"The great enemy of truth is very often not the lie – deliberate, contrived, and dishonest, but the myth – persistent, persuasive, and unrealistic."
John F. Kennedy
"Understanding trauma is not optional in cases of
sexual violence. Without it, the legal system risks
punishing victims for the very effects of their abuse."
Honorable Judge Elizabeth A. White, Los Angeles Superior Court
“We must reject myths and stereotypes that have no place in the law of sexual assault. The credibility of a complainant cannot be judged by outdated notions of how a 'real' victim behaves.”
Justice McLachlin, former Chief Justice of Canada
"Our justice system often fails victims, not because of a lack of evidence, but because of a lack of understanding-by juries- of how victims react to trauma."
Dr. Mary Koss, renowned expert in sexual violence research
“The courtroom is not a place for disbelief by default. It’s a place for facts, for truth, and for understanding the dynamics of trauma.”
Judge Rosemarie Aquilina, who sentenced Larry Nasser to 175 years in
prison after the 2018 USA Gymnastics sexual abuse scandal
