There are many reasons why survivors may not disclose that they have been abused. That does not make their experiences less real, nor does it make them any less deserving of justice and healing.
Wishing the happiest of birthdays to our Founder and President,
@mariska
. Thank you for your fierce spirit, your limitless passion, your bold voice, and your joyful heart.
Reporting a sexual assault—or sharing your story with anyone—is your decision and your decision alone. Every survivor, whether they speak out or not, is brave. We see you. We believe you. You matter.
#WhyIDidntReport
For decades, hundreds of thousands of rape kits have gone untested, which means hundreds of thousands of victims have been denied justice. This
#GivingTuesday
, you can help change that by committing to becoming a recurring donor. 👉
Still celebrating our fearless leader,
@Mariska
, and the 500th episode of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit. Olivia Benson made people believe that they had a right to be heard. That they could be respected and believed.
To all survivors who have come forward: your bravery & courage in sharing what happened to you is making change. We see you, we hear you, we stand with you.
No more "boys will be boys"; let's hold boys and men accountable to help create a world that's safe and just for everyone. Thanks for this,
@Gillette
.
#TheBestMenCanBe
"Compassion and empathy toward survivors are vital in this process, now more than ever. You don’t need to be an expert to make a difference—I’m not. There’s deep, transformational power in the act of bearing witness, in listening." —
@Mariska
.
"For nearly 15 years, I have watched
@Mariska
pursue and refine Joyful Heart’s mission. You are the fuel for my wife’s determination to bring change." Join
@PeterHermann
in making a year-end gift to Joyful Heart today:
Congratulations to our Founder and President,
@Mariska
, on this much-deserved award. Your passion, determination, and grace never cease to amaze us, and we are honored each day to work with you.
VICTORY: The New York legislature has finally passed the
#ChildVictimsAct
to help survivors of childhood sexual abuse. We strongly support legislation to reform outdated statutes of limitations for survivors + all efforts to bring healing and justice to survivors.
#NYCVAToday
Reproductive rights are human rights. Grateful for people like Kym Worthy who are standing with and for girls, women, and survivors. We stand with you, too.
.
@Mariska
: “We all face walls that can stop us...Whether I have to climb over it or smash it down, I’m going to keep going.” We continue to be inspired by our fearless leader's determination and commitment. RT to show Mariska some love!
BREAKING: Joyful Heart Founder & President
@Mariska
Hargitay is on the cover of this week’s
@people
magazine! In the cover story, she talks about our transformative work to end the rape kit backlog, plus her powerful new HBO documentary,
@IAMEVIDENCEmov
.
An Indiana social worker starts up a program for kids called Body Boundaries, teaching children what actions are considered abusive and what to do when these boundaries are broken.
Terry Crews' story sends a strong message to male survivors and to advocates of all genders who are committed to ending sexual violence: Your voice matters, and you are NOT alone. Thank you,
@terrycrews
, for sharing your truth.
Support survivors who report.
Support survivors who don't.
Support survivors who aren't sure what to do.
Support survivors who don't feel safe reporting.
Support survivors who fear retraumatization.
Support survivors who are taking it one day at a time.
#SupportSurvivors
.
Accountability matters. That’s why we never gave up in Massachusetts. Huge shout out to our team & everyone in MA who fought hard to ensure justice for survivors.
#endthebacklog
On
#WorldSuicidePreventionDay
, we're sending a loving message to all those in our community that you are never alone, and it's OK not to be OK. If you need support, we hope you'll contact the free, confidential National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255.
The act of breaking the silence, of sharing your story as a survivor of any kind of trauma is courageous. You are strong, you are not alone. Those who seek to silence you will not win.
#MeToo
#BelieveSurvivors
Congrats to our fearless leader,
@Mariska
, on
@nbcsvu
’s 21st season, making history as the longest-running primetime live-action series!
#Grateful
for another year of groundbreaking storytelling shedding light on these issues & letting survivors know they are never alone.
#SVU21
Today we honor the power of survivors’ voices with our first-ever anonymous essay from a survivor about her experience and the response she received when she decided not to report.
#WhyIDidntReport
Applauding the swift introduction of this legislation. Using a survivor's DNA for any reason other than to hold perpetrators accountable is a violation of their rights, and is unacceptable.
#SupportSurvivors
"I want survivors to feel heard and know that they matter, and that violence against women matters, and that we walk in hand with you to a better way of life for everyone." —Trish Adlesic
When you are a survivor of sexual assault or abuse, a battle begins in your mind. That’s why it’s so important to take care of yourself and get the help you need.
#SAAM
@MentalHealthAm
Congratulations to
@Mariska
and
@PeterHermann
on 18 years of love and laughter. Their love for each other is the same energy they bring to our organization every day, and we agree with Peter -- Mariska is the embodiment of joy.
Like many of you, we are horrified by this news. These findings are the result of a system that bullies survivors into silence and fails to hold institutions accountable. We stand with the victims & their families—whether or not they have come forward.
Myth: Sex workers can’t be sexually assaulted. Fact: Sex workers face high rates of sexual assault, and often don’t report for fear they’ll face retaliation.
#SVU
#SVUJusticeForAll
"The movement has never been about everyone having shared the exact same scenarios of assault or harassment. Instead, it’s been about highlighting just how common, deeply ingrained, and hard to shake these types of mistreatment are."
#MeToo
With this verdict, dozens of survivors will finally receive the justice they have been denied for decades. We hope this marks the beginning of a new era — one where perpetrators are held accountable, and survivors are heard, believed, and respected.
Support survivors who report.
Support survivors who don't.
Support survivors who aren't sure what to do.
Support survivors who don't feel safe reporting.
Support survivors who fear retraumatization.
Support survivors who are taking it one day at a time.
#SupportSurvivors
.
It’s been a year since this
@nytimes
piece &
#SVU
is now in its 22nd(!) season. But Olivia’s mission is still
@Mariska
’s mission: “Somebody who is unequivocally committed to righting wrongs, who believes survivors, who’s aware of the healing in it.”
This is the last week to give to Joyful Heart & double your impact through a matching donation! Your support enables us to push for rape kit reform across the country and help create a pathway to healing and justice for survivors.
Ending the rape kit backlog will take a coordinated effort and deep commitment at all levels of our government and in communities across the United States. We will work to
#endthebacklog
until every state has passed reform.
"Sometimes we just need a little pretty." Words of comfort, words of wisdom. In life's toughest moments taking in—and appreciating— the beauty around us can bring comfort and help us heal.
#BreakingPointSVU
Hearing or seeing portrayals of violence can be difficult. Tonight’s
#SVU
may bring up strong feelings. If you need to talk, free, confidential support is available 24/7 from
@RAINN
’s hotline at 800-656-4673.
#UprisingSVU
If you're watching the
#KavanaughHearings
, we encourage you to honor your needs, take breaks as necessary, and make time for self-care. You matter. Your healing matters.
A rape kit tracking system brings transparency, accountability & ensures rape kits are being tested in a timely manner. It also allows survivors to track their kits which is central to healing.
@CarlHeastie
@JeffreyDinowitz
, pass
#A9596A
to create a NY rape kit tracking system!
Happy Birthday to our fearless leader
@Mariska
. 🎂 Every day you lead by example, working to support survivors & transform the way society responds to sexual violence. Please help us celebrate Mariska by making a donation TODAY: Photo credit: Gus Philippas
Big news! We're excited to share that Wyoming has enacted its first pillar of rape kit reform, requiring an annual report of all untested rape kits in the state. Thank you to
@AffieEllis4WY
for your leadership and
@Mark_Gordon_WY
for signing SF 72. More:
"Everyone deserves freedom from sexual abuse and violence. And the opportunity to evolve from a victim to a survivor — and from a bystander to an ally — belongs to everyone." —
@Alyssa_Milano
Tonight’s
#SVU
may bring up strong feelings. If you need to talk, free, confidential support is available 24/7 from
@RAINN
’s hotline at 800-656-HOPE (4673) or the
@1in6org
Online Helpline at .
#CassidyIsBackSVU
"There is no right or wrong way to deal with it. Some people heal immediately. Some people take a lifetime. There has to be space in our culture for the ways people deal with trauma. Don't see me as a problem that needs to be fixed - just believe me."
@rgay
#BeingBelieved
On the role of Olivia Benson: “When the show went on the air and I started to get the fan letters & that's when everything changed for me. These women were disclosing their stories of abuse. I was just absolutely floored.”
@Mariska
📸 credit: Jessica Burstein/NBC/NBCU