You were there when a police officer responded to a domestic violence call and told the young mother, “You’re safe now.” You were there, at the emergency room, when a nurse wrapped a rape survivor in a warm blanket and said, “We’re going to make sure you’re okay.” When a father tearfully hugged his son and told him, “I believe you,” you were right there.
End Violence Against Women International is turning 20 this year, and you were there for survivors of sexual assault and domestic violence at each critical moment.
You were there championing the tens of thousands of law enforcement officers, advocates, medical providers, prosecutors, and other professionals who have raised the bar. They are putting skills into action and changing lives.
You have stood with the survivors who are leading culture shifts, changing laws, and transforming how the world responds to gender-based violence.
In the past year alone, with your help:
- 7,076 people were trained, participating in 321,045 hours of learning
- 229,007 people accessed resources to help survivors
- 338 people learned in-depth trauma interviewing skills
- 1,137 medical providers and allied professionals enhanced their patient care
- 16 survivors shared their stories and their courage with live audiences
I am filled with gratitude for your support for survivors and for EVAWI as I announce my retirement as of May 1, 2023. Ann Burdges, our extremely capable Board President, will lead EVAWI into the future. You can read more about this transition on page 10.
Thank you for being there – for the past 20 years and for the next 20.
In 2022 you believed survivors, and you believed in their strength. You wrapped them in love and support when they needed it most.
You were there for survivors like Cindy, who decided it was time to break free. At 20 years old, Cindy married her high school sweetheart, ready for a life of love and partnership. But soon after their wedding, her husband became controlling and cruel. He abused her physically, sexually, and emotionally.
The abuse escalated, and Cindy knew she had to get out—she was afraid of what he would do to her and her son if she didn’t. One day, she told a pastor at her church that her husband was hurting her. It was one of the scariest things she had ever done—she didn’t know what he would say.
Her pastor Started by Believing. His belief gave her the confidence to keep telling and seeking help.
Today, Cindy’s life is filled with joy. Parenting her son brings her great happiness. She is a therapist working with trauma survivors. She says, “I’m just enjoying life as me.”
Because you were there, championing them, believing in how brave and strong they are, so many survivors have found healing.
You were there for Carlos at the hardest time of his life.
Just after dawn, Carlos walked into the emergency department at a Kansas City hospital. His voice shaking, he told the attendant at the triage counter, “I think I’ve been raped.”
Carlos had gone out to a club the night before with his cousins. All he remembers after the last round of shots was his cousin’s friend saying he would take Carlos home to sleep it off. When Carlos woke up, he was in throbbing pain, lying in an unfamiliar bed.
At the hospital, a sexual assault advocate met with Carlos to talk over his options. She pulled up SEEK THEN SPEAK on her tablet, walking Carlos through the information it covered on everything from the medical forensic exam to prosecution.
He saw that SEEK THEN SPEAK would even lead him through a trauma-informed interview, where he could begin the process of reporting to the police, if he chose.
Carlos decided he wanted a medical forensic exam to check for injuries and have evidence collected. “For now,” he said, “I don’t want to talk to the police.”
A week later, Carlos called the advocate. He had gone over the interview questions in SEEK THEN SPEAK, and he was ready to report his assault. He said, “There are still so many blanks in my memories of that night,” but with SEEK THEN SPEAK he felt prepared to meet with a detective.
Thanks to you, survivors like Carlos have more options. You gave them a tool they can use to make their own decisions, in their own time, about which path to take.
*This story combines aspects of multiple survivors’ experiences.
In 2022, you were there when survivors raised their voices to say, “No more!” To demand justice. To tell other survivors, “You are not alone.”
You were there to hear Kara share her story of survival. At 15, Kara Robinson Chamberlain was kidnapped from her best friend’s front yard at gunpoint. Her captor held her for 18 hours, sexually assaulting her repeatedly, before she escaped and ran to the police.
While in captivity, she committed every detail of her surroundings to memory. Kara was able to lead police back to his apartment and identify her attacker. Later, Kara would learn the man was a serial murderer, responsible for the deaths of at least three other girls.
Kara’s experience led to her life’s mission of helping victims—first as a law enforcement officer and sex crimes detective, and now as a national speaker advocating for survivors’ healing and justice.
She reminds us that being heard and being believed heals. Kara says, “When someone discloses to you they’ve been abused or assaulted, tell them, ‘I believe you. Thank you for sharing that with me. It’s an honor.’”
Thank you—for being there. Your belief in survivors gave them a safe space to speak their truth.
When Sheila opened the door to the small room, she saw every muscle in the young woman’s body tense up as she perched on the edge of the exam table. The medical form on Sheila’s clipboard said the patient’s name was Anaya.
A deputy had brought her to this rural hospital after Anaya called 911 to report her ex-boyfriend had broken into her home and raped her.
Sheila wondered if she looked as nervous as she felt. At 27 years old, Sheila was the most experienced of the two nurses on shift, but she had never taken care of a sexual assault patient. She was so grateful the Chief Medical Officer required every nurse to complete the Sexual Assault Medical Forensic Exam Virtual Practicum.
Through this online program, Sheila learned each step of the exam, including collecting evidence and documenting findings. She had just completed all seven patient simulations in the Practicum the previous week.
Looking into Anaya’s eyes, Sheila knew she couldn’t let her down. The stakes were too high. Sheila would give her the highest quality care, treat her injuries, and make sure the evidence she collected could be used in court.
Taking a deep breath, Sheila smiled at Anaya and said, “I’m Sheila. I’m your nurse, and I’m here to help.”
You were there for sexual assault survivors like Anaya. Now they are receiving better care, and they’re getting a better chance at justice.
* This story combines aspects of multiple nurses’ experiences.
One evening, Sasha answered her door to find Detective Lucero — she never expected what he was there to tell her. The police had identified a man whose DNA matched evidence in the medical forensic exam kit that was collected after her rape, 15 years earlier.
Stunned, Sasha said, “I’ve never told anyone about this—not even my mom. No one believed me when I reported it—not the doctor, not the nurse, and definitely not the police.”
Detective Lucero knew he had to get this right. He had just completed the two-day Comprehensive Victim Interviewing (CVI) training. Gaining Sasha’s trust would be the first and most important step in correcting this investigation that started so badly two decades ago.
“Sasha, I’m sorry they failed you,” Detective Lucero said. “I believe you, and I’m going to do everything I can to help you.”
Sasha said she wasn’t sure she could even remember the details, or if she wanted to.
Detective Lucero nodded, handing her his card. “The decision is entirely yours,” he said, “but I know interview techniques that can help recall memories, even years later.”
A couple weeks later, Sasha called Detective Lucero. In a quiet, determined voice she said, “This has brought up all the pain I thought I buried. I want that man—and the justice system—to know what he did changed me, but it does not define me.”
You were there for Sasha when she was ready. Thanks to you, law enforcement and other responders gained critical skills to help survivors fight for justice.
Your generosity played a crucial role in funding the programs that helped survivors and trained professionals in 2022.
With your help, we’re growing our fund development to make an even greater impact.
Once again, we were proud to pass our annual audit with no material weakness or deficiencies noted.
You’ve been here all along, standing with survivors, fighting for justice, and promoting healing. As End Violence Against Women International turns 20 this year, we celebrate the incredible strides we’ve made together.
And you’re here now with EVAWI as we step into the future. On May 1, 2023, Founder and CEO Joanne Archambault retired. She launched EVAWI with the vision of creating a world where gender-based violence is unacceptable, where justice prevails, and survivors get the support they deserve.
As the new CEO, I am proud to guide EVAWI into our next chapter. I have dedicated my life to pursuing justice and supporting survivors. I served for many years in law enforcement then went on to lead a rape crisis and child advocacy center for over two decades. In 2015, I joined the EVAWI Board of Directors and have served as president for four and a half amazing years.
Looking at what lies ahead, you have never been more needed. Together we will build on 20 years of unstoppable momentum to achieve even greater success.
Together, in 2023 we will:
- Expand SEEK THEN SPEAK across the country, offering survivors a new path to justice
- Give law enforcement, advocates, medical providers, and prosecutors in each community the tools to do their jobs effectively so justice triumphs
- Ensure every survivor hears, “I believe you. You’re safe now. How can I help?”
It’s my honor to stand with you. Thank you for being right here.
EVAWI is a catalyst for justice and healing, so EVERY survivor of sexual assault and domestic violence gets the right response, every time.
Board of Directors
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