News Summary

• The 'Law & Order' franchise star says in a personal People essay that she wants to ease “the shame sexual assault survivors often feel," while securing accountability from her attacker..
• Sexual violence persists not because of something unchangeable in our human condition, it exists because power structures are in place that allow it to happen..
• Years later, as Hargitay is about to turn 60, she wants to move beyond the assurance and courage her TV character, Captain Olivia Benson on NBC’s Law & Order: Special Victims Unit drama, has given others to working for greater accountability..
• In 2004, Hargitay founded the Joyful Heart Foundation, becoming a powerful advocate for survivors of sexual assault and domestic violence..
• “I now know it was already sexual violence, but I was afraid he would become physically violent..
• To avoid physical violence, Hargitay said she froze, rather than fight back, a decision that caused her years of questioning..