DOMESTIC VIOLENCE DURING COVID-19
Join our panelists for a discussion addressing increases in domestic violence during the coronavirus pandemic and larger issues of gender-based violence in African & Diaspora communities.
June 7th, 2020 || 3:00 – 4:30PM
TOPICS: Domestic Violence during COVID-19|| Survivor Story || Immigration Channels || Resources || Gender Based Violence in Southern Africa
SPEAKERS: Loide Jorge. Esq; Anne Richard, Onica Makwakwa, Brenda A. Mwaya;
Moderator:Thoko Kachipande
This event already past, watch it on our facebook page or on You Tube below.
TOPICS SUMMARY
Domestic Violence during Covid-19
Anne Richards provides us an overview of domestic violence. She addresses the spike in cases during the lock down that is occurring in the United States. She also addresses domestic violence in the African community. Like in other communities, African women are inadvertently, being impacted by new quarantine laws by being forced to be trapped at home with their abusers. – Anne Richards
Survivor Story
Brenda Mwaya narrates some of her personal experience with domestic violence as an immigrant to the united states. She describes the how she was able to come out of a relationship in which she faced abuse from her partner and the steps that helped her rebuild her life. She recounts how reaching out to friends, faith and writing helped her cope. – Brenda Mwaya
Immigration Channels
Domestic abuse victims often stay in a relationship due to perceived legal restrictions. In the panel, attorney at law Loide Jorge speaks about the legal avenues that are available to undocumented victims of domestic abuse. Namely, she addresses Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) and the U Visa. VAWA helps to protect Immigrant woman (and other family members) who are victims of crimes such as domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, dating violence, and human trafficking and are married (or are in other domestic relationships) to U.S. citizens or green card holders. The U visa is set aside for victims of certain crimes who have suffered mental or physical abuse and are helpful to law enforcement or government officials in the investigation of criminal activity. She provides information for both can afford a lawyer and those that need financial assistance – Loide Jorge
Gender Based Violence in Southern Africa
In this topic Onica Makwakwa connects domestic based violence with the larger issues of gender based violence during the covid-19 pandemic. She also addresses how policies in South Africa and regional policies in southern Africa create obstacles in justice system. She points to some of the fundamental policy and economic changes that need to occur in Southern Africa in order for social justice to triumph. She recounts some of the feminist activism that is already occurring in Southern Africa surrounding issues of justice. If you would like to support domestic abuse victims through WISE4Afrika, visit WISE4Afrika’s fundraiser .- Onnica Makwakwa
Resources
Resources for domestic abuse victims are shared bymembers of African Women’s Empowerment Group (AWEG) who are a resource of information and support group for African women. AWEG was started in 2005 by a group of 8 African immigrant women. It is under the umbrella of the Abused Persons Programme (APP) of Montgomery County in Maryland. This group was established under the guidance and patronage of Sheri Laigle (LCSW-C) to provide group therapy to women immigrants from Africa who were undergoing domestic violence and abuse. This was in recognition of the fact that the matter of domestic violence in African communities is sometimes seen as a norm, which presented unique challenges in assisting these women when they underwent abuse. Through the group therapy , the attendees would grow to acknowledge the fact that a slap or beating was not a sign of love but was actually a violation of the woman and her dignity, which needed to be addressed. Over the years women have found comfort and support from each other as they share their experiences. The solidarity and sisterhood built around the group has given the women the courage to make progressive, life-changing decisions that enables them to move from being victims of domestic violence to survivors of domestic violence and abuse, living their lives in their God-given dignity.
Since 2009, every October ( Domestic Violence month), AWEG holds a Workshop that provides much needed resources in areas such as education, legal rights, child custody, financial help and other pertinent issues to provide support to the women.
The resources outside their organization that they shared in this forum for women include:
- ABUSED PERSONS PROGRAM, Phone (240) 777-4210 1301 Piccard Dr., 1st Floor, Rockville, MD 20850| The Abused Persons Program (“APP”) provides information and referral, crisis and ongoing counseling, shelter, education, support groups, and victim assistance services to victims of partner-related domestic abuse (domestic violence) and their families. Services are provided on a sliding fee scale; no one is denied services due to lack of funds.
- EMERGENCY SERVICES: SHELTER & ADVOCACY
Abused Persons Program Intake Line, 1301 Piccard Dr., 1s Floor, Rockville (240) 777–4195. Same-day and appt. service to assist victims of mate-related physical abuse, including shelter, counseling, assistance w/ filing for Protection Orders, court accompaniment
Montgomery County Crisis Center, 1301 Piccard Dr., 1st Floor, Rockville, (240) 777-4000 24-hour hot line & walk-in service to assist in situational or mental health crisis, can provide emergency shelter
Victim Assistance and Sexual Assault Program (“VASAP”) (240) 777-1355 Walk in and 24 hour crisis line services available; provides counseling and, in some cases, financial assistance to victims of non-mate related domestic abuse, sexual assault, child abuse, and other crimes, no shelter services are available
- CASA DE MARYLAND- IMMIGRATION RELATED SERVICES Translation/notarization of legal documents, assistance with ICE forms, classes in Spanish literacy, speaking English, citizenship, employment training. MIRECS, Migrant and Refugee Support 8604 Second Ave., Silver Spring
- ASHA, an Asian women’s self help association Ayuda, provides immigration assistance & advocacy for battered immigrant women Multi-Ethnic Domestic Violence Project,assists domestic violence victims with immigration issues, 301-495-3733 1 (888) 417-2742, (202) 387-4848 (410) 534-8800
- DC COALITION AGAINST DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, 5 Thomas Circle Northwest Washington, DC 20005 (202) 299-1181 Fax: (202) 299-1193 Website: www.dccadv.org Email: info@dccadv.org
- VIRGINIANS AGAINST DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, 2850 Sandy Bay Road, Suite 101 Williamsburg, VA 23185(757) 221-0990 Fax: (757) 229-1553 (800) 838-8238 Nationwide Website: www.vadv.org Email: vadv@tni.net
- NATIONA DOMESTIC VIOLENCE HOTLINE (any state), National Domestic Violence Hotline can help victims, survivors of domestic violence. Call 1-800-799-7233. Chat with an advocate on our website www.thehotline.org
SPEAKER PROFILES
MODERATOR
Thoko Kachipande
Thoko Kachipande-Prenatt is a Malawian-American with a passion for promoting a balanced presentation of African culture, history, and news. She spent most of her formative years in Germany and South Africa before settling in the U.S. Kachipande has worked in non-profit and health science industries for over a decade. She is a career healthcare and science communication professional who holds an M.A. in Communication from Johns Hopkins University and a social science undergraduate degree focusing on African/African-American studies. When it comes to journalism and writing, she likes to remember that “history is written by the winners and those who bother to write” (Winston Churchill/George Orwell).