good evening it’s an honor to be here with you tonight you are going to hear
with you tonight you are going to hear
with you tonight you are going to hear me use two words quite a lot that is
me use two words quite a lot that is
me use two words quite a lot that is victim and survivor I use the word
victim and survivor I use the word
victim and survivor I use the word victim purely in the context of the
victim purely in the context of the
victim purely in the context of the legal and criminal process otherwise I
legal and criminal process otherwise I
legal and criminal process otherwise I use the word survivor this word empowers
use the word survivor this word empowers
use the word survivor this word empowers the victim and is often the turning
the victim and is often the turning
the victim and is often the turning point for recovery I was a victim for a
point for recovery I was a victim for a
point for recovery I was a victim for a long time and it was only when I became
long time and it was only when I became
long time and it was only when I became a survivor that I was able to heal
a survivor that I was able to heal
a survivor that I was able to heal properly let me tell you why I am a
properly let me tell you why I am a
properly let me tell you why I am a survivor I was born and raised in South
survivor I was born and raised in South
survivor I was born and raised in South Africa when I was 15 years old I
Africa when I was 15 years old I
Africa when I was 15 years old I emigrated to Australia with my family I
emigrated to Australia with my family I
emigrated to Australia with my family I was terrified about the move but life in
was terrified about the move but life in
was terrified about the move but life in Australia was the most freeing positive
Australia was the most freeing positive
Australia was the most freeing positive experience I start his university
experience I start his university
experience I start his university straight after high school and began
straight after high school and began
straight after high school and began studying forensic medicine it would take
studying forensic medicine it would take
studying forensic medicine it would take 15 years the workload in the first
15 years the workload in the first
15 years the workload in the first semester was overwhelming and I began to
semester was overwhelming and I began to
semester was overwhelming and I began to doubt my ability of study for so long so
doubt my ability of study for so long so
doubt my ability of study for so long so when a friend proposed to furring
when a friend proposed to furring
when a friend proposed to furring university and joining to her to live in
university and joining to her to live in
university and joining to her to live in Paris I jumped at the chance in February
Paris I jumped at the chance in February
Paris I jumped at the chance in February of 1998 my Paris adventure began I was
of 1998 my Paris adventure began I was
of 1998 my Paris adventure began I was 19 years old I knew very little about
19 years old I knew very little about
19 years old I knew very little about France and even less about the language
France and even less about the language
France and even less about the language but this didn’t bother me I knew France
but this didn’t bother me I knew France
but this didn’t bother me I knew France was part of my destiny I quickly picked
was part of my destiny I quickly picked
was part of my destiny I quickly picked up the language and the artist in me
up the language and the artist in me
up the language and the artist in me blossomed that was the end of forensic
blossomed that was the end of forensic
blossomed that was the end of forensic medicine and I began to prepare my
medicine and I began to prepare my
medicine and I began to prepare my portfolio to enter the fine art school
portfolio to enter the fine art school
portfolio to enter the fine art school in Paris life in Paris was exhilarating
in Paris life in Paris was exhilarating
in Paris life in Paris was exhilarating a true coming-of-age story it also had
a true coming-of-age story it also had
a true coming-of-age story it also had its challenges and being a self-funding
its challenges and being a self-funding
its challenges and being a self-funding student meant that I had to work part
student meant that I had to work part
student meant that I had to work part time I worked in a bar called the fifth
time I worked in a bar called the fifth
time I worked in a bar called the fifth it was a wonderful meeting place where
it was a wonderful meeting place where
it was a wonderful meeting place where people came
people came
people came together to talk about everything in
together to talk about everything in
together to talk about everything in life we were like family little did we
life we were like family little did we
life we were like family little did we know how things would so abruptly change
know how things would so abruptly change
know how things would so abruptly change on the 18th of July 1999 it was 3:00
on the 18th of July 1999 it was 3:00
on the 18th of July 1999 it was 3:00 a.m. I had just closed up the bar with
a.m. I had just closed up the bar with
a.m. I had just closed up the bar with my colleagues it had been a double shift
my colleagues it had been a double shift
my colleagues it had been a double shift and I was exhausted I turned down the
and I was exhausted I turned down the
and I was exhausted I turned down the offer to go for a drink and headed for a
offer to go for a drink and headed for a
offer to go for a drink and headed for a taxi instead I had less than a hundred
taxi instead I had less than a hundred
taxi instead I had less than a hundred meters to walk down a street that I knew
meters to walk down a street that I knew
meters to walk down a street that I knew so well I didn’t make it to the taxi
so well I didn’t make it to the taxi
so well I didn’t make it to the taxi that night a man intercepted my path
that night a man intercepted my path
that night a man intercepted my path what followed was an hour of brutal
what followed was an hour of brutal
what followed was an hour of brutal violence strangulation the taste of
violence strangulation the taste of
violence strangulation the taste of death and rape I fought so hard to get
death and rape I fought so hard to get
death and rape I fought so hard to get away from my attacker but the more I
away from my attacker but the more I
away from my attacker but the more I thought the more he beats me until
thought the more he beats me until
thought the more he beats me until eventually he was able to get me to the
eventually he was able to get me to the
eventually he was able to get me to the ground and strangle me with his bare
ground and strangle me with his bare
ground and strangle me with his bare hands I lost consciousness I thought it
hands I lost consciousness I thought it
hands I lost consciousness I thought it was the end of my life the universe had
was the end of my life the universe had
was the end of my life the universe had other plans for me and a few moments I
other plans for me and a few moments I
other plans for me and a few moments I came to being dragged by my hair up some
came to being dragged by my hair up some
came to being dragged by my hair up some stairs I immediately began my struggle
stairs I immediately began my struggle
stairs I immediately began my struggle to get away I didn’t want to die in
to get away I didn’t want to die in
to get away I didn’t want to die in Paris my attacker was prepared he had a
Paris my attacker was prepared he had a
Paris my attacker was prepared he had a gun a knife and a can of mace he
gun a knife and a can of mace he
gun a knife and a can of mace he threatened to shoot me
threatened to shoot me
threatened to shoot me he used the knife to cut me and the mace
he used the knife to cut me and the mace
he used the knife to cut me and the mace served as a tool to make his punch more
served as a tool to make his punch more
served as a tool to make his punch more brutal the attack just kept getting more
brutal the attack just kept getting more
brutal the attack just kept getting more and more violent until the first punch
and more violent until the first punch
and more violent until the first punch to my eye caused a loud popping sound in
to my eye caused a loud popping sound in
to my eye caused a loud popping sound in my head and I realized that if I
my head and I realized that if I
my head and I realized that if I continue to fight physically I was going
continue to fight physically I was going
continue to fight physically I was going to die something switched I remembered a
to die something switched I remembered a
to die something switched I remembered a story from my last year of high school a
story from my last year of high school a
story from my last year of high school a story of survival and techniques of how
story of survival and techniques of how
story of survival and techniques of how to escape a dangerous situation
to escape a dangerous situation
to escape a dangerous situation I began conversing with my attacker I
I began conversing with my attacker I
I began conversing with my attacker I told him that I was terminally ill and
told him that I was terminally ill and
told him that I was terminally ill and that I’d be dead by the end of the year
that I’d be dead by the end of the year
that I’d be dead by the end of the year he didn’t believe me at first and
he didn’t believe me at first and
he didn’t believe me at first and hit me even harder I kept talking and
hit me even harder I kept talking and
hit me even harder I kept talking and shared personal details of my life with
shared personal details of my life with
shared personal details of my life with this man I clung to the story as if it
this man I clung to the story as if it
this man I clung to the story as if it was truth it doesn’t stop him from
was truth it doesn’t stop him from
was truth it doesn’t stop him from hurting me or raping me but it did
hurting me or raping me but it did
hurting me or raping me but it did humanize me and I believe with every
humanize me and I believe with every
humanize me and I believe with every cell in my body it’s what saved my life
cell in my body it’s what saved my life
cell in my body it’s what saved my life that night as I lay on the streets of
that night as I lay on the streets of
that night as I lay on the streets of Paris naked and beaten trying to look
Paris naked and beaten trying to look
Paris naked and beaten trying to look hate my torn clothing I sense the
hate my torn clothing I sense the
hate my torn clothing I sense the severity of my injuries and knew I would
severity of my injuries and knew I would
severity of my injuries and knew I would have to go to hospital if I went to
have to go to hospital if I went to
have to go to hospital if I went to hospital I’d have to report the attack I
hospital I’d have to report the attack I
hospital I’d have to report the attack I had heard horror stories about how rape
had heard horror stories about how rape
had heard horror stories about how rape was handled in Paris that night I made
was handled in Paris that night I made
was handled in Paris that night I made the decision with myself to face the
the decision with myself to face the
the decision with myself to face the difficult journey of being a rape
difficult journey of being a rape
difficult journey of being a rape survivor
survivor
survivor I waited for five hours in ER before a
I waited for five hours in ER before a
I waited for five hours in ER before a doctor came to see me to make it worse
doctor came to see me to make it worse
doctor came to see me to make it worse he looked identical to my attacker now
he looked identical to my attacker now
he looked identical to my attacker now in any other situation this is not an
in any other situation this is not an
in any other situation this is not an issue but for a rape survivor it’s
issue but for a rape survivor it’s
issue but for a rape survivor it’s catastrophic
catastrophic
catastrophic it is commonly referred to being raped a
it is commonly referred to being raped a
it is commonly referred to being raped a second or a third time by the system
second or a third time by the system
second or a third time by the system good trauma response is critical for a
good trauma response is critical for a
good trauma response is critical for a victim survival and is often where the
victim survival and is often where the
victim survival and is often where the system fails them my dreams of becoming
system fails them my dreams of becoming
system fails them my dreams of becoming an artist in Paris were shattered I
an artist in Paris were shattered I
an artist in Paris were shattered I stayed on in France for a few more
stayed on in France for a few more
stayed on in France for a few more months to help the police with their
months to help the police with their
months to help the police with their investigation
investigation
investigation and to have medical follow-up for all of
and to have medical follow-up for all of
and to have medical follow-up for all of my injuries the police didn’t catch the
my injuries the police didn’t catch the
my injuries the police didn’t catch the man and in 2000 I returned to live in
man and in 2000 I returned to live in
man and in 2000 I returned to live in Australia and attempted to restart my
Australia and attempted to restart my
Australia and attempted to restart my life I quickly went into denial and
life I quickly went into denial and
life I quickly went into denial and became so busy but I didn’t have time to
became so busy but I didn’t have time to
became so busy but I didn’t have time to think about what had happened to me I
think about what had happened to me I
think about what had happened to me I didn’t allow myself to heal properly
didn’t allow myself to heal properly
didn’t allow myself to heal properly this all changed in June 2009 three
this all changed in June 2009 three
this all changed in June 2009 three weeks before the 10-year mark of my rape
weeks before the 10-year mark of my rape
weeks before the 10-year mark of my rape the French police contacted me they
the French police contacted me they
the French police contacted me they asked if I could get to Paris within 48
asked if I could get to Paris within 48
asked if I could get to Paris within 48 hours to do a lineup they believe they
hours to do a lineup they believe they
hours to do a lineup they believe they had
had
had my attacker he had reoffended and there
my attacker he had reoffended and there
my attacker he had reoffended and there was a DNA match fortunately I was living
was a DNA match fortunately I was living
was a DNA match fortunately I was living in Switzerland and could get to Paris in
in Switzerland and could get to Paris in
in Switzerland and could get to Paris in time I ID’d my attacker immediately even
time I ID’d my attacker immediately even
time I ID’d my attacker immediately even after ten years
after ten years
after ten years I remembered this man so clearly the
I remembered this man so clearly the
I remembered this man so clearly the memories of that fatal night came
memories of that fatal night came
memories of that fatal night came flooding back and my world began to
flooding back and my world began to
flooding back and my world began to crumble
crumble
crumble I was plunged into the most traumatic
I was plunged into the most traumatic
I was plunged into the most traumatic period of my life in France a victim of
period of my life in France a victim of
period of my life in France a victim of crime has to declare themselves a civil
crime has to declare themselves a civil
crime has to declare themselves a civil party in criminal proceedings this meant
party in criminal proceedings this meant
party in criminal proceedings this meant that I had to find and pay for a lawyer
that I had to find and pay for a lawyer
that I had to find and pay for a lawyer it cost me more than $40,000 to put my
it cost me more than $40,000 to put my
it cost me more than $40,000 to put my attacker in jail in November 2011 two
attacker in jail in November 2011 two
attacker in jail in November 2011 two and a half years after my attacker was
and a half years after my attacker was
and a half years after my attacker was apprehended he was sentenced to 12 years
apprehended he was sentenced to 12 years
apprehended he was sentenced to 12 years in jail but in June 2013 he was released
in jail but in June 2013 he was released
in jail but in June 2013 he was released on parole he only served a quarter of
on parole he only served a quarter of
on parole he only served a quarter of his sentence the irony is that my battle
his sentence the irony is that my battle
his sentence the irony is that my battle with the French justice continued until
with the French justice continued until
with the French justice continued until October 2015 not once did the system
October 2015 not once did the system
October 2015 not once did the system treat me with kindness or compassion
treat me with kindness or compassion
treat me with kindness or compassion instead it made me feel like the guilty
instead it made me feel like the guilty
instead it made me feel like the guilty party over and over again my story of
party over and over again my story of
party over and over again my story of survival lasted 16 years most of my
survival lasted 16 years most of my
survival lasted 16 years most of my adult life I knew deep down there was a
adult life I knew deep down there was a
adult life I knew deep down there was a bigger purpose and one day I would use
bigger purpose and one day I would use
bigger purpose and one day I would use my story to make a difference in the
my story to make a difference in the
my story to make a difference in the world I began talking openly about my
world I began talking openly about my
world I began talking openly about my story three years ago the most powerful
story three years ago the most powerful
story three years ago the most powerful thing that has happened since sharing my
thing that has happened since sharing my
thing that has happened since sharing my story is that I have given others the
story is that I have given others the
story is that I have given others the courage to do the same women men and
courage to do the same women men and
courage to do the same women men and children have opened up to me some
children have opened up to me some
children have opened up to me some having never told anyone before what
having never told anyone before what
having never told anyone before what I’ve realized from these stories is that
I’ve realized from these stories is that
I’ve realized from these stories is that there are many shades of sexual violence
there are many shades of sexual violence
there are many shades of sexual violence not just rape and unlike my story most
not just rape and unlike my story most
not just rape and unlike my story most survive
survive
survive no their offender it is also clear that
no their offender it is also clear that
no their offender it is also clear that there is absolutely no stereotype when
there is absolutely no stereotype when
there is absolutely no stereotype when it comes to sexual violence it doesn’t
it comes to sexual violence it doesn’t
it comes to sexual violence it doesn’t matter what country you come from what
matter what country you come from what
matter what country you come from what age you might believe what beliefs you
age you might believe what beliefs you
age you might believe what beliefs you have it doesn’t matter if you’re a woman
have it doesn’t matter if you’re a woman
have it doesn’t matter if you’re a woman a man or a child heterosexual homosexual
a man or a child heterosexual homosexual
a man or a child heterosexual homosexual a sexual rich poor or in between sexual
a sexual rich poor or in between sexual
a sexual rich poor or in between sexual violence will cross all of these
violence will cross all of these
violence will cross all of these boundaries one in four women will
boundaries one in four women will
boundaries one in four women will experience sexual violence in her
experience sexual violence in her
experience sexual violence in her lifetime one in six men will be sexually
lifetime one in six men will be sexually
lifetime one in six men will be sexually abused before the age of 18 years old in
abused before the age of 18 years old in
abused before the age of 18 years old in the USA a person is sexually assaulted
the USA a person is sexually assaulted
the USA a person is sexually assaulted every 90 seconds now to give you an idea
every 90 seconds now to give you an idea
every 90 seconds now to give you an idea of the gravity of these statistics let’s
of the gravity of these statistics let’s
of the gravity of these statistics let’s look at cancer in the USA one in eight
look at cancer in the USA one in eight
look at cancer in the USA one in eight women will be affected by cancer in her
women will be affected by cancer in her
women will be affected by cancer in her lifetime that means she is twice as
lifetime that means she is twice as
lifetime that means she is twice as likely to be sexually violated than she
likely to be sexually violated than she
likely to be sexually violated than she is to get cancer one in eight men will
is to get cancer one in eight men will
is to get cancer one in eight men will be affected by prostate cancer that
be affected by prostate cancer that
be affected by prostate cancer that means that he is more likely to be
means that he is more likely to be
means that he is more likely to be sexually abused than he is to get
sexually abused than he is to get
sexually abused than he is to get prostate cancer these statistics just
prostate cancer these statistics just
prostate cancer these statistics just get scarier when we start looking at
get scarier when we start looking at
get scarier when we start looking at children 230 million children are
children 230 million children are
children 230 million children are sexually abused each year this makes
sexually abused each year this makes
sexually abused each year this makes sexual violence one of the largest
sexual violence one of the largest
sexual violence one of the largest epidemics of our time so why can’t we
epidemics of our time so why can’t we
epidemics of our time so why can’t we talk about it why the taboo why the
talk about it why the taboo why the
talk about it why the taboo why the shame I often hear people say it’s just
shame I often hear people say it’s just
shame I often hear people say it’s just a personal issue and not something to
a personal issue and not something to
a personal issue and not something to discuss openly or even worse it’s just a
discuss openly or even worse it’s just a
discuss openly or even worse it’s just a woman’s issue these assumptions are
woman’s issue these assumptions are
woman’s issue these assumptions are wrong they create an unsafe environment
wrong they create an unsafe environment
wrong they create an unsafe environment for survivors to speak out and they
for survivors to speak out and they
for survivors to speak out and they propagate what we call rape culture we
propagate what we call rape culture we
propagate what we call rape culture we currently live in a world that blames
currently live in a world that blames
currently live in a world that blames the victim promotes silence and has laws
the victim promotes silence and has laws
the victim promotes silence and has laws that exclude certain gender groups it’s
that exclude certain gender groups it’s
that exclude certain gender groups it’s not about sheep it’s not about he it’s
not about sheep it’s not about he it’s
not about sheep it’s not about he it’s about us
about us
about us we so desperately need an inclusive
we so desperately need an inclusive
we so desperately need an inclusive global dialogue one year ago
global dialogue one year ago
global dialogue one year ago I began doing just that I quit my job I
I began doing just that I quit my job I
I began doing just that I quit my job I sold all of my personal belongings to
sold all of my personal belongings to
sold all of my personal belongings to raise enough money to get started and I
raise enough money to get started and I
raise enough money to get started and I have dedicated the next four years of my
have dedicated the next four years of my
have dedicated the next four years of my life to being a voice for women men and
life to being a voice for women men and
life to being a voice for women men and children affected by sexual violence
children affected by sexual violence
children affected by sexual violence sometimes the only way to solve a
sometimes the only way to solve a
sometimes the only way to solve a problem is to tackle it from a
problem is to tackle it from a
problem is to tackle it from a completely different angle sport unites
completely different angle sport unites
completely different angle sport unites us sport brings communities together to
us sport brings communities together to
us sport brings communities together to make a stand for something they believe
make a stand for something they believe
make a stand for something they believe in
in
in Sports is also important for the healing
Sports is also important for the healing
Sports is also important for the healing process when you have survived something
process when you have survived something
process when you have survived something as traumatic as rape or sexual assault
as traumatic as rape or sexual assault
as traumatic as rape or sexual assault it is essential to heal emotionally as
it is essential to heal emotionally as
it is essential to heal emotionally as well as physically running became an
well as physically running became an
well as physically running became an integral part of my own healing and it
integral part of my own healing and it
integral part of my own healing and it got me through some of the darkest days
got me through some of the darkest days
got me through some of the darkest days of my life we can change the outcome on
of my life we can change the outcome on
of my life we can change the outcome on sexual violence if we change how we talk
sexual violence if we change how we talk
sexual violence if we change how we talk about it the trick is to make the
about it the trick is to make the
about it the trick is to make the uncomfortable comfortable that is why I
uncomfortable comfortable that is why I
uncomfortable comfortable that is why I am using adventure travel and sport to
am using adventure travel and sport to
am using adventure travel and sport to bring people together around the world
bring people together around the world
bring people together around the world and join me in this peaceful dialogue I
and join me in this peaceful dialogue I
and join me in this peaceful dialogue I am running 16 kilometres of beach that’s
am running 16 kilometres of beach that’s
am running 16 kilometres of beach that’s ten miles barefoot in every coastal
ten miles barefoot in every coastal
ten miles barefoot in every coastal country of the world 184 countries and
country of the world 184 countries and
country of the world 184 countries and over 3,000 kilometers of beach in
over 3,000 kilometers of beach in
over 3,000 kilometers of beach in support of survivors of sexual violence
support of survivors of sexual violence
support of survivors of sexual violence it is called footsteps to inspire I have
it is called footsteps to inspire I have
it is called footsteps to inspire I have very rarely run alone and I have noticed
very rarely run alone and I have noticed
very rarely run alone and I have noticed a common trend across most of the
a common trend across most of the
a common trend across most of the countries visited so far people want to
countries visited so far people want to
countries visited so far people want to talk about sexual violence they just
talk about sexual violence they just
talk about sexual violence they just don’t know how to through foot
don’t know how to through foot
don’t know how to through foot spire I am creating a safe place for
spire I am creating a safe place for
spire I am creating a safe place for conversation and understanding this
conversation and understanding this
conversation and understanding this global beat run will take me four years
global beat run will take me four years
global beat run will take me four years to complete and I move countries every
to complete and I move countries every
to complete and I move countries every seven to ten days I have already been to
seven to ten days I have already been to
seven to ten days I have already been to 26 countries and tomorrow I run on beach
26 countries and tomorrow I run on beach
26 countries and tomorrow I run on beach number 27 here in Saint Thomas I had no
number 27 here in Saint Thomas I had no
number 27 here in Saint Thomas I had no idea what to expect when I started out
idea what to expect when I started out
idea what to expect when I started out no one else has created this kind of
no one else has created this kind of
no one else has created this kind of movement before it hasn’t been easy
movement before it hasn’t been easy
movement before it hasn’t been easy actually nothing about it is easy every
actually nothing about it is easy every
actually nothing about it is easy every day I hear stories of horror and
day I hear stories of horror and
day I hear stories of horror and sometimes stories of hope people often
sometimes stories of hope people often
sometimes stories of hope people often ask me why do I do this don’t I want to
ask me why do I do this don’t I want to
ask me why do I do this don’t I want to put my story behind me and forget about
put my story behind me and forget about
put my story behind me and forget about what happened
what happened
what happened I can’t it’s part of who I am now the
I can’t it’s part of who I am now the
I can’t it’s part of who I am now the woman I would have become before my rape
woman I would have become before my rape
woman I would have become before my rape is not the woman I am today I don’t see
is not the woman I am today I don’t see
is not the woman I am today I don’t see this as negative we get to choose how we
this as negative we get to choose how we
this as negative we get to choose how we let trauma impact our lives either we
let trauma impact our lives either we
let trauma impact our lives either we see it as a lifetime of suffering or we
see it as a lifetime of suffering or we
see it as a lifetime of suffering or we move through that and it becomes
move through that and it becomes
move through that and it becomes something else it becomes something that
something else it becomes something that
something else it becomes something that makes us stronger it becomes something
makes us stronger it becomes something
makes us stronger it becomes something that we can use to help others this is
that we can use to help others this is
that we can use to help others this is how I see it
how I see it
how I see it I have taken my tragedy and turned it
I have taken my tragedy and turned it
I have taken my tragedy and turned it into triumph inspiring hope in the
into triumph inspiring hope in the
into triumph inspiring hope in the hearts of many still suffering in
hearts of many still suffering in
hearts of many still suffering in silence I began the journey one year ago
silence I began the journey one year ago
silence I began the journey one year ago on the 18th of July in South Africa my
on the 18th of July in South Africa my
on the 18th of July in South Africa my country of birth country number five
country of birth country number five
country of birth country number five Papua New Guinea in the Pacific Islands
Papua New Guinea in the Pacific Islands
Papua New Guinea in the Pacific Islands was a turning point for me rape and
was a turning point for me rape and
was a turning point for me rape and murder is an everyday reality in this
murder is an everyday reality in this
murder is an everyday reality in this country and starts as young as
country and starts as young as
country and starts as young as six months two hundred people joined me
six months two hundred people joined me
six months two hundred people joined me for this run mostly locals I remember
for this run mostly locals I remember
for this run mostly locals I remember turning the corner and seeing this huge
turning the corner and seeing this huge
turning the corner and seeing this huge group of people and wanting to cry Papua
group of people and wanting to cry Papua
group of people and wanting to cry Papua New Guineans want change they want to be
New Guineans want change they want to be
New Guineans want change they want to be able to speak about sexual violence they
able to speak about sexual violence they
able to speak about sexual violence they want to feel safe I left Papua New
want to feel safe I left Papua New
want to feel safe I left Papua New Guinea feeling humbled and happy to know
Guinea feeling humbled and happy to know
Guinea feeling humbled and happy to know that I have made a small impact me this
that I have made a small impact me this
that I have made a small impact me this insignificant rape survivor had made a
insignificant rape survivor had made a
insignificant rape survivor had made a difference I had to keep going each
difference I had to keep going each
difference I had to keep going each country is different each country
country is different each country
country is different each country teaches me something else I can’t even
teaches me something else I can’t even
teaches me something else I can’t even imagine what I will hear and see by the
imagine what I will hear and see by the
imagine what I will hear and see by the time I am finished I spoken to you a lot
time I am finished I spoken to you a lot
time I am finished I spoken to you a lot about making a difference on a global
about making a difference on a global
about making a difference on a global level but the true essence of footsteps
level but the true essence of footsteps
level but the true essence of footsteps to inspire is to directly impact local
to inspire is to directly impact local
to inspire is to directly impact local communities
communities
communities I invite you here in San Tomas to join
I invite you here in San Tomas to join
I invite you here in San Tomas to join me and make a difference for yourself
me and make a difference for yourself
me and make a difference for yourself your family and your friends the reality
your family and your friends the reality
your family and your friends the reality is that many of you in this audience
is that many of you in this audience
is that many of you in this audience already have a story of survival sadly
already have a story of survival sadly
already have a story of survival sadly there is nothing we can do to unchanged
there is nothing we can do to unchanged
there is nothing we can do to unchanged that but what we can do together is make
that but what we can do together is make
that but what we can do together is make your community a safer space to speak
your community a safer space to speak
your community a safer space to speak out and to help each other here are
out and to help each other here are
out and to help each other here are three things you can start doing from
three things you can start doing from
three things you can start doing from tonight I’ve given each one a hashtag so
tonight I’ve given each one a hashtag so
tonight I’ve given each one a hashtag so that you can spread the message and use
that you can spread the message and use
that you can spread the message and use it as a reminder I believe you this
it as a reminder I believe you this
it as a reminder I believe you this starts with you first if someone has
starts with you first if someone has
starts with you first if someone has intentionally in violated you it’s not
intentionally in violated you it’s not
intentionally in violated you it’s not okay you are allowed to believe
okay you are allowed to believe
okay you are allowed to believe everything you are feeling don’t let
everything you are feeling don’t let
everything you are feeling don’t let anyone else tell you otherwise if
anyone else tell you otherwise if
anyone else tell you otherwise if someone reaches out to you for help
someone reaches out to you for help
someone reaches out to you for help please believe them don’t try and
please believe them don’t try and
please believe them don’t try and justify what happened all you need to
justify what happened all you need to
justify what happened all you need to say is I believe you it was not your
say is I believe you it was not your
say is I believe you it was not your fault
fault
fault again this starts with you first
again this starts with you first
again this starts with you first if you have a story and you’re doubting
if you have a story and you’re doubting
if you have a story and you’re doubting is
is
is oh stop it was not your fault no form of
oh stop it was not your fault no form of
oh stop it was not your fault no form of sexual violence is okay it is never the
sexual violence is okay it is never the
sexual violence is okay it is never the victims fault no one is ever asking for
victims fault no one is ever asking for
victims fault no one is ever asking for it sexual violence is not about sex it’s
it sexual violence is not about sex it’s
it sexual violence is not about sex it’s about the abuse of power
about the abuse of power
about the abuse of power it’s about forcing someone to do
it’s about forcing someone to do
it’s about forcing someone to do something they have not consented to how
something they have not consented to how
something they have not consented to how can I help you hearing someone’s
can I help you hearing someone’s
can I help you hearing someone’s experience of sexual violence is
experience of sexual violence is
experience of sexual violence is confronting dedicate a run a walk or
confronting dedicate a run a walk or
confronting dedicate a run a walk or some form of sporting activity to
some form of sporting activity to
some form of sporting activity to raising awareness around this difficult
raising awareness around this difficult
raising awareness around this difficult issue of sexual violence we are not
issue of sexual violence we are not
issue of sexual violence we are not alone and together we can make our
alone and together we can make our
alone and together we can make our communities and our countries a safer
communities and our countries a safer
communities and our countries a safer place imagine one day a world free of
place imagine one day a world free of
place imagine one day a world free of sexual violence together we can make a
sexual violence together we can make a
sexual violence together we can make a difference one footstep to inspire at a
difference one footstep to inspire at a
difference one footstep to inspire at a time thank you
time thank you
time thank you [Applause]
”
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