Domestic violence town hall sheds light on resources for South Asian and Indo-Caribbean survivors
NEW YORK - October marks Domestic Violence Awareness Month.
Tuesday, city leaders and advocates gathered for a town hall to discuss this difficult topic.
Hosted by the Mayor's Office to end Domestic and Gender-based Violence, the event focused on the services and resources for survivors in the city's South Asian and Indo-Caribbean communities.
Some speakers addressed those lost to domestic violence, and the work that lies ahead. They also said a cultural shift must be made to put a stop to such abuse in their communities.
"There's oppressive values and norms that we hold that's deeply ingrained in South Asian and Indo-Caribbean culture that we must dismantle," said Simone Jhingoor, co-executive director of Jahajee Sisters.
"Let me start by saying that domestic violence has no place in South Asian culture," New York State Assembly member Jenifer Rajkumar said. "We get to define what our culture is."
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Advocates say there can be barriers for survivors seeking help.
"A lot of times, survivors feel that there is going to be some judgement there, because service providers may not be culturally competent," said Christine Perumal, director of Safe Horizon Domestic Law Project.
Aminta Kilawan-Narine is the founder and executive director of the South Queens Women's March and a domestic violence survivor. She said a deadly domestic violence case in 2019 motivated her to take action.
"I realized there was a need for a mass mobilization of people that looked like me to be on our streets talking about issues related to gender-based violence," she said.
It's an open dialogue that can involve every part of a community.
"Including the elder leaders in the community, religious leaders in the community are important," one woman said during the meeting.
Advocates say simple gestures, like providing a safe space to reflect, can prove to be healing.
"That might just mean coming to a community circle where they're sitting with other women who have gone through similar experiences and they can share their stories," said Jhingoor.
Starting these conversations is a key part for these advocacy groups who want to break the cycle of violence and isolation.
"I think the most important thing is uplifting survivors and their voice, and ensuring that the community knows that there is help out there and they are not alone," said Susan Jacob, Mayor's Office to End Domestic and Gender-Based Violence (ENDGBV) Executive Director of the Queens Family Justice Center.
If you need help, here's a list of resources:
- New York City Family Justice Centers
- New Jersey Domestic Violence resources
- New York Office of Domestic Violence Prevention
- Connecticut Domestic Violence resources
- Sakhi for South Asian Women
- Manavi for South Asian Survivors
- Sikh Family Center
- Women for Afghan Women
- Womankind Rise Above Violence
- Jahajee Sisters for Indo-Caribbean Women
- South Queens Women's March