“Why did it take you so long to come forward?”
It’s a question survivors of sexual assault, child abuse, and intimate partner violence hear all too often. At Safe Horizon, it’s also one we never ask. Instead, we say something far more important: We believe you.
Because we know that Trauma Takes Time.
For many survivors, the trauma of what happened to them takes time to process. Sometimes years. Sometimes decades.
At Cornell University, Jane Doe waited because at the time of her assault, she didn’t realize that what she experienced was in fact rape. She initially felt shock, confusion, and numbness—feelings commonly felt by sexual assault survivors. She also felt blame, shame, self-doubt, and concerns about her reputation in the days immediately following the assault. Oftentimes, survivors may not fully acknowledge what has happened to them or may even downplay the experience to get through its intense emotional impact.
Survivors need to pursue justice on their timeline. However, New York State law is out of sync with the science we know about why Trauma Takes Time. That’s why we’ve fought for crucial legislation: the Adult Survivor’s Act (ASA) and Child Victims Act (CVA). These laws temporarily eliminate the statute of limitations for reporting, helping survivors receive justice when they come forward in their own time.
Safe Horizon is here. And no matter your story, we believe you.