The social media campaign 'Me Too' is about empowering women to feel safe enough to speak out about sexual assault and harassment, says victim advocate Louise Nicholas.
Thousands of people have taken to social media writing 'Me Too', with some telling their story of past sexual abuse or harassment.
It was started by US actress Alyssa Milano "to give people a sense of the magnitude of the problem".
#MeToo is currently trending at number one on New Zealand Twitter.
"I think this campaign is absolutely brilliant. Social media has been a really good foundation for women to actually be able to speak out and do so safely," she said on TVNZ1's Breakfast this morning.
"It's about empowering them to do so."
"What they want to do is tell their story and to be able to do it on this platform it gives them the opportunity to say 'hey, I'm out here, this is what has happened to me and I'm not alone'," she said.
When asked why many survivors of sexual abuse don't come forward, Ms Nicholas said it's about being believed and if there could be a possible backlash.
"Especially in the work force, am I going to keep my job? Am I going to be demoted? It's all about what's going to happen to 'me'.
"That's why a lot of women don't come forward, don't speak out."
SHARE ME