The Mayor's Office

Monthly Bulletin

Arpil 2019

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Message from Commissioner

Cecile Noel

Every person deserves to live without fear of violence, abuse, sexual assault, stalking, or any form of domestic or gender-based violence. As we commemorate Sexual Assault Awareness Month this April, and continue our work towards education and prevention throughout the year, I can’t help but be buoyed by recent events at the nation’s Capitol.

Last week, the U.S. House of Representatives voted to reauthorize and strengthen the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA). The passage of VAWA in 2004—one of the most effective pieces of legislation to improve system responses to intimate partner and dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking in the United States—and its subsequent reauthorizations in 2000, 2005 and 2013 have ensured that victims and survivors of intimate partner and dating violence, sexual assault and stalking are able to access services. The latest reauthorization of VAWA by the House of Representatives is a first step in passing legislation with additional housing-related financial aid for survivors and strengthened protections related to gun violence, closing what’s commonly known as the “boyfriend loophole” in previous versions of VAWA.

Why does this matter?

In 2010 -2018, half the intimate partner homicides in NYC involved current or former boyfriends/girlfriends.

In 2010-2018, almost 1 in 4 intimate partner homicides in NYC involved a firearm.

In an average month, 52 American women are shot to death by an intimate partner.

Access to a gun in a domestic violence situation makes it five times more likely that a woman will be killed.

While we continue to monitor VAWA as it moves through the legislative process, we remain confident that a new public discourse, from #RapeHasNoUniform to #MeToo and #TimesUp, brings much needed attention to the need for equality and healthy, respectful relationships, and this helps move us down the path towards ending domestic and gender-based violence.

To survivors of domestic and gender-based violence, including sexual assault, know that help and resources are available. Reach out when you are ready, and when it is safe. In New York City, survivors can:

Find local resources online at nyc.gov/nychope

Visit an NYC Family Justice Center for free and confidential services, including immediate safety planning, shelter assistance, and other resources. All are welcome regardless of language, income, sexual orientation, gender identity, or immigration status. All Centers are open Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. No appointment is needed.

Call 311 or NYC’s hotline for Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault, and Trafficking at 1-800-621-HOPE (4673) to get connected to resources—24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

What's New

MARK YOUR CALENDAR: DENIM DAY IS APRIL 24

Join ENDGBV and Denim Day NYC at the annual rally against sexual assault at Foley Square (between Worth, Centre and Lafayette Streets in lower Manhattan) at 12 noon to 1 p.m. Show your solidarity by wearing denim...because assault is never about what you wear.

ENDGBV NEW RELEASE: 2018 DV FACT SHEET

Learn key points about Intimate Partner and Family Violence Homicides and Domestic Incident Reports filed in New York City in 2018. Read the fact sheet

MANHATTAN FJC CELEBRATES 5TH ANNIVERSARY

Serving survivors in the borough of Manhattan for five years and counting, MFJC proudly opened its new classroom for economic empowerment classes this past March. It also continued to host members of the international diplomatic corps, including a delegation from Romania, Norway, Iceland, and Spain.

ENDGBV IN THE NEWS

Queens Latino reported on the first Peruvian Town Hall in NYC, which featured Peruvian cultural shows, an introduction to local elected officials and representatives from city agencies—including Commissioners Noel, Mostofi (MOIA) and Salas (DCA)—and provided information about city resources available to New Yorkers, such as Family Justice Centers.

Read full story at VOICES of NY

ALLIANCE FOR HOPE: INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE

Commissioner Noel presented at the International FJC Conference in San Diego on March 20, highlighting successes such as the NYC Domestic Violence Task Force’s nearly 30 initiatives to strengthen the City’s services and response to DV (including Early RAPP, FJC Expanded Hours, Immigration Civil Legal Services, Early Victim Engagement, and the NYC HOPE Resource Directory) and new initiatives currently at NYC FJCs (including ENDGBV’s monthly client advisory group, the VOICES Committee, and on-site therapy and psychiatry available at each NYC FJC to support the mental health needs of survivors).

Commissioner Noel also presented some next steps for ENDGBV, such as citywide gender-based violence policies for all City agencies, and the implementation of the NYC Advisory Committee on Domestic and Gender-Based Violence Fatalities and Abusive Partner Intervention Programming (APIP), and spoke about our new and developing partnerships with medical providers and arts organizations.

ATHENA FILM FESTIVAL

Commissioner Noel joined talkbacks after a screening of the 2019 documentary, “On Her Shoulders”, about Nadia Murad, who survived the 2014 genocide of the Yazidis in Northern Iraq and escaped ISIS. She won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2018 for her efforts to “end the use of sexual violence as a weapon of war and armed conflict.”

HUMAN TRAFFICKING SEMINAR FOR QUEENS COMMUNITY

Together with the NYPD, Councilmember Koo, and several community based organizations, the Mayor’s Office joined an evening of information and awareness of resources available to Queens community members. Commissioner Noel spoke about ENDGBV and Queens FJC Executive Director Susan Jacob shared information about resources available to trafficking survivors at the Queens FJC and at other nonprofits in the borough.

Upcoming Trainings

Every month, ENDGBV's NYC Family Justice Centers (FJCs) host Core trainings and workshops for service providers. We also occasionally provide advanced and special trainings. This month's advanced trainings at MFJC include Title IX Protections for Survivors of IPV and GBV, Disability and IPV, and Animal Abuse and IPV.

Check for our full schedule of upcoming trainings and learn how you can sign up at NYC.gov/endgbv

All NYC FJCs are wheelchair accessible, including entrances and restrooms. If you require any other accommodations, such as ASL interpretation, please contact persons at the respective location upon registering at least 5 business days before event date(s) to ensure that an interpreter will be available.

Join the ENDGBV Team

Now Accepting Applications

Exciting full-time positions are now open across our teams, including outreach, policy, training, research, and at our FJCs. To learn how you can apply online, or share our openings with your networks by visiting bit.ly/joinendgbv or visiting NYC’s Jobs site and search for these Job ID numbers:

Budgets & Grants Coordinator (Job ID: 365998)

Citywide Community Coordinator (Job ID: 387697)

Executive Director, Bronx Family Justice Center (Job ID: 382521)

In the News

Fewer Undocumented Immigrant Crime Victims Are Stepping Forward

Read full story at WNYC News

How internal sexual misconduct investigations can protect accusers instead of victims

Read full story at LA Times

Nationwide fight to ban child marriage faces opposition and legislative deadlock

Read full story at NBC News

Why Gun Violence Is a Women's Issue

Read full story at Harper’s Bazaar

The N.R.A.’s Strength Is Being Tested by a New Domestic Violence Act Provision

Read full story at NY Times

Federal Prosecutors Are Cracking Down on Domestic Abusers Who Keep Guns

Read full story at the Trace

New York losing federal domestic violence funds as Cuomo yet to fulfill promise to feds

Read full story at NY Daily News

50 women sue Salesforce, claiming it helped Backpage in sex trafficking

Read full story at NBC News

Serial Sex Offenders Are a Big Problem on Subways. Should They Be Banned for Life?

Read full story at NY Times

Disclaimer: We believe in the principles of open dialogue and considering varying perspectives. Viewpoints or opinions expressed in the content of this communication or in articles linked do not necessarily reflect the positions or policies of the Mayor’s Office to End Domestic and Gender-Based Violence, or the City of New York.

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The Office to Combat Domestic Violence (OCDV) is now the Office to End Domestic and Gender-Based Violence. Find out more at www.nyc.gov/ENDGBV

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