Challenges

Understanding the advocate's role as wholly distinct from those of other service providers is one of the greatest challenges to supporting victims' right to privacy. Advocates come from disciplines with different and sometimes looser standards regarding confidentiality. New advocates may assume that, when working with people who "have the best interest of the victim" at heart, sharing information is okay. Advocates may also perceive the ultimate mission to end sexual violence as a rationale for sharing information.

Furthermore, we live in a world in which we are increasingly asked to provide information (e.g., contact information, e-mail addresses, Social Security numbers, birth dates) to receive some type of service or benefit (e.g., shopping discounts, newsletters). Providing information has become a rather routine occurrence, and sexual assault victim advocates and victims may not necessarily think to question whether the information being requested is necessary and in the best interest of the victim.