Statistics sometimes quantify unimaginable tragedies. One in five women and one in 71 men will be raped at some point in their lives. Sex trafficking is the fastest growing and third largest criminal enterprise worldwide.
Although many college students are aware of the rape crisis facing all campuses across the states, sexual violence is not just the lack of no consent. It includes female genital mutilation, incest, intimate partner violence, and sexual harassment. People, specifically women, are victimized through sexual violence and trafficking on a global scale becoming both physically and mentally injured; an issue that is not targeted through one place or way. The EMPOWER lab, standing for Engage, Motivate, Protect, Organize, Self-worth, Educate andRespect, does just this; it serves the EMPOWER Clinic with research on improving women’s health, focusing on sexual violence.
The EMPOWER Lab is a student and faculty research group which explores topics like gender empowerment, sexual violence and other global women’s health issues. The lab supports the EMPOWER Clinic which is designed to provide service for survivors of sexual violence and abuse.
"The EMPOWER Clinic was started in efforts to meet both the medical and mental health needs of survivors of sex trafficking and sexual violence," said NYU Sophomore, Julianna Eboli, a research assistant at the Lab. “These victims are injured in a holistic way and need to be addressed in that same manner; both mentally and physically.”
Under the guidance of Dr. Veronica Ades, MD, MPH, who has immense experience in this area as a gynecologist, the lab explores topics such as reproductive health needs within vulnerable populations, gender empowerment, sexual violence, maternal morbidity and morality, and other global women’s health issues.
“We are currently working on a variety of projects including studies in Ghana, Intimate Partner Violence, Programs for Survivors of Torture, and Military Sexual Trauma," said Eboli of the current plans for the organization. "The Clinic is also providing right now music therapy for its patients, in which we are examining how melodies improve their state- something that I find extremely fascinating and powerful.”
The lab is composed of a combination of undergraduate, graduate, and medical students all with one unifying passion: to empower these victims.
“Although progress has been made, I believe there is still a stigma associated with sexual violence, in which people still are afraid to have a conversation about it," said Eboli.
It's important to remember these crimes, such as sexual trafficking, do not discriminate. It affects everyone and anyone can be a victim. While some people are at a greater risk, these crimes can affect people of any race, gender, age, socio-economic status or educational background. Statistically, people who are at risk vary from undocumented immigrants, refugees, to young women.
“I want these women to feel empowered about themselves; to feel that they have the potential to be anything they want to besides what they have been through," said Eboli of the patients being served by the Clinic. “We know that we are dealing with very sensitive and difficult issues, but we want to contribute as much as possible to helping these victims feel good about themselves."
Eboli, who is in charge of the social media for the group and is heavily involved in the Intimate Partner Violence study, wants to bring awareness to this global epidemic as much as possible. Her goal with social media is to provide brief, empowering clips or articles to show the issues happening on a global scale.
“These problems inhibit females from reaching their goals and this is something that needs to stop," said Eboli who strongly believes that social media can act as a force and tool against this global issue. "We are in an era where we are striving for gender equality, and in order to do so, sexual violence must be diminished.”
The EMPOWER team is just getting started and has made enormous efforts to alleviate this problem. To say the least, they won’t be stopping anytime soon.
Just like sexual violence and crime do not discriminate against their victims, anyone can be a hero. Anyone can empower victims and survivors. Whether you are a student or a professional, you can empower someone who needs it.
Follow @NYUEmpowerLab on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook to get the latest news on sexual violence and other public health issues.