The family of Virginia Giuffre confirms her death due to the burden of the abuse she suffered. We deeply mourn the loss of this survivor whose bravery helped save countless minors from sexual abuse. Virginia was the first to step out of anonymity to openly denounce the sexual assaults and trafficking carried out by Epstein and his partner.
Throughout their lives, both Virginia and those who supported her endured the frequent re-victimization and isolating violence that many victims of child abuse face when they dare to speak out. One of the perpetrators she reported described her as “an almost pathological liar who was plotting an extortion scheme.” Even very recently, further attempts were made to discredit her by suggesting that another of her statements was a lie.
As reported by The Guardian, Virginia Giuffre’s family announced: “With deeply broken hearts, we announce the passing of Virginia last night at her farm in Western Australia. She died by suicide after having been a victim of long-term sexual abuse and trafficking (…). In the end, the cost of the abuse was so high that for Virginia, it became unbearable.”
Today, many voices from the survivor community express their gratitude for Virginia Giuffre’s courage: for her decision to denounce Epstein, for being a voice for those who were too afraid to speak out, for her generosity in sharing the compensation she won with other victims, and for her role in helping expose one of the most persistent networks of child sexual abuse with extraordinary bravery.
Her story is a stark reminder of what science has long established: the consequences of child sexual abuse and assault last a lifetime. As we can see, isolating violence — the violence directed at those who support victims and survivors — worsens these consequences, even affecting health and life itself, as Virginia Giuffre’s own family has emphasized.
For all these reasons, it is essential to denounce abuse and hold perpetrators accountable, as Virginia did in the case of Epstein. But we cannot leave victims, or those who support them, to bear this burden alone. The most effective way to counteract the devastating consequences of abuse is by building networks of support — networks that act as shields against the attacks often unleashed when a victim decides to speak out. These networks must be created across all professional and personal spheres, and it is not the responsibility of any one person, but rather, it is in all of our hands.
Article translated from Diario Feminista
President of the CSAS Association - Science and Friendship
Director of DF Diario Feminista
Associate Professor of Journalism and Communication Sciences, Autonomous University of Barcelona