A Survivor’s Right to Decide

Published

Sep 28, 2019

NO MORE

This week, ride-sharing companies came under fire for their handling of reports of sexual assault, harassment, and other forms of gender- and sexual-based violence on their platforms. In particular, a criticism that these companies do not, as a policy, mandate sexual assault is reported to law enforcement has taken hold in the media.

Survivors of sexual assault, sexual harassment, domestic violence, and child abuse often talk about how the process they go through following an incident can be as traumatic as the assault itself. Whether it’s with friends or loved ones, teachers or coaches, doctors or nurses, prosecutors or law enforcement, each of these interactions shape not only a survivor’s recovery but his or her interest in engaging with the criminal justice system.

As an organization dedicated to supporting survivors of sexual and domestic violence, as well as working to prevent violence from happening in the first place, we believe strongly that a survivor should be the ultimate decision-maker about if, when, how and to whom details of an assault will be disclosed.

NO MORE works to create a world where every survivor knows that what happened to them was not their fault. A world where all they hear is: we believe you, we support you, and we are with you.

For nearly two years, NO MORE, RALIANCE, and a coalition of national anti-violence organizations, have worked with Uber in their commitment to help change the culture and inspire action by reaching more people in the places where they live, work and play.

As a partner, we do not blanketly support all of Uber’s positions and policies. We strongly believe that more work needs to be done by ride-sharing companies to promote greater safety. However, we know that survivors must be given the freedom to determine what their path to healing and recovery looks like because no two survivors are the same, and no two experiences are the same.

Many survivors choose to report a crime against them and navigate the criminal justice system. For them, many of our coalition partners work to educate and provide training to prosecutors, judges and law enforcement about how to create survivor-centered processes that keep them engaged and supported as they move forward.

Some survivors seek medical treatment but do not choose to report the crime against them to law enforcement. This is their right, and we stand firmly with any survivor who chooses not to move forward with further adjudication. Others still do not seek any treatment. They feel isolated and alone. It is for them that we come together as a coalition every day to say, NO MORE. To show them that they are not alone. That we are here for them, in whatever ways they need.

Together, we are working to create a world where every survivor knows that what happened to them was not their fault. A world where all they hear is: we believe you, we support you, and we are with you.

Together we can end domestic and sexual violence.

NO MORE.