This project will help 20 survivors have equal access to their education and stay in school. Since 2014 SurvJustice has provided students with safe and equitable access to education, protecting their rights under Title IX. Legal services provided by SurvJustice keep students safe in the aftermath of sexual violence, provides avenues for survivors to seek justice, and keeps students from kindergarten through doctoral programs enrolled in school until graduation.
It is extremely difficult for victims to report sexual harassment and violence because it takes a significant toll on them. Survivors who report face disbelief, shaming, guilt, and many other inappropriate reactions from officials within the various justice systems and even from their own loved ones. They also fear retaliation by perpetrators and their associates. SurvJustice is the only organization that provides representation in campus proceedings across the nation.
Too many survivors are forced out of school because they do not feel safe on campus, with 34% dropping out. Many schools have expelled survivors when their grades suffer as a result of trauma. As attorneys for survivors we are committed to client-centered lawyering; which prioritizes the client, the client's understanding of the problem, and the achievement of the client's goals in the way the client deems best. In client-centered representation, the client is empowered to be the decision maker.
We envision a world where sexual respect is a norm reinforced by strong institutional responses that ensure accountability for perpetrators while providing support for survivors.Beyond legal services, SurvJustice's work extends to policy advocacy and institutional trainings. We aim to reshape the justice systems available to survivors and play an effective role in reforming how sexual violence is handled by the available systems in our society.
