Advocate · Author · Veteran · Founder
Build the system around the survivor.
Not the other way around. Panayiota Bertzikis is a globally recognized advocate and trauma-informed expert who brings governments, militaries and institutions the training and strategy to make change that actually sticks.
Advisor on the Academy Award-nominated documentary The Invisible War
Saw a gap. Built the solution. Four times.
Known as much for how she leads as for what she knows: with integrity, compassion and zero tolerance for leaving communities behind.
Military Rape Crisis Center
The largest organization dedicated to military sexual violence, with offices in three U.S. cities, representatives in all 50 states, and offices across three continents, including Europe and Asia. It is also the only rape crisis center ever to open offices in active war zones, in Iraq and Afghanistan.
stopmilitaryrape.org →International Center for Survivor Justice
Providing over $1 million in funding to local, grassroots, women-led organizations working to end sexual violence connected to U.S. military presence abroad, while pushing for accountability.
internationalsurvivorjustice.org →Teal Lotus Yoga
The largest collective offering trauma-based yoga, now serving 40+ communities with free and donation-based programs.
teallotusyoga.com →Revolution for Peace
Jobs in traditional crafts for survivors in Southeast Asia and South America. Economic power plus living artisan traditions.
Legislation she helped draft.
I Am Vanessa Guillén Act
DRAFTED · SIGNED INTO LAWS. 1611, 117th Congress. Shaped provisions improving victim advocacy, reporting and accountability for sexual harassment and assault in the armed forces.
Stop Our Sexual Assault in the Military Act
AUTHORED PROVISIONSH.R. 1434, 118th Congress. Stronger protections for service members and better reporting and accountability.
Military Justice Improvement Act
CO-DRAFTEDS. 1789, 116th Congress. Reforming military justice so sexual assault cases are handled independently of the chain of command.
Survivors and Children of Military Rape Compensation Act
DRAFTEDCompensation and support for foreign women and girls harmed by rape committed abroad by members of the U.S. Armed Forces.
“For those who are in uniform who have experienced sexual assault, I want them to hear directly from their Commander-in-Chief that I’ve got their backs.”
Selected institutions she has trained and advised
She also led a landmark lawsuit against the Department of Defense and former Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld over the military’s handling of sexual violence.
Selected press
Books and film
Also seen on World News Tonight with David Muir, RT America and Protect Our Defenders’ advocacy series.
