Reunion Online

The rape kit backlog—untested rape kits numbering in the hundreds of thousands across the country—represents a failure of the criminal justice system to protect survivors and to hold perpetrators accountable.

There is no rushing through the inner healing process. It takes time. And effort.

And we were vulnerable.

I was older when my memories started to return. And they hurt. Deeply.

Nothing is as lonely as guarding our secrets. Nothing separates me more from other human beings than hiding part of myself.

Testing rape kits send a fundamental and crucial message to victims of sexual violence: You matter. What happened to you matters. Your cases matter." - Mariska Hargitay

Nothing in me is defective and I'm still healing.

As we reflect on Joyful Heart’s journey, we feel deeply grateful to you—our joyful community. Together we are changing the way society talks about, thinks about and responds to victims of sexual assault, domestic violence and child abuse.