Actress Evan Rachel Wood has shared her story of abuse, appearing in front of a congressional committee to advocate for sexual assault survivors.
She spoke alongside representatives from organisations including RISE and the Rape Abuse Incest National Network (RAINN) in an effort to get the Sexual Assault Survivors’ Bill of Rights Act implemented in all 50 U.S. states. It's currently only implemented in nine.
"I’m here today to use my position as an artist, survivor, mother, and advocate to bring a human voice to the population of 25 million survivors in the U.S. who are currently experiencing inequality under the law and who desperately need basic civil rights," she said.
Evan Rachel wood delivers her testimony Source: YouTube
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"It’s a safety net that may help save someone’s life one day."
While she admitted it was a "struggle" to speak publicly about her abuse, the openly bisexual star said it was necessary.
"If you can’t hear the whole truth you will never know true empathy, and I believe in the saying 'If we have to live through it then you should have to hear it.'"
She ended her testimony by speaking about her son and the world he will be raised in.
"I will have to explain to him what rape means and why it happened to his mother," she said.
She continued: "So I’m also here to advocate for men and for my son, who I hope grows up knowing he’s much more valuable than that and who I can only hope I will set an example for by continuing to fight for him and myself and for all the people affected by abuse, because that is our job as parents and as leaders."
Before speaking out in front of the congressional committee, Wood took to Twitter to seek encouragement from supporters, saying she felt "strong but shaky" in the lead-up.
"If you see me in the airport or on the streets of DC, dont [sic] be afraid to cheer me on, give me a thumbs up, anything," she tweeted.
Wood has previously opened up about her experience within a verbally physically and sexually abusive relationship, saying her partner raped her while they thought she was unconscious.
"While no one had to tell me that rape was such a worldwide epidemic, to see the flood of stories so similar to my own was both freeing and soul-crushing," she said at the time, revealing the ongoing impact it has on her life.
"My relationships suffer, my partner suffers, my mental and physical health suffers. Rape is often more than a few minutes of trauma, but a slow death."
You can watch Wood's full speech below:
