Sexual assault survivor Amanda Nguyen creates Rise, an organization for survivor rights

Rise began as a response to a deeply personal experience with systemic failure. After surviving sexual assault while in college, Amanda Nguyen encountered major gaps in how the U.S. legal and healthcare systems handled survivors’ rights. One of the most distressing issues she faced was the lack of uniformity in how different states managed the preservation of rape kits—the medical evidence collected after an assault, which often includes DNA samples and other crucial forensic details. In some states, these kits could be destroyed as soon as six months after being collected, sometimes without even notifying the survivor. This meant that, in some cases, important evidence could be lost before a survivor had a chance to decide whether they wanted to pursue legal action. This lack of consistency, combined with the emotional and legal challenges that come with navigating the system, highlighted a critical issue: there were no clear, nationwide guidelines that ensured the rights of survivors were protected, especially when it came to preserving evidence needed to support their cases.

What began as a search for justice for herself quickly turned into a broader mission. Amanda realized that many survivors shared similar stories, and that their needs were often overlooked or dismissed by institutions. This recognition led her to create Rise—a civil rights accelerator dedicated to helping survivors of sexual violence advocate for their rights through legislation.

Rise’s model focuses on grassroots organizing and survivor-centered policy change. The organization equips individuals with the tools and support needed to draft, propose, and pass their own civil rights laws. One of Rise’s key successes is the Sexual Assault Survivors' Bill of Rights, signed into U.S. federal law in 2016. This law ensures survivors' rights, such as the preservation of rape kits for the duration of the statute of limitations and the right to be informed of forensic test results and kit destruction.

By addressing legal gaps in survivor rights, Rise empowers survivors to lead policy change. Expanding internationally, the organization helps activists secure similar protections in other countries, providing a replicable model for civil rights advocacy.

Adapted from:
https://time.com/7263804/amanda-nguyen-saving-five-excerpt/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amanda_Nguyen
https://www.forbes.com/sites/moiraforbes/2020/02/27/amanda-nguyens-histo...

For more information:
https://risenow.us/about/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L1X4JSpMS3k