Mariska Hargitay's End The Backlog campaign has reached a significant milestone. All 50 states in the US, along with Washington D.C. and Puerto Rico, have legalized at least one phase of rape kit reform. Maine has joined the campaign as the 50th and final state to adopt this reform. The campaign announced this achievement on Friday, describing it as a testament to the "power of sustained, victim-centered advocacy."

End The Backlog is an initiative aimed at improving the justice system for sexual assault survivors. The main goal of the campaign is to prevent the backlog of DNA test kits (rape kits) used in rape and sexual assault cases and to ensure they are processed more quickly. The resolution of these kits plays a critical role in identifying suspects and delivering justice for victims.

Mariska Hargitay launched this campaign through her character on the popular show Law & Order: SVU. The show's theme of combating sexual crimes has directed Hargitay's focus on this issue in real life as well. Since the campaign's inception, numerous legal changes have occurred in the pursuit of justice.

This success has been achieved amid increasing pressure for state-level regulations. Given that each state has its own legal system, creating uniform standards across the country is a challenging task. However, the End The Backlog campaign has succeeded in uniting these different legal systems around a common goal.

Rape kit reform includes changes not only in evidence processing but also in the rights of sexual crime victims, their support, and the acceleration of legal processes. These reforms are crucial for protecting victims' rights and creating a reliable justice system.