍👧‍👧
- Prioritizing women ensures prevention efforts reach those who need them most. 🚦

The Solution Works
Women who complete self-defense training see:

-57% fewer completed rapes in the following 6 months. ✔️
-Over 80% reduced risk when assertive skills are used—no increased injury risk. 🛡️
- Every 22 women trained = 1 assault prevented. 🙌
- More confidence, stronger boundaries, and real psychological wellbeing. 💖

Our Requests
-Make women’s self-defense classes routine, accessible, and affordable—especially for high-risk and underserved groups. -Partner with schools and community organizations. 
-Use SF’s resources to give every woman a chance to learn these life-changing skills. As program grows, expand self-defense training to include all genders. 

 
Works Cited

“Crime Dashboard.” San Francisco Police Department, 25 Apr. 2024, www.sanfranciscopolice.org/stay-safe/crime-data/crime-dashboard

“Rape Aggression Defense Program.” SUNY Oswego, 31 July 2023, ww1.oswego.edu/police/rape-aggression-defense-rad.

“World’s Wealthiest Cities Report 2025.” Henley & Partners, 7 Apr. 2025, www.henleyglobal.com/publications/wealthiest-cities-2025

“Rape Statistics by Country 2025.” World Population Review, 2025, worldpopulationreview.com/country-rankings/rape-statistics-by-country.

“Statistics.” National Sexual Violence Resource Center (NSVRC), 30 Apr. 2021, www.nsvrc.org/statistics

“Rape Awareness Education and Prevention Efforts and Self Defense.” National Institute of Justice (NIJ), 29 Sept. 2008, nij.ojp.gov/topics/articles/rape-awareness-education-and-prevention-efforts-and-self-defense.

Madish, Tiffany. “All the Right Moves.” Vanderbilt University, 4 Apr. 2012, news.vanderbilt.edu/2012/04/05/all-the-right-moves/.

Zhang, Amy. “RAD: Empowering Women at MIT since 1990.” MIT News, 4 Apr. 2012, news.mit.edu/2012/rad-empowering-women-at-mit-since-1990.

“The Best Defense is an Empowered One.” Penn Medicine Service In Action, 15 Mar. 2022, communityimpact.pennmedicine.org/the-best-defense-is-an-empowered-one/.

“Self-Defense Research.” PreventConnect Wiki, 17 Mar. 2005, wiki.preventconnect.org/self-defense-research/.

“Rape Aggression Defense.” Morgan State University, www.morgan.edu/police-and-public-safety/crime-prevention/rape-aggression-defense

“San Francisco Sales Tax Rates for 2025 – California.” Yondatax, 12 Jan. 2025, www.yondatax.com/cities/san-francisco

“California Income Tax: Rates and Brackets 2024-2025.” NerdWallet, 6 Oct. 2020, www.nerdwallet.com/article/taxes/california-state-tax