Yesterday marked a turning point in my personal journey as a survivor: a guilty verdict was delivered in my case. After years of surviving, waiting, and hoping to be heard, justice was acknowledged — but only in part.

Like many survivors, the legal route involved a plea agreement. This meant that while there was a conviction, not all aspects of my experience were addressed in court. It’s a reality many face — where some parts of their truth are formally recognised, and others are left in silence.

I wasn’t simply offered the chance to read my Victim Personal Statement — I had to ask, question, and push for that right. And even then, significant parts of my statement were redacted before I was allowed to speak. The system controlled what I could say about my own trauma.

Though I was technically permitted to speak, I was not fully heard.

This is why I started Stand Firm: Survivors’ Right to Be Heard.

We are calling for a change in UK law: that survivors should have the legal right to read their full Victim Personal Statement in court, should they choose to — not at the discretion of a judge, and not through edits that diminish our lived experience.

Because justice is not just about a verdict.

It’s about dignity.

It’s about truth.

It’s about voice.

Thank you to every single person who has supported this campaign so far. Together, we will continue to stand firm — for ourselves, for each other, and for every survivor still fighting to be heard.

✍️ Sign the petition:

https://www.change.org/p/give-survivors-the-legal-right-to-read-their-victim-statement-in-court

With strength and solidarity,

Isabella

Founder, Stand Firm: Survivors’ Right to Be Heard

@standfirmvoices