Carmen White

Carmen advocates for the “Start by Believing” campaign. Start by Believing is a global campaign meant to prepare professionals and loved ones to respond appropriately to sexual assault disclosures. When someone says they have been sexually assaulted, the listening person should respond with affirmations, such as "I believe you," "I'm sorry this happened," or "How can I help?" With a positive response, a victim will be more likely to continue to seek help. Carmen believes #startbybelieving is not a trend, but is a movement our society must adopt in order to change the culture around sexual assault, prevent further victimizations, and ensure that survivors get the support and services they need.