Lady Gaga delivered one of the most powerful moment at Sunday’s Oscars when she performed her song Til It Happens to You.

Co-written by Diane Warren, the song is about rape and appears in the documentary The Hunting Ground, about sexual assault on American university campuses.

Dressed in white and performing at a white grand piano, Lady Gaga concluded the song surrounded by survivors of sexual assault, who had words including “survivor” and “not your fault” written on their arms. They were hugged by Brie Larsson as they left the stage.

Lady Gaga has spoken about having been raped aged 19, telling the New York Times: “I didn’t know how to think about it. I didn’t know how to accept it. I didn’t know how not to blame myself, or think it was my fault.”

The song had been introduced by Vice President Joe Biden, who referred to Gaga as a friend and said: “Too many women and men ... are still victims of sexual abuse.”

He called on the audience to pledge “to intervene in situations where consent cannot or has not been given. Let’s change the culture.” Biden received a standing ovation.

The song subsequently lost out to Sam Smith’s The Writing’s on the Wall in the best song category.

Kesha, the singer battling to free herself from her contract with the producer she says sexually assaulted her, tweeted about the performance. She said: “thank u @ladygaga and VP @JoeBiden for bringing attention to sexual assault at the oscars. it hit very close to my heart for obvious reasons”