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VIVO Alliance & Integro Foundation

A joint project between VIVO Alliance and Integro Foundation to advocate for victims' rights.

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Background:
The Victims' Rights Advocacy & Accountability Project was inspired by Karla Hernandez-Rosario's exhausting legal battle for justice after she was brutally attacked and sexually assaulted in December, 2020. Her plea for basic human rights was overtly denied by continuous roadblocks in the Puerto Rican justice system, which unequivocally favors the perpetrators of such heinous crimes. It's been nearly two years since her horrific ordeal, and yet no progress has been made to incriminate her assailant. After consulting with several legal professionals, multiple assault victims faced with similar challenges, as well as many non-profit organizations battling the scourge of gender/sexual violence, Karla and her husband came to the conclusion that the problem is indeed systemic. In Puerto Rico, victims of crime such as gender violence and sexual assault have no constitutional rights in the criminal proceedings against their offenders. It is common knowledge that the Puerto Rico Criminal Justice System, for decades, has shown callous disregard toward victims of these types of crimes in their fruitless pleas for justice, leaving them to suffer relentless personal, emotional, and financial wounds.

Vision of Project:
To rectify the severe imbalance between the rights of criminal defendants against the absent rights of victims, VIVO Alliance must raise the necessary funding to collaborate with a team of legal and research professionals, whom Karla and her husband, Gerald, have connected with on their own personal battle for legal justice. These professionals, along with the help of the University of PR, shall implement a work-study program for students from the UPR Legal and Journalism departments. Together, they shall harvest critical information to create an in-depth, on-demand database that clearly defines the severe imbalance of Puerto Rico's legal justice

San Juan, PR
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VIVO Alliance & Integro Foundation is hosted at Integro Foundation Inc

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Official fundraiser

Donate Today to Improve Victims' Rights in Puerto Rico

Donate Today to Help Introduce & Pass Puerto Rico’s New Victims’ Rights Bill BACKGROUND The Vivo Alliance Advocacy & Accountability Project was born from the lived experience of Karla Hernández, who faced overwhelming roadblocks in her pursuit of justice after surviving a violent sexual assault and attempted murder in December 2020. Despite her persistence, the justice system failed her — her case was closed without resolution, and her assailant was never held accountable. After sharing her experience publicly, numerous other survivors reached out to her to share similar experiences, and Karla and her husband Gerald learned quickly that her experience reflected a much broader crisis. Across Puerto Rico, survivors are being re-traumatized by a broken and unaccountable justice system. In response, they co-founded Vivo Alliance, a survivor-led nonprofit working to reform Puerto Rico’s legal and institutional response to sexual violence. OUR PROJECT Since 2023, Vivo Alliance has built a multi-phase campaign with national partners, researchers, and legal professionals to address this crisis and push for systemic reform. With your help, we have: -Raised over $161,000 in our first two years -Partnered with faculty and students at the University of Puerto Rico Law School -Conducted an in-depth comparative legal analysis of victims’ rights in all 50 U.S. states and 21 countries -Drafted a full legislative proposal for a Victims’ Bill of Rights for Puerto Rico -Published two in-depth reports in the UPR Legal Journal -Formed strategic partnerships with national and local allies including RAINN, The Joyful Heart Foundation, LULAC, and Coordinadora Paz para la Mujer -Engaged with government agencies, legislators, and policy leaders across the island -Been featured in multiple local and national media pieces, amplifying the voices of survivors and the urgency of reform We are now preparing for the most important phase yet: ensuring the bill passes. WHY WE’RE RAISING $75,000 BY DECEMBER 31 Thanks to our donors and partners, the legislative proposal is complete. Our next challenge is to make sure it becomes law — and momentum is on our side. The Office of the President of the Senate, Thomas Rivera Schatz, has already expressed its commitment to introducing the bill next year. This represents a major breakthrough in our efforts — but introducing a bill is only the first step. Ensuring it passes requires sustained public pressure, strategic advocacy, and continued collaboration with government and community partners. To prepare for the 2026 legislative session, we are raising $75,000 by the end of this year to launch a new phase of impact focused on: -A survivor-centered public awareness and advocacy campaign to build broad public support for passing the bill -Continued meetings with legislators, agency leaders, and government officials to secure endorsements and advance political will -Expanded research into improving the management of forensic DNA evidence, including rape kit handling, tracking systems, and laboratory coordination -Coalition-building among survivors, experts, legal professionals, and community organizations -Supporting a small, full-time team to coordinate these efforts with transparency and accountability This funding will allow us to drive the bill forward, mobilize public support, and strengthen the systems that protect survivors. YOUR IMPACT This is about more than one bill — it’s about transforming the system so survivors are no longer ignored, re-traumatized, or dismissed. Your donation today helps us: -Bring survivors directly into the policymaking process -Hold public institutions accountable -Advance Puerto Rico’s first survivor-led Victims’ Bill of Rights -Conduct research to improve how forensic DNA evidence is managed, so cases are not lost due to preventable failures Every contribution strengthens the movement toward a safer, more just Puerto Rico. TAX-DEDUCTIBLE DONATIONS Vivo Alliance is proudly partnered with Integro Foundation, a 501(c)(3)/PR 1101 nonprofit organization that serves as our legal and fiscal sponsor. All donations made here are fully tax-deductible. ACT 20/22/60 DONORS: Your donation qualifies under Act 60 requirements. After donating, you will receive a receipt from Every.org, and Integro Foundation will also send you an official qualifying tax exemption receipt. Thank you for helping us turn pain into purpose — and purpose into lasting change. Website: www.vivoalliance.org Email: vivoalliancefoundation@gmail.com
Raised
$183,470
Goal
$236,000
84 supporters
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Donors

  • Brittany Kaiser
    To the fundraiser: Donate Today to Improve Victims' Rights in Puerto Rico

    Karla is a powerhouse! It’s an honor to support such a strong woman doing such important work for human rights and women’s rights.

  • Michel Bayan

    This is one of the most impactful causes and capital efficient teams I’ve seen in the nonprofit sector. This relatively small amount of capital can make a massive impact, not only in the lives of thousands of women directly impacted by sex...

    1
  • thessy mehrain

    Sadly, gender-based violence and biased courts are a global issue. Kudos to you for taking action after Karla’s terrible experience. I hope she’s healing.
    Bravo to taking this initiative after Karla's horrible experience. I hope she is heal...

    1