Sexual assault survivors who publically identify themselves using their real names could face up to four months in prison following a new law passed in the Australian state of Victoria.
Changes to the Judicial Proceedings Report Act, which took effect in February 2020, made it an offence for anyone to publicly disclose the identity of anyone who had been a survivor of sexual assault.
It is also an offence for others (including media) to publish the identity of a survivor, or information which could lead to the identification.
Any person who is guilty of the offence is liable for up to four months in prison and fines in excess of AU$8000.
The new law makes no exceptions for the survivors themselves, and campaigners are calling to allow survivors to speak out and tell their stories using their own identities.
Campaigners have described the amendment as a 'gag' law, and are urging the Victorian government to change the regulations.
Journalist Nina Funnell created the #LetUsSpeak social media campaign to allow survivors to speak out.
"Victorian survivors of sexual assault deserve to be heard," Funnell.
"There is power in survivors sharing their stories in their own names - it shifts shame and it shifts blame from the survivor to the offender. And it empowers others to come forward."
The campaign's GoFundMe page has raised more AU$63,476 to cover court orders and ongoing campaign work.