Mariska Hargitay was awarded the Monte Carlo Television Festival’s Crystal Nymph Award on Friday and the “Law & Order: SVU” star used the occasion to commend the #MeToo movement and the survivors coming forward with their experiences. Hargitay — who portrays a detective who solves sexual crimes on “SVU,” and is an advocate for abuse survivors in real life — voiced gratitude that her work gives her the opportunity to bring “positive change into the world,” Variety reports.

Hargitay referenced the huge amount of progress she’s seen since “SVU” began in 1999. “My goodness what a changed world this is since I started the show,” she said. “I express my deepest thanks to the many women and the many men alongside who I have worked, and especially those whose extraordinary acts of courage have brought the recent seismic shifts in the way that our society addresses and understands sexual violence.”

The Emmy winner also stressed the important roles empathy and listening play — and have played — throughout #MeToo. “Going forward I want to challenge myself and all of us to speak with grace — to use the platforms and the voices that we have been given to elevate the voices of those who might not otherwise be heard. To speak with courage and conviction and confidence about what is most important to us, and, perhaps most importantly, to listen. Simply to listen. I think the gift of letting someone tell their story may be the most grace-filled gift that we can give.”

Presented to an actor with a “stellar body of work,” the Crystal Nymph’s previous recipients include Helen Mirren and Patricia Arquette.

Hargitay founded the Joyful Heart Foundation in 2004 with the goal of helping sexual assault survivors “heal and reclaim a sense of joy.” Over the years Joyful Heart’s work has expanded to also aid survivors of domestic abuse and child abuse.

The six-time SAG nominee has used her influence to heighten awareness around the thousands of rape kits that go untested every year. Hargitay produced a documentary about the subject, “I Am Evidence,” which premiered on HBO last year after a festival run.

Hargitay has reprised her “SVU” character, Detective Olivia Benson, on other shows within the “Law & Order” universe, such as “Law & Order,” “Law & Order: Trial by Jury,” and “Chicago P.D.” She has directed several episodes of “SVU,” including the 2017 ep “Motherly Love.”