The Mayor's Office to End Domestic and Gender-Based Violence

Monthly Bulletin

April 2022

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Commissioner’s Message

Cecile Noel

Each and every April we rise, champion and stand in solidarity with survivors of sexual violence in NYC, around the country and the world for Sexual Violence Awareness Month (SVAM). I invite you to participate in the city’s annual SVAM and Denim Day campaigns.

April is Sexual Violence Awareness Month (SVAM)

One in three women and one in six men experience some form of sexual violence in their lifetime. New York City’s goal is to stand with survivors, raise awareness about sexual violence, and promote mutual respect. An important part of SVAM is Denim Day when people across the world wear denim to raise awareness of sexual violence.

This year ENDGBV and NYC’s Denim Day Committee invite you to celebrate Denim Day 2022 with the New York City advocacy community.

How Can You Participate?

Go to the Denim Day NYC website to learn how to help spread awareness, and to find Denim Day NYC events like the April 27th march over the Brooklyn Bridge to New York City’s Foley Square where we will rally to end sexual violence. Or, come show your support for survivors and join us at the Bronx Denim Day march on April 28th. Help us stand up for survivors of sexual violence and firmly declare that there is never an excuse for violence.

Celebrate Denim Day and Spread Awareness throughout April:

Join the Denim Day social media campaign – Make a social statement with your fashion statement - and share support and photos donning your denim style on social media with hashtags #MyJeansMyChoice #SpeakOutInStyle

Visit the Denim Day Calendar regularly for SVAM and Denim Day events citywide, throughout the month. Host your own Denim Day event and enter it here to have it added to the Denim Day calendar.

Include information about sexual violence-related resources in communications with your networks this month – i.e. newsletters, e-blasts, social media, etc. – using the resources and social media images listed at the bottom of this newsletter with SVAM hashtags: #svam #sexualviolence #consent #awarenesshelphope

Right To Be (formerly Hollaback!) will host a free, virtual, one-hour interactive training with ENDGBV and New York City’s Commission on Gender Equity (CGE), the “5D’s of bystander intervention” to train people on how to safely intervene when they witness anti-LGBTQIA+ harassment in public on Tuesday, April 19th, 5-6pm; register here for this event, and visit the Right To Be website to set up a training for your networks.

Exhale to Inhale is hosting a free trauma-informed yoga workshop for hospital-based providers on Monday, April 25th, 6-7pm. This workshop will be focused on giving providers who respond to sexual assault in emergency settings a space to develop and practice tools for self-care. You can register here.

Awareness is the greatest tool we have, and we hope you can join us in sharing information across New York City!

WHAT’S NEW

The Reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA 2022)

ENDGBV Senior Advisor Bea Hanson (far right) with President Joe Biden at White House VAWA event

The Violence Against Women Act was reauthorized and signed into law S.3623 on March 15, 2022 up to 2027, by President Joe Biden as part of the Senate passing the Consolidated Appropriations Act. It includes several enhancements to increase access to VAWA-funded programs and improves VAWA’s responsiveness to the needs of survivors.

Four years have passed since #VAWA was originally up for reauthorization. This landmark piece of legislation sought to improve criminal, legal and community-based responses to domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking in the U.S.

This is the first time the bill has been updated and reauthorized in over ten years.

ENDGBV Senior Advisor Bea Hanson was invited by President Biden to a White House event with colleagues, elected officials and advocates to celebrate the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act.

National Crime Victims' Rights Week, April 24 – 30, 2022

This week is dedicated to learning about victimization, the effect victimization has on individuals, families, friends, and the community, and to promote laws, policies, and programs to help victims of crime. Every year, thousands of communities across the nation honor the dedication of those that established victim rights and renew the commitment to ensure all victims are guaranteed the rights and service they need to recover from crime.

JOIN US for the 37th Annual NY Crime Victims Candlelight Vigil on Sunday, April 24th at West End Collegiate Church, 245 West 77th Street and West End Avenue, NYC to promote victims’ rights and to honor crime victims and those who advocate on their behalf.

International Black Women's History Month

Commemorating the vital role and achievements of women in American History for Women’s History in March prepares us to celebrate International Black Women’s History Month in April. This important celebration provides an opportunity to recognize the achievements, struggles, sacrifices and triumphs of Black women from the African Diaspora throughout history and the world given their unique dual identity.

History is being made as U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris serves as the first woman, first African American and first Asian American to occupy the office. Washington D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson’s nomination by President Joe Biden to become the first African American female U.S. Supreme Court Justice is monumental. The future has great promise as former Georgia House of Representatives member Stacey Abrams architects another historic run to become the first female and African American U.S Governor.

These milestones for Black women did not come without years of persecution, struggle, and perseverance by those who created a path. We can celebrate and draw down on this history with reverence to Ellen Johnson Sirleaf as the first elected female head of state in Africa and President of Liberia (2006); as well as U.S. Congresswoman, Shirley Chisholm, the first Black U.S. Congresswoman and woman to run for the U.S. Presidency (1972).

From unsung changemakers to the undeterred survivors left out of the history books, Black women across the globe have bolstered society to contribute to every facet of life. For International Black Women’s History Month, we salute all the great Black women of the African Diaspora past, present and future.

UPCOMING

A Virtual Town Hall on “Serving Survivors of Domestic Violence Strangulation"

A Virtual Town Hall on “Serving Survivors of Domestic Violence Strangulation,” will be held on Thursday, April 14th from 10:30 am – 12:30 pm. It’s presented by ENDGBV in Partnership with Queens District Attorney’s Office, Safe Horizon and Mount Sinai Sexual Assault and Violence Intervention Program.

Attend online

Zoom Webinar ID: 878 1045 2544

2022 Youth Summit: Youth Rising for Gender Equity

Join ENDGBV and A Call to Men for the 2022 Youth Summit: Youth Rising for Gender Equity, Friday, April 29th from 8:00am - 3:00pm EST at Cornell Tech, Roosevelt Island, 2 W Loop Rd, New York, NY 10044. This daylong conference is for young people committed to making change in their communities around gender and racial justice. There will be smaller workshops and a panel discussion that will encourage peer knowledge sharing. Register here

ICYMI

Emergency Housing Vouchers

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) awarded a limited number of Emergency Housing Vouchers (EHV) to the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) and the NYC Department of Housing Preservation & Development (HPD). ENDGBV was designated a referring agency for EHV’s for those survivors living in community who are fleeing or attempting to flee domestic and gender-based violence. Since the program’s launch in August 2021, approximately 230 gender-based violence survivors have received emergency housing vouchers thus far through ENDGBV’s EHV referral process. ENDGBV has partnered with and received EHV referrals from 31 community-based organizations. Survivors can call 311 to be connected to the nearest NYC Family Justice Center to learn more about EHV’s and to be connected to a community-based organization if they are eligible to apply for an EHV through ENDGBV.

New Protections for Domestic Workers

As of March 12, 2022, domestic workers in New York City will be protected against discrimination, harassment, and retaliation by the New York City Human Rights Law (NYCHRL). With these new protections in place, domestic workers will have the right to be free from discrimination based on their gender, national origin, race, age, immigration status, religion, or any other category protected by the NYCHRL. This means employers cannot refuse to hire domestic workers, harass them, or allow them to be harassed, fire them, or treat them less well because of their membership in any of these protected classes. Domestic workers will also have the right to reasonable accommodations and to be free from retaliation. For more information: visit the NYC Commission on Human Rights @nyc.gov/humanrights or review the FAQ sheet.

New Changes to NYC Tax Credits

Changes to tax credits mean more money for YOUR FAMILY when you file! Earned Income Tax Credit. Child Tax Credit. Child and Dependent Care Credit. Claiming even one could return thousands of dollars to you in 2022.

NYC FREE Tax Prep offers free, professional tax preparation that can help you file an accurate tax return and claim these valuable tax credits. They also offer multiple filing options, including in-person tax prep, drop-off service, virtual tax prep, and assisted self-preparation.

Use NYC FREE Tax Prep today to file for free and keep your whole refund.

For families with income of $72,000 or less in 2021.

For single filers with income of $50,000 or less in 2021.

Don’t wait! Visit nyc.gov/TaxPrep or call 311 and ask for tax preparation assistance.

IN THE NEWS

Check out ENDGBV’s recent media coverage by going to this link on our website: https://www1.nyc.gov/site/ocdv/press-resources/in-the-news.page

3-20-2022 SALON: Evan Rachel Wood's "Phoenix Rising" and the art of trauma; Can animating abuse in the new HBO documentary help detractors believe a survivor? https://www.salon.com/2022/03/20/evan-rachel-wood-phoenix-rising-abuse-art-trauma/

3-12-2022 PSYCHOLOGY TODAY: Sexual Assault: How a Natural Response Leads to Self-Doubt; More occurs than the flight or fight response, especially in sexual assault. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/romantically-attached/202203/sexual-assault-how-natural-response-leads-self-doubt

3-9-2022 NPR: The Violence Against Women Act Reauthorized https://www.npr.org/2022/03/09/1085495317/the-violence-against-women-act-catches-a-ride-on-1-5-trillion-spending-bill

3-1-2022 NY TIMES: The Hidden Epidemic of Brain Injuries from Domestic Violence Research shows that survivors of abuse can sustain head trauma more often than football players. But they are almost never diagnosed. https://www.nytimes.com/2022/03/01/magazine/brain-trauma-domestic-violence.html

2-22-2022 CNN: Sexual harassment and assault linked to high blood pressure in women, study says https://www.cnn.com/2022/02/22/health/sexual-trauma-high-blood-pressure-wellness/index.html

2-17-2022 CNN: This global public health challenge affects one in four women. Where's the outrage or the plan? https://www.cnn.com/2022/02/17/health/intimate-partner-violence-lancet-as-equals-intl-cmd/index.html

2-10-2022 NPR: Congress approves bill to end forced arbitration in sexual assault cases https://www.npr.org/2022/02/10/1079843645/congress-approves-bill-to-end-forced-arbitration-in-sexual-assault-cases

11-24-2021 YAHOO: Murder Is A Leading Cause Of Death In Pregnancy In The US https://news.yahoo.com/murder-leading-cause-death-pregnancy-214123386.html

11-18-2021 HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH: United States: Transgender People at Risk of Violence https://www.hrw.org/news/2021/11/18/united-states-transgender-people-risk-violence

RESOURCES

Help is Available

If you or someone you know is experiencing sexual violence, help is available:

Find resources and support in NYC by searching NYC HOPE Resource Directory online at www.nyc.gov/NYCHOPE

Call 311 to be connected to the nearest NYC Family Justice Center

Call NYC’s 24-hour Sexual Assault Hotline at 212-227-3000, or NYC’s 24-hour Domestic Violence Hotline 800-621-4673 (HOPE) for immediate safety planning, shelter assistance, and other resources. TDD: 800-810-7444

In an emergency, dial 911.

SVAM SOCIAL MEDIA IMAGES

#svam #sexualviolence #consent #awarenesshelphope

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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