Originally published on Change.Org on August 14, 2016 By Maria Ruiz.
Dearest Friends and Supporters,
In an effort to push forward change, not just for the Stanford victim but as well as for every other victim of rape I have begun a partnership with Rise Now US.
Rise Now US has been fighting for legislation to protect survivors via a comprehensive bill of rights which guarantees sexual assault victims the following:
The rights of a survivor should never be contingent on reporting or pursuing legal action. There is no one-size-fits-all approach to dealing with trauma and these fundamental rights must be protected for every survivor.
Every survivor has a right to a sexual assault counselor; waiving the right to a counselor in one instance does not negate this right.
Fair and efficient rape kit procedures are a must. It is unacceptable that a kit might be misplaced or destroyed; to prevent this and delays, a tracking system must be developed.
There must be standard procedures for ensuring that survivors are informed of their rights.
In assessing the effectiveness of this policy and future policies, diverse voices and communities must be included in the conversation. The bill establishes a task force that includes representatives from communities of color, immigrant communities, organizations that conduct outreach/education/advocacy for BGLQT individuals, survivor advocates, law enforcement, and a SANE nurse.
We currently have a bill in federal legislation and need your help to continue the fight to push this legislation forward not only at a federal level but in each state nationwide. If you are able please donate below.
Thank you so much for your continued support!
Maria Ruiz
Twitter: @MariaLaMetida
Facebook: www.facebook.com/impeachpersky
Email: marialametida@gmail.com
