A nearly decade-long journey helping victims of sexual assault
In 2013, Amanda Nguyen was the victim of a sexual assault while studying at Harvard University in Massachusetts, USA.
After the horrific incident, she decided not to press charges immediately because she felt she did not have the time and resources needed to participate in a trial that could last years.
After meeting with other victims of sexual assault with similar stories, Amanda Nguyen realized that current legal protections for vulnerable groups in the US are insufficient.
Once a victim of sexual assault, Amanda Nguyen is determined to stand up to protect the rights of disadvantaged groups in society (Photo: Getty).
Temporarily putting aside unfinished projects, she is determined to stand up to protect the rights and bring justice for herself and other victims of abuse and sexual assault.
In 2014, she founded Rise, a nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting the civil rights of victims of sexual assault and rape.
One of the innovations that created a turning point for Amanda Nguyen in her journey was the recognition by law, allowing the use of “rape kits”.
This is a kit to collect DNA evidence from the scene of a rape crime, possibly from the victim’s body, clothes, and personal items. According to Amanda Nguyen, this procedure is aimed at collecting, conducting investigations and ultimately finding the perpetrator.
“My anti-rape kit took 6 hours in the hospital to find the perpetrator and bring him to light,” Amanda Nguyen said on her personal website.
Amanda later also participated in the proposal and drafting of the Sexual Assault Survivors Rights Act, which was unanimously passed in Congress before being signed into law by former US President Barack Obama on September 1. October 7, 2016.
Amanda Nguyen was voted by TIME magazine for the title of Woman of the Year in 2022 (Photo: Time).
This act established statutory rights in federal law for survivors of sexual assault and rape, affecting an estimated nearly 25 million rape survivors in the United States.
Amanda Nguyen also focuses specifically on the intersection of race and gender. Her campaigns sparked the “Stop Asian Hate” movement, helping protect the rights and racial equality of millions of Asians in America.
With her tireless efforts, she was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize in 2019 and is TIME magazine’s Woman of the Year in 2022.
After nearly a decade of making history, Amanda Nguyen is now preparing for a brand new milestone moment.
