Mariska Hargitay has called for meaningful action to honour Virginia Giuffre, the late survivor of Jeffrey Epstein’s sexual abuse. She argued that recognising her courage must lead to lasting change.
While presenting the Courage Award in Giuffre’s memory at Equality Now’s annual Make Equality Reality Gala in New York City on October 21, the actress stressed the need for institutions and lawmakers to ensure survivors receive justice and accountability.
Mariska Hargitay urges action beyond tributes to Virginia Giuffre at Equality Now gala
Forbes covered that during her speech, Hargitay reflected on the challenges survivors face when speaking about sexual violence, including repeatedly recounting their experiences and enduring scrutiny, disbelief and judgment.
Drawing from her experience listening to survivors through the Joyful Heart Foundation, which she founded to support survivors of sexual assault and domestic violence, she highlighted how much society expects victims to do while often failing to hold powerful people accountable.
“Virginia did all of those things that we ask survivors to do, and then some,” Hargitay said. She added that Giuffre used her voice to bring society closer to a world where “no one is too powerful to be held accountable.”
However, the actress emphasised that celebrating Giuffre’s bravery alone would not be sufficient. “It isn’t enough to admire what Virginia did,” she said, urging courts, lawmakers and institutions to turn her courage into meaningful reforms.
Hargitay specifically pointed to legislation such as Virginia’s Law, saying it must help deliver “justice, accountability and transformation.”
The gala, organised around the theme “Choose Courage,” also honoured Gisèle Pelicot, whose decision to make her sexual assault trial public sparked international conversations about survivors’ rights, and her daughter Caroline Darian, an advocate against drug-facilitated sexual abuse. (via BBC)
The event brought together advocates and changemakers to discuss advancing gender equality through legal reform, storytelling and institutional change, reinforcing the importance of turning individual acts of courage into lasting progress.
