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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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Donate Today to Improve Victims' Rights in Puerto Rico

Donate Today to Help Introduce Puerto Rico’s First Victims’ Rights Bill BACKGROUND The Vivo Alliance Advocacy & Accountability Project was born from the lived experience of Karla Hernández , who faced endless roadblocks in her pursuit of justice after surviving a violent sexual assault in December 2020. Despite her bravery and persistence, the justice system failed her — her case was closed without resolution, and her assailant was never held accountable. As Karla and her husband Gerald came to understand, her experience was not unique. Survivors across Puerto Rico are being retraumatized by a broken and unaccountable justice system . In response, they co-founded Vivo Alliance , a survivor-led nonprofit focused on reforming 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 tackle this crisis. With your help, we have: Raised over $128,000 in our first year and a half 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 reports of our findings in the UPR Legal Journal Formed strategic partnerships with national and local allies including RAINN , The Joyful Heart Foundation , and Coordinadora Paz para la Mujer Been featured in several local and national media pieces Begun strategic outreach to local government agencies and legislators This year, we are preparing to introduce the bill in Puerto Rico’s Legislative Assembly — and your support will help us get it to the floor. WHY WE’RE RAISING $68,700 We are now in the most critical stretch of the campaign. Our goal is to raise $68,700 to: Secure a legislative sponsor and introduce the bill during the second regular session (Aug–Nov 2025) Lead a survivor-centered public awareness campaign Build a coalition of survivors, experts, NGOs, and public officials Maintain a small, full-time campaign team to coordinate these efforts With this funding, we will be able to introduce the bill, build political will, and elevate the voices of survivors in the legislative process. YOUR IMPACT This is about more than just one bill — it’s about changing the system so that survivors are no longer ignored, retraumatized, or discarded. Your donation today makes it possible to: Bring survivors to the table where laws are made Hold public institutions accountable Push forward the first survivor-led victims’ rights legislation in Puerto Rico Vivo Alliance is proudly partnered with Integro Foundation , a 501(c)(3)/PR 1101 nonprofit organization, which 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 on this page, you will receive a receipt from Every.org. Integro Foundation will also send you an official qualifying receipt for your tax exemption. Thank you for helping us transform pain into purpose — and justice into law. Visit our website: www.vivoalliance.org Contact us: vivoalliancefoundation@gmail.com
Raised
$137,220
Goal
$198,070
72 supporters
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Donors

  • 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...

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  • John Anderson

    So happy for this team of outstanding AdVoCates*for the public safety and protection of our most dear assets Women and children. I can not wait to do more.

    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
  • Benjamin Luntz

    This organization is THE REAL DEAL.

    1
  • Nicholas Lund

    Thank you for working on this important issue that is hard to talk about openly, which only makes it more important to discuss and come up with solutions 🙏🤙

    1
  • Benjamin Luntz

    Honored to support the very important mission of Vivo Alliance

    1