A new report underscores the unequivocal importance of investing in under-resourced community-based organizations that serve South Asian survivors of gender-based violence.
These organizations are foundational to survivor safety, healing, and recovery, forming the bedrock of the South Asian anti-GBV movement, notes the report by South Asian SOAR a national collective of survivors, 35+ organizations.
Titled “State of the Field,” the report takes note of the pivotal role played by these organizations “in addressing the distressingly high prevalence of GBV within the diverse South Asian diaspora in the US, where survivors grapple with significant challenges and disparities linked to their intersectional identities and backgrounds.”
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Over four decades, more than 40 culturally-specific organizations have emerged to offer essential services, outreach, advocacy, research, and education to South Asian survivors and communities, according to the report.
Noting that they often operate with limited budgets and staff sizes, leading to high turnover and burnout across the field, the report identifies immediate areas for programmatic investment.
While South Asian GBV organizations effectively serve specific demographic groups, including ethnically Indian clients, women, heterosexual individuals, and those aged 24 to 49, there is a noticeable gap in serving marginalized groups, such as the LGBTQ+ community, younger survivors, and men.
The data also surfaces the imminent need for increased legal, housing, mental health, economic empowerment, and employment services.
To enhance future data collection and analysis efforts, South Asian GBV organizations would benefit from standardizing data collection procedures, including client demographic indicators, client volume metrics, and streamlined intake forms, it says.
Such measures will enable accurate assessments of the organizations’ operations and impact. Comprehensive information about these organizations can help secure additional funding and bolster the narratives of the survivor and gender justice movements.
Effectively supporting survivors and addressing disparities requires urgent investment in South Asian GBV organizations, says the report, as “we cannot afford to let these organizations continue to operate in a perpetual state of underfunding.”
Unrestricted, trust-based funding from individuals, private foundations, and local, state, and federal governments will enable them to scale up organizational capacity, expand services to provide culturally tailored support to survivors of diverse and marginalized backgrounds, and continue advocacy and education efforts in their communities, it says.
In light of President Joe Biden’s National Plan to End Gender-Based Violence, the report called for close collaboration between the administration and community-based organizations during plan implementation.
These local partnerships are essential for understanding and addressing community needs and tracking the plan’s impact, it said. Additionally, the report advocated for support of intersectional legislation like the HEAL and WISE Acts, which address the unique needs of immigrant survivors.
“Our collective commitment to ending gender-based violence within the South Asian diaspora demands that we prioritize these community-based organizations with unwavering support,” it said.
“This isn’t just about funding; it’s about investing in the safety, healing, and joy of survivors. It’s about dismantling systemic barriers, challenging harmful cultural norms, and creating a more equitable and just society,” it said.
“Together, we can ensure that South Asian GBV survivors and organizations have the means to lead us toward a future free from gender-based violence,” the report concluded.