Epstein survivors could encourage other victims of abuse to come forward

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- Richmond-area advocates who work with survivors of domestic and sexual abuse say events like the outcry for the release of the Epstein files can give survivors the courage they need to come forward.

After more than a dozen survivors of Jeffrey Epstein's abuse spoke on Capitol Hill in favor of releasing the files related to his investigation, local abuse survivor advocates say this can encourage other victims to speak out.

On Tuesday, Nov. 18, those survivors said talking about their abuse could be difficult.

"Putting your shame and your story out there, and owning it, is not easy at all, for any of us," said Lisa Phillips, one of the speakers at the press event that preceded the House vote to force the U.S. Department of Justice to release the files.

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More than a dozen people spoke about what they experienced at the hands of Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell.

After Congress -- and the world -- heard their stories, they felt a moment of justice when the House voted overwhelmingly for the bill.

Penny Page works with abuse survivors in the Richmond area as a case manager for YWCA. She said moments like this are a win for survivors everywhere.

She's seen the impact of something on this scale before, after the #MeToo movement in 2017.

"We saw a significant increase [in] people coming forward at that point," Page said.

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Events like these can be the difference between someone staying silent and coming forward, she said.

"Seeing a large group of people in the news coming forward, being believed, [people] acknowledge that what happened to them is real and serious -- you see someone like you able to do that, it makes you feel like you can, too," Page said.

And to those who may be considering speaking to someone about their abuse, Page says this: "You will be believed, and you will be supported."

The YWCA's 24/7 hotline answered more than 14,000 calls last year. To learn more or to get support, you can visit the organization's website.