Posted: 5/25/2010
On May 19, 2010, Tahirih submitted testimony for a hearing convened by the Senate Committee on the Judiciary: “Renewing America’s Commitment to the Refugee Convention: The Refugee Protection Act of 2010.” Tahirih’s statement highlights how a chronic lack of clarity and coherence in the field of gender-based asylum law continues to prevent many women and [...]
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Posted: 4/01/2010

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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Posted: 3/12/2010

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 [...]
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Posted: 3/11/2010
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 the arbitrary filing deadline that bars many victims of persecution from obtaining safe haven in the United States. Tahirih’s Virginia office is located in Congressman [...]
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Posted: 10/30/2009

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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Posted: 10/01/2009

On September 30, 2009, the Tahirih Justice Center held a Congressional Briefing to call attention to challenges faced by women and girls fleeing persecution and seeking protection in the United States. Tahirih’s Director of Public Policy presented a new report that Tahirih has prepared, and was joined on the speakers’ panel by colleagues from our [...]
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Posted: 8/01/2009
Tahirih helps many clients who are survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, child abuse, human trafficking, and other violent crimes under the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) and related federal legislation. Congress must periodically renew VAWA. It was last reauthorized in 2006 (VAWA III) and is up for reauthorization again in 2011 (VAWA IV). Discussions [...]
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Posted: 3/18/2009
The Tahirih Justice Center and the Virginia Sexual and Domestic Violence Action Alliance (VSDVAA) partnered again this year with VA General Assembly Senator Janet Howell in support of a statewide bill (SB 1436) that would prevent law enforcement from asking victims and cooperating witnesses of crimes about their immigration status. This critical legislation would help [...]
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Posted: 12/11/2008

A Look Forward to 2009: Recent Decisions Could Affect Women and Girls Fleeing Female Genital Mutilation and Domestic Violence
Over the course of four days in September, the US Attorney General, Michael Mukasey, has opened the door for the Board of Immigration Appeals to fundamentally alter a woman’s ability to claim asylum in the United [...]
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Posted: 12/11/2008
Violence against women is a worldwide pandemic—at least one out of every three women worldwide is beaten, coerced into sex, or otherwise abused in her lifetime. You can join Tahirih and take part in this international campaign against gender violence by urging your Representative in Congress to cosponsor the International Violence Against Women Act (I-VAWA) [...]
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