Resilience has been studied in many fields and contexts. While there are different definitions and perspectives, it refers to a process or outcome of adapting to and recovering from a disruption and ideally bouncing forward to an improved state of functioning. In this chapter, the focus is on community resilience using a systems perspective, including the elements that support resilience in adverse circumstances. The global experience with the COVID-19 pandemic is discussed as an example of how social actions can support community resilience, as well as two examples of citizen engagement focused on preparedness for and recovery from disaster. Essential elements of any community preparedness, response and recovery activities include recognition of the importance of addressing inequities and social justice, while managing complexity and tailoring strategies to the unique cultures within each community.

Sexual assault, including unwanted sexual contact, coercion, and rape, is a social phenomenon that has been approached in a variety of ways in different global contexts. Attempts to address risk and protective factors for perpetrators and victims are limited by the difficulty of collecting empirical data on experiences that can be traumatic, stigmatizing, complicated, and private. This chapter explores current and historic definitions of sexual assault as well as how these definitions influence estimates of sexual assault prevalence and subsequent psychological and public health responses. We describe best practices in sexual assault measurement, explore the need for culturally acceptable interventions that acknowledge intersections of identity, critique current victim response services, and finally provide recommendations for future directions in sexual assault prevention and response.