Latest news with #survivors
Free Malaysia Today
10 hours ago
- Health
- Free Malaysia Today
Stroke survivor takes up call to help others like her
Nasam founder Janet Yeo is passionate about helping stroke survivors regain their lives. (Janet Yeo pic) PETALING JAYA : Many years ago, Janet Yeo was at the top of her career. After taking over her father's company at 25, she became the youngest managing director of an advertising agency in the country. At the helm of the company, now renamed Union 45, she won many industry accolades, including becoming the first woman, and the youngest person to hold the Presidency of 4As (Association of Accredited Advertising Agencies in Malaysia). Yeo's world, however, came crashing down in 1989, when she suffered a stroke, leaving her paralysed on her right side and depriving her of the ability to write. She found herself questioning why this happened to her. 'As a Christian, I prayed. I asked God, why did you allow this stroke in my life? I didn't understand, but I accepted. I asked, what was the purpose for all this? And I heard a small voice, saying, 'go and help other stroke survivors',' recalled Yeo, now 80. 'I didn't know how to do it. I was still recovering from my stroke at the time. But I decided I would take this up.' Yeo delivering a talk to members of the National Stroke Association of Malaysia. (Janet Yeo pic) Yeo's story was later covered in a local newspaper, leading to an outpouring of support. It wasn't long before she founded the National Stroke Association of Malaysia (Nasam) in November 1996, with her home in Petaling Jaya converted into the association's first therapy centre. Nasam's mission is to promote stroke prevention and meet the rehabilitation needs of stroke survivors after they are discharged from hospital. The association is well known for its rallying cry, 'There is Life after Stroke'. The association now has six centres around Malaysia in Petaling Jaya, Ampang, Sabah, Perak, Johor and Pahang. Yeo said she believes what differentiates Nasam from other stroke recovery centres is its holistic programme. She said stroke programmes were more than just physical treatment. Yeo (second from left) with Nasam members at a fundraising walk. (Janet Yeo pic) 'Most stroke patients go to a hospital or clinic, and get an appointment once a week, or once a month. They will treat your hand and your leg, but they don't help your head, your feelings, or emotions,' she said. 'But deep down, you are still you. You are still someone's parent, child, or sibling. You are the same person you are, but may feel traumatised from what happened to you. You may not have completed the grief process, and we are here to help you with all that.' She is also a firm believer in the power of will, believing that most difficult situations can be overcome if you push yourself hard and don't give up. Yeo's vision is for every major town in Malaysia to have a Nasam centre. These ambitious plans, however, are tempered by a focus on sustainability and consistency. 'We have people from all over the country, wanting to start centres where they are. But we are careful. Can you sustain the fundraising for your centre? And will we be able to find enough good trained physiotherapists to deploy to those places?' 'We rather stay where we are, at six centres, until maybe the supply of physiotherapists in Malaysia improves.' Nasam currently has six centres nationwide, including this one in Ampang, the house Yeo's mother once lived in. (Nasam pic) While the centre is doing its part to help stroke victims, it still needs help, whether in the form of volunteers or donations. If every Malaysian could just donate RM1, or the price of one meal every month, what a difference that could make for stroke therapy, Yeo said with a smile. Yeo may be 80 now, but she is still fired up about promoting Nasam's cause: she believes she will probably be serving until she is ultimately called home to her maker. 'I think my post-stroke life is more rewarding than my pre-stroke life now,' she said. 'I used to be about chasing money and titles. But I learnt all of that means nothing when you're lying in a hospital bed. 'Working with Nasam has made me into a different person. Now, I'm driven by the will to serve more stroke survivors, and help them regain their lives again.' For more information on the National Stroke Association of Malaysia, visit their website.
Yahoo
15 hours ago
- Yahoo
Sexual assault survivors reach out to Waterloo region center following hockey trial ruling
The Sexual Assault Support Centre of Waterloo Region say they have received a number of calls from victims after five former world junior hockey players were found not guilty of sexual assault in a London courtroom last week. Many of the calls are from people who are reaching out wondering what the London verdict could mean for their own cases. Lyndsey Butcher, the director of care at the centre, said the verdict has been difficult for the people they help. On Friday, the day after the verdict, 20 survivors, volunteers and staff gathered for a community care drop-in event, including victims of sexual assault who had not reported the incident. "We had three new survivors come to our centre. All three who had been considering whether or not to report," said Butcher. "And because of this verdict, all three of them said that they were so hesitant and so afraid of what reporting would look like and if they were to take that step what they would be faced with." Butcher says the three people would be supported by the sexual violence legal advocacy program, which supports survivors from the moment they make the decision whether they want to report to police. "We help them to understand what police reporting looks like, what the investigation would entail and then if charges were laid, what a trial would look like," Butcher said. "We are quite honest with them about what impact it may have on them and what type of things they would have to endure in a trial like being cross-examined, like not being believed," she said. For survivors who choose to report to police, Butcher says the centre will make an appointment for them and be there every step of the way, from early discussions with police to the court case. LISTEN | : Restorative justice offers alternative to a trial Sexual assault survivors and advocates would like to have the option to deal with allegations of sexual assault outside the court system through what's known as restorative justice. It focuses more on the rehabilitation of the offender of a crime and reconciliation with the victims and less on punishment. The Kitchener non-profit Community Justice Initiatives offers a restorative justice program. Kate Crozier is the organization's interim executive director and says before proceeding, they give the sexual assault survivor as much information as possible. "So there's just a lot of conversation around what could it look like and she and our staff member will talk about options such as direct dialogue, letter writing and connecting online," said Crozier. "We'll talk about what the survivor's vision of healing and justice looks like. We're really curious, what does it mean to them? What could it look like to them?" From there, Crozier says they reach out to the person who caused the harm and invite them into a dialogue. She says they often find that they meet with people who acknowledge that harm happened but struggle with taking responsibility for it. LISTEN | : Crozier would like to see more funding for restorative just for sexual assault cases in Ontario. "A restorative process is a fraction of the cost of the legal system and held in the hands of survivors, healing and justice needs," said Crozier "We need to divert cases from the legal system so that people can have their day and not have cases dropped out. And we can do this affordably. So we are looking for an investment into restorative justice processes by the province so that we can have survivors have their their opportunity for this." The Sexual Assault Support Centre of Waterloo Region has a 24 hour support line that is staffed by volunteers who have completed a comprehensive training program. The number to call is (519) 741-8633. Anyone experiencing a domestic violence crisis and/or is in danger, call 911. For non-urgent situations, you can contact regional police at the non-emergency number (519) 570-9777. Women's Crisis Services of Waterloo Region is available at (519) 742-5894 in Kitchener-Waterloo and (519) 653-2422 in Cambridge. Women in rural areas can connect by calling either number. The Waterloo Region Sexual Assault Domestic Violence Treatment Centre is available at (519) 749-6994.
CBC
15 hours ago
- CBC
Sexual assault survivors reach out to Waterloo region center following hockey trial ruling
The Sexual Assault Support Centre of Waterloo Region say they have received a number of calls from victims after five former world junior hockey players were found not guilty of sexual assault in a London courtroom last week. Many of the calls are from people who are reaching out wondering what the London verdict could mean for their own cases. Lyndsey Butcher, the director of care at the centre, said the verdict has been difficult for the people they help. On Friday, the day after the verdict, 20 survivors, volunteers and staff gathered for a community care drop-in event, including victims of sexual assault who had not reported the incident. "We had three new survivors come to our centre. All three who had been considering whether or not to report," said Butcher. "And because of this verdict, all three of them said that they were so hesitant and so afraid of what reporting would look like and if they were to take that step what they would be faced with." Butcher says the three people would be supported by the sexual violence legal advocacy program, which supports survivors from the moment they make the decision whether they want to report to police. "We help them to understand what police reporting looks like, what the investigation would entail and then if charges were laid, what a trial would look like," Butcher said. "We are quite honest with them about what impact it may have on them and what type of things they would have to endure in a trial like being cross-examined, like not being believed," she said. For survivors who choose to report to police, Butcher says the centre will make an appointment for them and be there every step of the way, from early discussions with police to the court case. Restorative justice offers alternative to a trial Sexual assault survivors and advocates would like to have the option to deal with allegations of sexual assault outside the court system through what's known as restorative justice. It focuses more on the rehabilitation of the offender of a crime and reconciliation with the victims and less on punishment. The Kitchener non-profit Community Justice Initiatives offers a restorative justice program. Kate Crozier is the organization's interim executive director and says before proceeding, they give the sexual assault survivor as much information as possible. "So there's just a lot of conversation around what could it look like and she and our staff member will talk about options such as direct dialogue, letter writing and connecting online," said Crozier. "We'll talk about what the survivor's vision of healing and justice looks like. We're really curious, what does it mean to them? What could it look like to them?" From there, Crozier says they reach out to the person who caused the harm and invite them into a dialogue. She says they often find that they meet with people who acknowledge that harm happened but struggle with taking responsibility for it. Crozier would like to see more funding for restorative just for sexual assault cases in Ontario. "A restorative process is a fraction of the cost of the legal system and held in the hands of survivors, healing and justice needs," said Crozier "We need to divert cases from the legal system so that people can have their day and not have cases dropped out. And we can do this affordably. So we are looking for an investment into restorative justice processes by the province so that we can have survivors have their their opportunity for this." The Sexual Assault Support Centre of Waterloo Region has a 24 hour support line that is staffed by volunteers who have completed a comprehensive training program. The number to call is (519) 741-8633. Anyone experiencing a domestic violence crisis and/or is in danger, call 911. For non-urgent situations, you can contact regional police at the non-emergency number (519) 570-9777. Women's Crisis Services of Waterloo Region is available at (519) 742-5894 in Kitchener-Waterloo and (519) 653-2422 in Cambridge. Women in rural areas can connect by calling either number. The Waterloo Region Sexual Assault Domestic Violence Treatment Centre is available at (519) 749-6994.
Associated Press
3 days ago
- General
- Associated Press
Four people drown when a boat carrying 14 capsizes in the Danube Delta in Romania
BUCHAREST, Romania (AP) — Four people drowned when a boat carrying 14 capsized in the Danube Delta in Romania on Monday, the state news agency Agerpres reported. There was no word as to what had caused the accident on the Sulina branch of the river's delta, in Tulcea County near the Black Sea. Ten survivors were later taken to a county hospital, according to Agerpres, which cited the area's Inspectorate for Emergency Situations. The report said six of the passengers were wearing life jackets and were able to reach the shore on their own. The names and nationalities of the casualties have not been disclosed. Search operations were suspended after all 14 who were onboard had been accounted for, authorities said, Agerpres said.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
New York's Sexual Assault Law Excludes the Intoxicated. This Bill Aims to Fix It.
After surviving rape twice, calling 911 for help wasn't Akia Nyrie Smith's first instinct. As a Black nonbinary person, they knew all too well how law enforcement might respond, especially when alcohol was involved, as it had been both nights in Michigan. When Smith moved to New York in 2020, in the depths of the pandemic, they never imagined experiencing a third assault. But that was their breaking point. 'When it happened in New York, I felt stupid. I didn't tell anyone,' Smith, who goes by they/them pronouns, told Capital B. They took deep breaths and shed a few tears before revealing the truths of their childhood, and young adulthood, during a May interview with Capital B. Prior experiences with police have stayed with them — and has made each consideration of calling 911 feel like a calculated risk — echoing concerns shared by many Black families across the country about the gamble of calling 911 for help. 'I didn't think anything would happen, because it was my word against theirs — and he's a white man,' the 29-year-old said, wiping away tears. 'I didn't know what happened was something I could fight for because I was putting myself in bad situations. Because I kept drinking.' Now, alongside a coalition of sex-crime survivors and human rights advocates, Smith is calling on New York lawmakers from both sides of the aisle to support legislation that ensures survivors who were voluntarily intoxicated at the time of an assault are still protected under the law. The bill, known as A101A in the Assembly, would close a legal loophole that currently allows prosecutors to dismiss cases where the survivor was drinking voluntarily — effectively denying justice. Advocates say the measure, similarly enacted in more than two dozen other states, is critical to affirming that choosing to drink alcohol should never disqualify someone from being believed or protected after a sexual assault. The bill passed through the state Senate Health Committee in May — a small feat advocates had long awaited since the bill's introduction in 2019. It was written in response to a letter penned in 2018 by former Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance Jr., who called on then-Gov. Andrew Cuomo to strengthen the state's laws sex crime laws. For privacy, the letter didn't cite a specific case that drew Vance to send the letter. 'Among the most common fact patterns that we have in sex crime investigations is this situation, where a woman is intoxicated because of her drinking at a party or a bar and then ends up being assaulted sexually by a man,' Vance told NBC-4 in 2018. 'There's a real problem that we have with people getting drunk and then being taken advantage of.' Nonetheless, Cuomo did not advance the Bill A101A to his desk, but did include it in his 2020 proposed budget. The following year, multiple women came forward with allegations of sexual harassment against Cuomo. He resigned in 2021 amid the scandal. He is now running for mayor of New York, a city of nearly 8.5 million people, where reports of sexual assault have risen in 2024 — though many cases still go underreported. Capital B has contacted Cuomo's campaign via email for comment on whether he would support efforts to move the bill forward for a hearing or vote. Rich Azzopardi, a campaign spokesman, said Cuomo's thoughts from 2019 supporting the legislation remains the same. Capital B has reached out via email to New York State Assembly members Carl E. Heastie, chair of the Rules Committee, and Jeffrey Dinowitz, chair of the Committee on Codes, for comment on whether the bill will be scheduled for a vote or hearing with committee members and advocates. We have not received a response from Heastie's office of this publication. Until now, New York law has included a loophole that made it difficult to prosecute cases where a victim was voluntarily intoxicated. This meant that people who were sexually assaulted while under the influence of alcohol or drugs were often denied justice, despite their inability to give consent. Dinowitz told Capital B over the phone that passing this bill is a 'no brainer.' The state had been enforcing a version of a 25-year-old federal law enacted under former President Bill Clinton, which was introduced in response to a rise in the use of date-rape drugs, commonly known as 'roofies.' Since its signing, 27 states and Washington, D.C., have laws enacted to allow people who voluntarily got drunk, and were sexually violated, to come forward to file a police report and have a rape kit administered, advocates with the coalition Justice Without Exclusion said. 'If somebody has several drinks or takes some drugs, it is not in and of itself an invitation to be raped,' said Dinowitz, a sponsor of the bill, in a statement to the coalition. 'It's not a get out of jail free card and we need to change the law to make sure that everyone is protected.' 'This is a predatory action' Chris Lake, executive director of the nonprofit Community for a Cause and leader of the advocacy coalition, said an overwhelming number of women in his life are survivors of sexual assault. 'It has always bothered me,' he said about his reason for joining in advocating for the legislation in 2020. The bill, originally introduced in 2019, aimed to close a legal loophole that made it difficult for law enforcement to investigate — or for prosecutors to pursue charges — when a person was voluntarily intoxicated before being sexually assaulted. Lake noted in an interview with Capital B that most bartenders in America can tell when a customer is in a stupor: 'If they are incapacitated, can't walk, can't talk, can't defend themselves. If they [the survivor] want to say, 'No,' they can't. If they want to push someone off and say, 'Cut it out,' they can't.' 'This is a predatory action, and we're targeting that specific predatory style that unfortunately is the most common form of rape,' Lake said. 'Far more than getting a drink spiked.' Studies have linked alcohol to most sexual assault crimes. Smith, who has remained sober and pursued mental health therapy since surviving a 2021 attack in New York, expressed frustration that the bill has been introduced six times without becoming law. Shortly after Smith joined the coalition, they thought it would be easy legislation to lobby for, but it hasn't been. They did not achieve justice through the legal system, and they do not want the same conclusion for other survivors. Admittedly, Smith said they did receive what they called 'student protections' through a Title IX complaint for an on-campus attack by someone, a Black student, who she thought was a friend. 'He was expelled,' Smith said. 'I was harassed for a bit because he was well known. … It wasn't my first time being drunk on campus. I had a rough senior year.' Smith, a manager and coordinator for CAMBA Inc. Brooklyn YAS (Youth Against Substance Misuse), believes the bill's struggle is due in part to 'those lawmakers [who] are worried that when this bill gets passed, they will be prosecuted.' Lake said the bill has stalled, based on conversations with lawmakers from both parties, because of myths and fearmongering such as claims of rising false accusations, wrongful convictions, and the targeting of Black and brown boys and men. Despite bipartisan support from more than 90 of the state's 150 Assembly members, including 17 of the 47 Republicans, this has remained the prevailing messaging, advocates said. But those numbers have fluctuated because some assembly members 'are skeptics on this bill, unfortunately,' Dinowitz said. And unless the chairperson of committees like Heastie 'feels that there's going to be enough votes among Democrats to pass it, the bill doesn't get brought to the floor,' he said. 'Because even — I mean, I hate to say it this way but — if Republicans see that there are enough Democratic votes, even if they support the bill, they may not support the bill. We really need to get a few supporters behind the bill from both sides.' The bill also has backing from the District Attorneys Association of the State of New York, which represents 62 elected DAs, along with attorneys from law enforcement agencies across the state. Bronx District Attorney Darcel Clark, and the four other elected prosecutors of New York City, agree with the bill. 'Nobody should take advantage of somebody that you know is clearly too drunk to say yes,' Clark told WSKG, a local public broadcast station, in a June interview. A coalition expands to close the loophole In at least half of all sexual assault cases between 2000 and 2016, either the victim, the perpetrator, or both had consumed alcohol, research shows. The researchers, Katherine Lorenz and Sarah E. Ullman, also found that the most common reported survivor accounts were those of white, college-age women. 'But somehow, we think that once we escape college — when we believe these crimes are most prevalent and we're in our 20s — that type of risk is behind us,' said Lizzie da Trindade-Asher, president and director of policy for Cura Collective, a nonprofit women's advocacy organization. 'Rape is not about sex. Yes, it's a sex crime — but rape is a crime of power. It doesn't lapse in time if you're seen as prey to a predator.' While da Trindade-Asher was studying at Harvard Law School in January 2023, she came across a case in Minnesota, where that state Supreme Court in 2021 overturned the conviction of a man a jury had found guilty of raping an intoxicated woman. The court ruled that, under Minnesota law at the time, a victim who voluntarily consumed alcohol was not considered 'mentally incapacitated' — and therefore, legally, unable to consent. Stunned by the court's ruling, she immediately searched to see whether her home state of New York had similar legal protections. When she discovered the bill was stalled, she could only describe her reaction as 'an emoji mind blow.' 'It was even more affronting to me to learn that in this kind of fashion of progressiveness, as we tend to see ourselves in New York State, this was the law. And even worse, the solution was being ignored,' said da Trindade-Asher. She and her organization also joined Lake's coalition. New Jersey has had similar legislation on the books since 1978, advocates said. But on the other side of the tri-state area in Connecticut, as well as Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island, legislation has yet to be passed to close the loophole. For Smith, their work in advocating for the passage of this legislation is part of some semblance of closure. It's a truth they've come to terms with in their healing journey. 'I know that what happened to me is not my fault. Even if I did voluntarily drink, that does not mean I consented,' Smith said. The post New York's Sexual Assault Law Excludes the Intoxicated. This Bill Aims to Fix It. appeared first on Capital B News.
