State legislature passes bill making survivor’s prior sexual history inadmissible in court (rape shield). With the closing of Philadelphia General Hospital, WOAR negotiated with City officials to assure continuity of care of rape survivors. When two hospitals were selected to treat survivors – Jefferson and Presbyterian Hospitals – WOAR conducted rape awareness training sessions for the hospital staffs and negotiated with the hospitals to have WOAR’s volunteer counselors present in the hospital emergency rooms. When the designated city hospitals lost funding for rape care (around 2006), through WOAR’s leadership role on the Philadelphia Sexual Assault Advisory Council, the plan for the Philadelphia Sexual Assault Response Center (PSARC) was developed and funding was secured through the Drexel University School of Medicine. PSARC began operations in May 2011 The Pennsylvania State Legislature passed the “Rape Shield Law,” which incorporated WOAR’s recommendations, one of which made a woman’s prior sexual history, in most cases, inadmissible in court.
WOAR helps found Women’s Way.
