Join Manavi at their 7th annual Silent March to end violence against women

SPEAK OUT. Don’t let our mothers, daughters, and sisters suffer.

Between 1981 and 2002, community newspapers in the U.S. reported a total of 90 domestic violence related deaths and near-deaths in the South Asian community, 73 of the victims in these crimes were women and children. Manavi, a New Jersey based women’s right organization, provides services to around 300 South Asian women facing violence and abuse every year.

 

  

Manavi is committed to ending all forms of violence and exploitation against South Asian women living in the U.S. Established in 1985, Manavi is the first organization of its kind in the U.S. Manavi aims to ensure that women of South Asian descent in the U.S. can exercise their fundamental right to a dignified life that is safe and free from violence. Manavi does this through a wide variety of programs such as culture specific supportive counseling, legal assistance through clinics and referrals, interpretation, support groups, and transitional housing. If you or someone you know needs help, call Manavi at (732) 435-1414

When is the Silent March?

From 4 to 6 pm on Saturday, October 8, 2011

Where is the Silent March?

Oak Tree Road, Iselin, New Jersey.

Participants will meet at the Intersection of Oak Tree Road and Middlesex

Avenue behind Hyderabadi House.

Who will be attending the Silent March?

Manavi board members, staff members, volunteers, and concerned

community members. All are welcome.

To learn more about the experiences of women facing domestic violence, take a look at the following story of one South Asian woman who called Manavi:

In  2008, Sonia* and her future husband, Alok, celebrated their marriage with friends and family in a small religious marriage ceremony.  Days later, Sonia and Alok moved to the US. Because Alok was an H-1 visa holder, he was able to bring his new wife on an H-4 visa to live in New Jersey.  Soon after marriage, Alok began to mentally and physically abuse her. He withheld all money from Sonia and left her confined in their unfurnished home.  Alok limited Sonia’s communication to the outside world and only allowed her to call her parents in his presence. At times, Alok even threatened to kill Sonia’s family.  A few months later, Alok forced her to sign a mutual consent divorce application. Within the divorce terms, he falsely filed for extreme cruelty against Sonia. Alok also forced her to sign two other documents, the first would expedite the divorce process and the second claimed that he had never tortured her or had acquired any property during their short marriage.  Through coercion Sonia was eventually sent back to India and abandoned by her husband.

*For the purpose of confidentiality, pseudonyms have been used.

 

Show your support for survivors of violence by attending Manavi’s 7^th annual Silent March. To learn more, visit Manavi’s website, like their Facebook page (don’t forget to click “attending” on the Silent March Facebook event!), and follow them on Twitter.