E71: Civil Justice for Survivors | Amy Mathieu on Trauma-Informed Advocacy, Online Exploitation, and School Accountability - Advocacy in Action

Send us Fan MailIn this week's episode of Aspire - Advocacy in Action, hosts Chessy Prout and Katie M. Shipp join I Have The Right To intern Jonas and guest Amy Mathieu. Amy is a trauma-informed attorney who represents survivors of adult sexual abuse, child sexual abuse, and CSAM. They discuss how civil litigation can support accountability while keeping survivor choice, control, and healing at the center. Amy explains why her first conversations with clients are paced carefully, often include an advocate, and focus on building trust before asking deeper questions.The conversation also covers the difference between civil and criminal court, the importance of revival windows for decades-old abuse cases, and why coming forward can help other survivors recognize they are not alone. Amy and the hosts talk about prevention as well, including consent education, digital safety, and the need to shift responsibility away from victims and onto perpetrators and the systems that allow harm to continue.They close by discussing online exploitation, school liability, and why institutions need more than good policy; they need real enforcement, transparency, and accountability. Amy’s work reflects a survivor-centered approach to law that prioritizes safety, agency, and meaningful change.To learn more about Amy Mathieu, please visit https://hkm.com/attorneys/amy-mathieu/To learn more about I Have The Right To's mission and programming, please visit https://ihavetherightto.org/Support the showAspire is produced by BenHudakProductions.com