Successful start to NYC Panel on Safety and Protection for Domestic Violence Victims

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By Aminta Kilawan-Narine


HELP IS ON THE WAY. Participants in the NYC Panel on Domestic Violence display their tokens from elected officials, NYC Mayor Bill deBlasio and State Assembly Member David Weprin, at the end of the February 15 forum, held at the Faith Assembly Church, Queens, NY.

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NEW YORK, NY. Friday, February 21, 2020--On Saturday, February 15, over fifty individuals gathered at the Faith Assembly Church in Richmond Hill, for the launch of 'Saving Lives, Empowering People', a panel discussion series on safety and protection for victims of abuse, violence.

The event was organized by The Caribbean Voice (TCV) in collaboration with the Faith Assembly Church and Sadhana: Coalition of Progressive Hindus. Annan Boodram, President of TCV who played a critical role, primarily from behind the scenes, to ensure that the event was informative, thorough and well-orchestrated, explained that the goal of this panel discussion series is to provide victims and survivors with the tools that will help them to find safety and protection.

The morning opened with remarks from His Excellency Riyad Insanally, Ambassador of Guyana to the United States. Insanally spoke of the work happening in Guyana to combat mental illness and substance abuse, which many links to the incidence of domestic violence.

Dr. Taj Rajkumar, State Committee Member, educator, and civic leader spoke about curbing a culture of alcoholism and focusing energies on engaging with men in bars, where the rhetoric uttered is particularly oppressive towards women. 

Susan Jacob, Executive Director of the Queens Family Justice Center (QFJC), housed in the Mayor’s Office to End Domestic and Gender-Based Violence gave an overview of the services and resources provided by the QFJC. Jacob indicated that the most dangerous time for a victim in an abusive relationship is typically when the victim makes the choice to leave the relationship. She stressed the point that “there is hope out there,” suggesting that “it’s a group effort to eradicate domestic violence.”

NYPD Community Coordinator and head of the Queens NYPD Domestic Violence Unit, Enid Ocasio, highlighted that February is ‘Teen Dating Abuse Awareness Month’, and that violence shows up in teenage relationships more often than people think. She underscored the need to be on the ground working with the community and pointed out the importance of a safety plan to help victims of domestic violence leave the abusive relationship. She also detailed and the role law enforcement plays in protecting victims.

Other speakers include; Christine Perumal, attorney and Director of Safe Horizon Domestic Violence Law Project and Dr. Sharla Khargi, senior faculty advisor at St. John’s University. Consul General of Guyana, Barbara Atherly was also in attendance.

The speakers and organizers of the event were awarded citations from both New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio and New York State Assembly Member David Weprin, delivered by Rohan Narine and Harpreet Singh Toor respectively.


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