Guest Opinion | Catholic Charities
What is a Survivor Statement?
We approached the project with no set definition about the statement. The reasoning for this is that stipulating or framing it within any regulations would ultimately defeat the purpose of survivor’s choice of voice. There were purposely no set boundaries to this, there were no required filters. Sexual violence is not a beautiful picture, and survivors should never feel obligated to portray it in such a way. Survivor Statements are the voices that survivors want the world to hear. It may be what the perpetrator said to them, a message to their family/friends or to anyone or everyone. Real stories, real voices on their own words to create an awareness hoping a real change in attitude towards survivors of sexual violence.
The Survivor Statements were photographed in black and white, enlarged to poster size, and printed onto corrugated plastic canvas. The images are displayed as a group at various locations in the Council Bluffs area – CHI Mercy and Jennie Edmundson hospitals, RNG gallery (Dixie Quicks), Council Bluffs Library and IWCC. The project can also be viewed in Harrison County at the CHI Health Hospital - Missouri Valley and in Cass County at the Cass County Courthouse in Atlantic.
Catholic Charities Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Program continues to collect Survivor Statements throughout the year and add to the display in future years realizing that collective statements from diverse sexual assault survivors are overwhelmingly impactful.
This project was much more than we imagined it would be. The process of taking the photographs was a heart-breaking, eye-opening, and an overall inspiring experience. Many survivors stated it was incredibly difficult to do, but participating in the project felt empowering, freeing, and an opportunity to help others.
Although we received some negative feedback, individuals stating the images were “upsetting” and “inappropriate,” we received many more positive feedback from the community regarding the display(s). Some of the common brief comments were; “powerful,” “impactful,” “much needed,” “I had no idea,” difficult yet eye-opening,” “painful,” “brave,” “sad, but need to do something about this,” and so on. We also received some negative feedback, individuals stating the images were “upsetting” and “inappropriate”. A physician at the last display location made a comment as we were taking it down—and I believe he summed it up the best. “I think it did make people feel uncomfortable. But if you’re not doing that, then I really don’t think you are doing your job. Thank you, truly, for doing this.”
Remaining silent about the devastating realities of sexual violence is an injustice within itself. Survivors do not have to hide, alter, or silence their voices. The shame of the crime is never on them; it is on the perpetrators. To silence survivors’ voices is to directly prohibit education, prevention, awareness, and change. Sexual violence happens everywhere, every day. The world needs to know this, see this, and feel this. We feel our Survivor Statements Project provided a window into what sexual violence really looks like. Which is the first, very vital, step to truly understanding it and changing the response.
Contact Catholic Charities Domestic at 712-256-2059 or on the crisis line at 712-328-0266 or toll freeat 1-888-612-0266.