Legal Fees + Airfare

Three years ago, I went out for a casual drink with friends. What started as an innoccuous evening ended in a way I could never have imagined. I don't remember leaving, but my friends later told me that I said I was tired and was going home and we said our goodbyes. What I do remember is regaining consciousness in an unknown stairwell the next day, groggy and confused about my surroundings. I was still in a fog until later that day, when it slowly began to dawn on me what had happened. I went to the hospital, then to the police. Tests were performed, DNA was collected, statements were given. I was put on anti-HIV drugs which prevented me from functioning as a normal person, I was evaluated by a psychologist, I was scheduled for a seemingly never-ending series of follow-up bloodwork analyses to ensure that I had not contracted any sexually-transmitted diseases, including HIV.

And I feel lucky because I made it through all of this and came out the other side healthy and intact.

More than a year passed before the DNA results came through. At that point, I had moved from Paris, where I had been living for six years, back to the United States. Thanks to these results, the French police were able to identify a suspect and my case was transferred to a judge.

Now, nearly three years to the day after the assault, a trial is finally taking place. My testimony is requested, but for this I need to go back to Paris. For this I need a lawyer or my case will be dismissd.

I have built myself a new life since these events, one which I do not particulary want to disrupt, especially not by dredging up the horrifying facts surrounding that night. But I am going.

I am going because I do not want this case to be dismissed and for what happened to me to become another statistic. I am going because when I shared my story, nearly all the women I shared it with had a comparable story to share and that horrified me. I am going because 60% of rapes are never reported to the police. I am going because only 10% of rapes ever lead to arrests. I am going because only 8% of rapes are prosecuted. I am going for all the women who cannot go. I am going because, no matter the outcome, I believe it is the right thing to do.

This one case may be a drop in the bucket, but it is a drop that I will not add to the many already there. Many women may not have the choice or the ability to report what happened to them and see it through to the bitter end. I am lucky. I have a choice. And I am choosing to do what I can, in my small way, to make it unacceptable for people to commit sexual assault.

From what I have been able to gather about how this will work, there will be two phases: an invesigative phase and a trial phase.

For the investigate phase, my legal fees will amount to 870 euros, or around $1000. If/when this goes to trial, I will be charged 1000-1500 euros, or $1200-1800. Add to this the cost of round-trip plane tickets to France for each phase, an estimated total of at least $2000, depending on the time of year. Because of this - and because I know that I have family and friends who are interested in supporting me throughout this whole process - I am reaching out through this platform.

Whatever support you can give, both financial and emotional, will be greatly appreciated. Thank you.