Survivors of sex abuse and domestic violence say the Sean "Diddy" Combs trial is elevating an important conversation.

Combs was found guilty Wednesday of transportation to engage in prostitution, but acquitted of racketeering conspiracy and sex trafficking.

Cassie Ventura's attorney praises her strength

The attorney for Cassie Ventura, Combs' former girlfriend, said the entire criminal process started when she had the courage to file her civil complaint. During the trial, Ventura testified for four days about her turbulent relationship with Combs.

"We're pleased that he's finally been held responsible for two federal crimes, something that he's never faced in his life," attorney Douglas H. Wigdor said.  

In a statement, Wigdor said:

"Although the jury did not find Combs guilty of sex trafficking Cassie beyond a reasonable doubt, she paved the way for a jury to find him guilty of transportation to engage in prostitution.  By coming forward with her experience, Cassie has left an indelible mark on both the entertainment industry and the fight for justice. We must repeat – with no reservation – that we believe and support our client who showed exemplary courage throughout this trial. She displayed unquestionable strength and brought attention to the realities of powerful men in our orbit and the misconduct that has persisted for decades without repercussion.  This case proved that change is long overdue, and we will continue to fight on behalf of survivors."

People in the music industry also reacted to the verdict.

"What Cassie Ventura did in coming forward and taking on power, and that's a conversation that we're going to need to continue and maybe even start for the first time for some circles. What do we do when there's a system that values power over people?" said Clayton Davis, chief awards editor at Variety.

Aubrey O'Day, who was formerly part of Combs' label Bad Boy Records, , "My heart is with Cassie. A woman who could've had a life and career free of fear and control. A woman who told her truth in a courtroom, only to have the world dissect her credibility instead of her courage."

More education needed on sex trafficking, advocates say

The mixed verdict, with Combs acquitted of the most serious counts, comes with mixed reaction.

Gianka Rose is not connected to Combs, but says as a sex assault survivor, she went to the courthouse, hoping to see a different outcome.

"I'm actually devastated," she said. "I just thought finally something was going to happen for sexual assault survivors, and we were going to get our moment."

Lauren Hersh, former chief of the Brooklyn district attorney's sex trafficking unit and current director of , called the verdict both "a travesty for survivors" and a teachable moment.

"We recognize that we need to change laws to make sure that powerful people and those who exploit are held accountable for the devastating harm they cause, and we also realize that we need to go out there and educate people to understand the complexities of sex trafficking," she said.

Hersh thinks one misunderstood complexity is what coercion is.

"I think people want victims to look a certain way, to sound a certain way, to be completely broken and to have the only narrative be about horrible violence, but that just not the reality when we're talking about coercion," she said. "There's always this mixture of horrible violence and also affection, love, and it's that entangling that makes coercion possible. We see in domestic violence, we understand the cycle of violence. Well, that same cycle of violence exists in sex trafficking, and I think as a culture we need to come to that understanding."

Hoping for more support for sex assault survivors in the future

Hersh also believes courage is contagious and is among the many celebrating survivors speaking their truth.

"Of course, the verdict is not what any survivor would have wanted, but what we recognize is that there are some really incredibly brave survivors who are willing to speak their truth and what we know for sure is that other survivors are watching, they're listening, and in many cases there are survivors out there that are saying, 'I can do this also,'" Hersh said.

"I think regardless of the outcome, it really shows to survivors across the country that they can speak up no matter the fame or wealth or the prestige that their abuser has," Safe Sisters Circle Executive Director Nel-Sylvia Guzman said.

Guzman said tells survivors any time they come forward is the right time.

"It doesn't have to be the next day, it doesn't have to be the next year, it can be years from now. When you are ready to tell your story is when you're ready to tell it," she said.

She, like others who spoke to CBS News New York, believe there are a lot of conversations that still need to be had in this space.

"It's super discouraging, but holding onto faith that hopefully things will change in the future," Rose said.