During her brief captivity, Lau was blindfolded and forced to strip while her captors took several topless photographs of her.
The incident became a national scandal 12 years later in October 2002.
| Pitfall | Example | Fix | |---------|---------|-----| | | Slow-motion video of survivor crying set to sad piano music. | Use neutral or empowering visuals. Let survivor choose tone. | | Single story syndrome | Only using one “perfect victim” (e.g., young, cis, conventionally sympathetic). | Recruit diverse survivors (LGBTQ+, disabled, male, BIPOC, elderly). | | Saviorism | “Our organization saved this poor survivor.” | Frame as: “Survivor had strength – our services provided one path forward.” | | Vicarious retraumatization | Staff debrief survivor’s graphic details without support. | Require trauma-informed training for all team members. Offer staff counseling. |
Do not assume you know the narrative. Host private, facilitated listening sessions with 5-10 survivors. Ask them: What do you wish the public understood? What word triggers you? What word heals you? Let the campaign message emerge from these conversations.
While the survivor tells their story, the audience must have agency. Campaigns should provide clear trigger warnings before graphic content and offer "escape routes" (e.g., a phone number to call for support) for viewers who may be triggered.
Furthermore, anonymous forums (like the "Post Secret" project or Reddit’s r/CPTSD) allow survivors to speak without the burden of public identification. This lowers the barrier to entry. For someone still in the throes of opioid addiction or escaping an active abusive relationship, anonymity is not cowardice; it is the only safe form of courage.