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As the world approaches International Women’s Day, global attention has once again turned to the case of Jeffrey Epstein. Following the release of millions of pages, headlines are dominated by names, speculation and powerful connections.
But as public attention returns to the scandal, something familiar happens: the people who spoke out risk disappearing from the story once again.
When scandals dominate the headlines, survivors disappear
The women who came forward, who reported abuse and pursued legal action despite enormous personal risk did not ask for sympathy. They asked for justice. For many of them, that justice still has not arrived.
The publication of the files could have been a moment of recognition. Instead, personal details and intimate information have circulated widely, exposing some to renewed trauma, harassment and reputational harm.
This reflects a broader pattern in which power and reputation often receive greater protection than survivors themselves. Moments like this force us to ask a fundamental question: What does justice actually mean for survivors of sexual violence?
What justice should mean for survivors of sexual violence
Justice is not only about identifying perpetrators. It also means protecting survivors, ensuring their safety and dignity and creating systems that prevent abuse in the first place.
Across the world, sexual violence remains widespread. Research consistently shows that gender inequality increases the risk of sexual exploitation and abuse. Limited power, resources and access to justice for women and girls are associated with lower rates of accountability for perpetrators.
At the same time, many survivors never report what happened to them. Fear of stigma, disbelief and retaliation still keeps countless people silent.
From accountability to prevention: confronting inequality and power
Media attention can play an important role in exposing abuse. But when coverage focuses primarily on scandal or powerful networks, it risks repeating a familiar pattern: the story becomes about the powerful, while the experiences of survivors fade into the background.
Preventing sexual violence requires confronting the deeper structures that enable it: sexism, unequal power relations and cultures that question survivors more than perpetrators. It requires institutions that take reports seriously, protect those who speak out and hold perpetrators accountable, regardless of their status or influence.
Why this matters on International Women’s Day
As we approach International Women’s Day, these questions remain urgent. A world where women and girls live free from violence must also be a world where survivors are heard, protected and able to access justice.
Justice should not depend on power, wealth or public pressure. Survivors deserve protection, accountability and prevention, not only when scandals dominate the headlines, but every day.