2.2 Introducing Yourself to the Survivor
The survivors you support place you in a position of trust.
Respect that trust by being a thoughtful listener and by never judging the survivors or any disclosures they may make.
An advocate uses good communication skills, both verbal and nonverbal, to help the survivor feel more comfortable with their role and their presence.
It’s likely that the survivor has not had an advocate before and may be hesitant to accept help.
Before you consider yourself empowered to serve as an advocate for a survivor, they must understand and consent to your role.
It’s never appropriate to advocate for someone without their consent. If they are unfit to give consent or are under the age that they can legally give consent and if there is no family member or guardian present to give consent, then the health center itself can give consent.
Try to give back a sense of trust and control.
Remember that over 85% of sexual assault perpetrators are known to the survivor (e.g. a family member, acquaintance or friend), and the survivor’s sense of trust and control has been violated.
Through your actions as an advocate, do your best to give the survivor a sense of trust in you and a sense of control over the situations around them.
You can help to create a sense of control by asking permission before sitting down or taking other actions, for example, asking if it’s alright to ask the survivor questions.
Sexual assault survivors have had their consent violated, and an important part of their recovery is to regain the power of their consent.
At every opportunity, ask permission from the survivor. For example, a good way to begin is to approach the survivor while keeping a respectful physical distance and to ask, ‘May I sit down?’
If you do not already know the survivor and you have been called to serve as an advocate by the health center or other organization, introduce yourself to the advocate.
In your own words, explain your role as advocate, including that you are:
A volunteer,
Bound by confidentiality, and
Present to advocate for survivors’ needs and for no other reason.
If the survivor has pain, bleeding, nausea, difficulty breathing or if they feel unsafe in the health center, notify a healthcare provider immediately.