1 month ago
Mariska Hargitay‘s End nan Backlog run has achieved a milestone. All 50 states, Washington D.C., and Puerto Rico person enacted astatine slightest 1 pillar of rape kit betterment “in a testament to nan powerfulness of sustained, survivor-centered advocacy,” nan inaugural announced Friday.
Maine is nan 50th and last authorities to perpetrate to nan reform. Governor Janet Mills’ enacted fund (LD2212) commits $267,000 successful yearly backing to found a statewide rape kit inventory and search system.
Since 2010, Hargitay’s Joyful Heart Foundation’s End nan Backlog inaugural has been nan driving unit down nan nationalist movement, nan Six Pillars of Rape Kit Reform, described arsenic a comprehensive, survivor-focused model that became nan nationalist standard. The Six Pillars encompass everything from mandatory kit testing and statewide inventories to subsister notification authorities and dedicated funding, “ensuring nary kit, and nary survivor’s story, is near behind,” according to nan organization.
Hargitay’s domiciled arsenic nan iconic Captain Olivia Benson connected NBC’s Law & Order: Special Victims Unit inspired her to found nan Joyful Heart Foundation successful 2004. Its ngo is to toggle shape society’s consequence to intersexual assault, home unit and kid abuse, support survivors’ healing, and put an extremity to nan violence. The run intends to destruct nan backlog of hundreds of thousands of untested rape kits sitting successful retention crossed America, providing closure for victims.
Statement from Hargitay:
Today marks a watershed infinitesimal not only for nan State of Maine, but for each subsister who has asked if their rape kit was forgotten, if their truth was abandoned connected a shelf, if they had dream of uncovering justice. After 16 years of relentless, survivor-driven advocacy, nan End nan Backlog run has achieved a milestone: pinch nan transition of unprecedented authorities successful Maine, each 50 states, Washington D.C., and Puerto Rico now person immoderate shape of rape kit betterment successful place.
This did not hap overnight. It happened because survivors said their truth. It happened because advocates refused to fto urgency go complacency. It happened because Rep. Geiger, Sen. Bennett, and Sen. Duson, on pinch galore different inspired legislators, championed a origin that demanded their persistence and years of dedicated work. And it happened because our organization insisted that each subsister deserves accountability, transparency, and dignity successful nan handling of their kit.
This infinitesimal is simply a committedness that nan strategy tin and will beryllium transformed into a root of light, not darkness.
To nan survivors who person carried this origin successful their hearts: this milestone belongs to you. We are acold from done, but really glorious to return this infinitesimal to grant really acold we person travel together.
