Survivor Statement

In October 2022, survivor advocate and ICOS Co-founder, Lula Dembele opened the launch of the National Plan to End Violence Against Women and Children with a Survivor Statement prepared by members of the Independent Collective of Survivors (ICOS). 

It marked the first time victim-survivors of domestic, family and sexual violence had been given a voice in the Plan and highlighted how important it is to centre the voices of lived experience. As we said in the survivor statement “Abuse and violence is a problem for victims, but it is not the victims’ problem. Genuine change begins with a willingness to listen.”