This discussion appears frequently here. Each time different perspectives are raised and my personal definition changes. To me a victim is someone who as suffered harm. A surivivor is someone who suffered harm, lived, and has recovered, is in the process of recovering, or still has a chance to recover and/ or adapt to life in the aftermath. I think the term survivor is somewhat empowering because it acknowledges that the person is still alive and hasn't lost the will/or the ablility to fight back and recover.