YOU HAVE RIGHTS.  

The advocates at the Women’s Freedom Center are here to assist you through the crisis of an assault and provide you with future long-term referrals should you need them.  

    • You have the right to receive information so that you can make informed decisions.
    • You have the right to be supported in any decisions you make, and be acknowledged as the only one who can decide what you need and want.
    • You have the right to have your experiences validated and believed.  You have the right to be encouraged to remember that you are not going crazy, that what you are going through is part of the healing process, and that sexual assault is a recoverable experience.
    • You have the right to be listened to and treated with respect.
    • You have the right to request that an advocate help you to clarify jargon and explain the procedures of the hospital exam, police report, and court process.
    • You have the right to request support and assistance for dealing with doctors, police officers, and family members.
    • You have the right to ask to be connected to other social service agencies and to therapists who can assist you with long-term healing.
    • You have the right to seek out medical attention, even if you do not want to press charges with the police, and have an advocate accompany you to the ER.