Family Issues

H	ANNUAL WALK TO PREVENT DOMESTIC VIOLENCE Saheli's ANNUAL WALK AGAINST VIOLENCE was on October 04, 2009 in Burlington. The Walk raises funds to support the survivors of domestic violence. The Walk Flier has details about this event. H
H	Governor of Massachusetts, Deval Patric, Issues an Advisory on the Increase in Domestic Violence and Homicides. Read the article
	June 6, 2008: Police Learn How Best to Help Abused South Asian Wives With help of trainer Meena Sonea Hewett, Burlington police learned South Asian culture, discovering Indian men may be unaware spousal abuse can land them in jail. Read the article in The Boston Globe

Getting men involved is a big challenge!
From the Saheli Desk

On March 14, 2009, Craig Norberg-Bohm, Project Director at Jane Doe Inc in the Greater Boston Area and Project Coordinator of the Men’s Initiative for Jane Doe, was the guest of Saheli, Support and Friendship South Asian Women. Norberg-Bohm reminded us again that although domestic violence and sexual assault are viewed primarily as “women’s issues” without the involvement of men and boys in prevention and education, violence against women cannot be reduced. As the project coordinator of an important new initiative in Massachusetts, the “White Ribbon Campaign,” he discussed ways that men could become involved.

Men play many very important roles in society, the community and home. For example, they are political and financial leaders, priests, doctors, teachers, policemen, good neighbors, fathers and sons. In such roles many men are custodians of society, trustees of their community values and protectors of their families. They are therefore willing to support social change that strengthens these roles. Some men become abusive and prone to domestic violence because they themselves are victims; as children they may have been abused or neglected, lacked the care of nurturing parents, or may have experienced the absence of economic and emotional supports. Many men want to help to put an end to the cycle of abuse but simply do not know where to start. Today’s young men and boys have this opportunity for change.
Norberg-Bohm’s work in the Men’s Initiative for Jane Doe, Inc. offers an example of how men can get involved. The White Ribbon Day Campaign in Massachusetts was launched by Jane Doe Inc on February 14, 2008. This first annual statewide effort involves men for the prevention of violence in a very public way. Launched on Valentine’s Day, the campaign highlights the need to combine safety and respect with romance and love. The White Ribbon Campaign was founded in Canada in 1991, two years after the Montréal Massacre in which 14 women students at the Montreal’s École Polytechnique were systematically killed and 13 other students wounded by a lone gunman. 100,000 men wore ribbons across Canada that first year. Today, the WRC is a worldwide campaign in 55 countries, with well over 5,000,000 signatures. http://www.janedoe.org/know.htm

Specifically, the campaigns invites men to take a pledge never to commit violence against women; put on a white ribbon and speak out against sexual assault and domestic violence; it engages men in changing social norms to promote respect and equality for women; and help to raise funds to support the work of local victim services groups and state coalitions.

As Saheli, Support and Friendship South Asian women enters its thirteenth year in New England, this campaign is a very timely one. Saheli has provided support to many hundreds of women in the areas of domestic violence and immigration, economic empowerment through literacy classes, networking for employment, and social and volunteer positions. Saheli has organized training at police stations, distributed cell phones, created educational seminars, and organized walks against violence. Sahelis invites you to join them to expand this caring network. A new chapter was established in Nashua New Hampshire, and in March, Saheli extended its free computer classes to the city of Waltham. Now it’s time for Saheli to work more closely with South Asian men as ambassadors to lead a White Ribbon Campaign to reduce the high prevalence of domestic violence within the South Asian community. Men and women interested in this work can reach us at Saheli at www.saheliboston.org.

Family Issues and Domestic Violence Assistance

Saheli is committed to strengthening and preserving the South Asian family and promoting women’s growth within a safe and secure environment. We provide friendship, good counsel, support and referrals to women who are unable to find respect and happiness within the family.

Our resources include names and contact information for psychologists, psychiatrists, health clinics, lawyers, and community organizations offering short and long term shelter, outpatient services, phone hotlines, and other related resources.

See the list of resources below.

• Call 866-4SAHELI (866-472-4354) the Saheli Helpline for South Asian Women. If you leave your name and a safe phone number where we can call you back, we will return your call within 24 hours.
• If this is an emergency, please hang up the phone and dial 911.
• If you are in need of immediate assistance for domestic violence, please hang up the phone and dial 1-877-785-2020 for the SafeLink Statewide Domestic Violence Hotline. Thank you.
• You can also email Saheli at sahelihelp@gmail.com
  

Resources for Issues Related to Domestic Violence

Asian Task Force Against Domestic Violence

Has information on their shelter and advocacy project, as well as links to other Massachusetts resources on domestic violence. The website offers information on many services to women in situations of domestic violence. It provides some resources in Hindi. There is information on ESL classes in Greater Boston Region.

Domestic Violence Resources from South Asian Women’s Network
Resources in Canada, UK, US and India to help women in situations of domestic violence. Also have names of psychiatrists and mental health professionals.

Divorce Law, Child Custody and Resources from South Asian Women’s Network
Provides information on divorce laws in many countries and personal stories about women going through the painful process of divorce. Divorce law, child custody and more resources from South Asian Women’s Network

Jane Doe Inc. The Massachusetts Coalition Against Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence
Learn more about sexual assault and rape, where to get help, and how to get involved.

Asian and Pacific Islander Domestic Violence Agencies and Programs Contact Information

NNEDV National Network to End Domestic Violence. This is a good website with up to date information on legislation that affects issues of domestic violence. You can join campaigns, volunteer, get information and statistics, and support the organization with your donations. They have national, state and local information about domestic violence programs.

The Multicultural Immigrant Coalition Against Violence