By Angelina Chiang
Amanda Nguyen is a well-known figure in the field of sexual assault advocacy. As the CEO and founder of Rise, a non-profit organization that focuses on supporting survivors and changing laws to protect their rights, she dedicates her life to protecting millions of girls and women around the world.
Nguyen herself is a survivor of rape and claims the most difficult part of what happened was not the rape itself, but how she was treated by the justice system after. She found that the justice system was not protecting individuals and carrying out justice but rather retraumatizing survivors and denying them basic rights. In response, she founded Rise in 2014, a nonprofit organization that provides support and resources to survivors and works to pass laws to better protect their rights.
With the help of Nguyen, volunteers, and legislators, Congress unanimously passed the Sexual Assault Survivors’ Bill of Rights in 2016. The law guarantees basic rights to survivors of sexual assault, such as the right to have their rape kit expenses (up to $2,000) paid for and preserved for the duration of the entire investigation. Rise has additionally passed 65 laws and one United Nations resolution, helping more than 100 million people.
Nguyen’s work with Rise has gained widespread recognition. She has been named to the Forbes 30 Under 30 list, Time’s 100 Next list, and many more. Her strong and ongoing advocacy has not only changed laws but has also changed lives, giving survivors hope and a sense of empowerment. Through her work with Rise, Nguyen has shown that you can take your trauma and turn it into something positive to help others.
