
Gillian Chadwick
Host: Women Empowered Against Violence
Sponsor: Arnold & Porter Foundation
Nafisa will provide advocacy, outreach, and direct legal services to AMEMSA (Arab Middle Eastern Muslim South Asian) domestic violence survivors in the greater Los Angeles area.
This project serves AMEMSA (Arab Middle Eastern Muslim South Asian) abuse survivors. These communities are diverse in terms of religion and language, but individuals share the burden of a legal and societal system that privileges men, and, due to taboos about the role and rights of women in intimate partner relationships, domestic violence is widespread. In the United States, many AMEMSA women face obstacles when leaving abusive relationships. AMEMSA survivors are also less likely to seek help from law enforcement due to post 9/11 American sentiments about the population groups. Financial abuse is also prevalent in AMEMSA communities. This leads survivors to feel discouraged about leaving their abuser or pursuing legal action. While many AMEMSA abusers can afford to hire attorneys, survivors are often unrepresented and are disadvantaged in the justice system.
Nafisa’s personal connection to the population group motivates her to advocate for survivors to empower themselves and end cycles of abuse.
So far, Nafisa has accomplished the following during her Fellowship:
In the next year, Nafisa plans to:
As a Bangladeshi, Muslim immigrant myself, I have witnessed the impact of domestic violence to those close to me and in my community. I want to advocate for those who cannot advocate for themselves.
Nafisa Ahmed /
2020 Equal Justice Works Fellow
Host: Women Empowered Against Violence
Sponsor: Arnold & Porter Foundation
Host: Harriett Buhai Center for Family Law
Sponsor: The Morrison & Foerster Foundation
Host: Legal Aid Society of the District of Columbia
Host: Illinois Prison Project
Sponsor: Albert & Anne Mansfield Foundation