My name is Rosine* and I am now 28 years old. I was born and raised in Mali. My parents divorced when I was young, so I was brought up by my maternal mother, Amata* and my step-father, Sameer*. My mother is not Sameer’s only wife—she is one of three. Being the step-child raised under [...]
Read more...Today, as a part of our Forced Marriage Initiative, the Tahirih Justice Center released the results of our groundbreaking national survey on the state of forced marriage in the United States. The survey is the first of its kind conducted in the United States and designed to understand the scope and nature of forced marriage among immigrant communities.
Read more...On May 11, 2011, Tahirih launched a national survey for service providers, advocates, community leaders, educators, law enforcement officers, and other professionals who may have vital information about cases of forced marriage (either threatened, or that have already occurred) in immigrant communities in the United States.
Read more...On April 15, 2011, Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell signed into law a bill that greatly expands and streamlines Virginia’s protective order statute, filling a gaping hole in the current law and providing better access to protection for many of Tahirih’s clients. Protective orders, more commonly known as restraining orders, are civil court orders issued to [...]
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In a significant decision issued last week, an immigration judge reversed himself in a high-profile asylum case (Matter of A-T-), finally granting protection to a young woman who had suffered female genital mutilation (FGM) and feared further persecution if she were returned to Mali.
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The Tahirih Justice Center has worked to draw attention to the challenges facing women and girls who seek protection under the current US asylum system, and we applaud and deeply appreciate the recent introduction of critical legislation that would greatly assist Tahirih’s clients.
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On February 26, 2010, a delegation of former clients from Tahirih’s Wings visited Capitol Hill to convey deep appreciation to our local Virginia Congressmen, Jim Moran and Frank Wolf, for their longstanding support. Tahirih’s Wings is a group of courageous women who have organized to support each other, to speak out against the violence they [...]
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Around the globe, violence takes the lives of millions of women and girls and denies countless others their dignity and the chance to live safe, productive lives. On February 4, 2010, the International Violence Against Women Act (I-VAWA) was re-introduced in both the House and Senate. This groundbreaking bi-partisan legislation was co-sponsored by Representatives Poe [...]
Read more...UPDATE: This important legislation was just reintroduced on September 21st, 2011, in the House of Representatives by Congressmen Stark and Moran, together with Congresswoman Lofgren. On March 10, 2010, Congressmen Jim Moran and Pete Stark, and Congresswoman Diane Watson introduced the Restoring Protection for Victims of Persecution Act [HR 4800], a bill which would eliminate [...]
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Over the last decade, the United States’ commitment to protect women and girls fleeing violent human rights abuses has been called into question. Conflicting and incoherent judicial decisions on female genital mutilation, forced marriage, and other forms of gender-based violence have made it difficult for many women and girls to successfully petition for asylum in [...]
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