What We Do

We are creating an ecosystem of respect and support for students and survivors of sexual assault.

How We Do It:

We do this by:

Providing actionable support and tactical resources to survivors of sexual assault and their parents and communities
Curating curricula and training in partnership with middle and high school educators, administrators, and parents
Building online spaces that value and promote social and emotional education

Where we’re headed

We envision a future where every student receives an education free from sexual assault.

Will you join us?

In our work to get to this vision, we believe:

The well-being of every school is inextricably bound to the well-being of every student and survivor.

Every student deserves safety and dignity at school.

Transparency and accountability must be the committed norm over silence, blame, or isolation.

Who We Work With:

At I Have The Right To, we believe that safety starts with respect. Until each and every student is treated with the respect they deserve, no student is truly safe.

For this reason, I Have The Right To is committed to building an ecosystem of respect and support for all students and survivors of sexual assault no matter their race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, religion, disability, economic background, school, or student standing.

We approach this mission aware of the sad reality that students in minority groups are disproportionately affected by sexual violence. They are also least likely to see justice for the wrongs they suffer.

Protection from sexual assault and the pursuit of justice cannot be limited to any one group. It is for everyone.

Our Values:

We are:

Holistic

We advance a 360-degree approach to supporting survivors of sexual assault and their parents and communities.

Tenacious

We are tireless in our extension of support and in our action for justice.

Visionary

We think big and will stop at nothing short of systemic change.

Where We Started:

I Have The Right To started as a viral social media campaign for young people to call for safety from sexual violence following the “St. Paul’s School Rape Case” (Associated Press).

The case garnered national and international attention and prompted an important conversation about sexual assault in middle and high school and the secondary victimization of institutional failures, complicity, and survivor-bullying.

From the overwhelming outpouring of young people’s #IHaveTheRightTo declarations, the organization I Have The Right To was born. Its founding principle was that survivors need community, not silence and isolation.

Community is baked into every fiber of our being, including our logo. Designed by artist Mayuka Thaïs, our logo is based on the belief that one’s heart, soul, and body are sacred. The arms across the heart represent self-protection. The logo also signifies that each of us has the right to our own hearts and that no one can take that away without our consent.

Today, I Have The Right To is the hub for middle and high school students, parents, and educators looking for information, support, and avenues of action against sexual assault.