Washington, D.C. – DC SAFE (Survivors and Advocates for Empowerment), a non-profit organization supporting survivors of domestic violence, honored Democracy Forward’s President and CEO Skye Peryman, Legal Director Robin Thurston, and Senior Counsel Kristin Bateman with the “Keep DC SAFE Mission Impact Award” in recognition of the organization’s work to defend the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) in Rhode Island Coalition Against Domestic Violence, et al. v. Bondi, et al. Thurston and Bateman accepted the award at SAFE DC’s annual gala at the MLK Library in Washington, D.C. on October 9.

“The impact of this administration is being felt across our nation, in ways large and small. But we’re fighting back, in every way we can. Our work to defend the Violence Against Women Act and to stop harmful restrictions on funding meant to help survivors, has been successful because of our partnerships with brave clients. We are honored by this award and recognition, and to be among those passionate about protecting services for those most in need,” said Thurston in accepting the award.

This year, the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office on Violence Against Women changed grant requirements to include a certification that applicants were not supporting and would not support diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility programs, discuss “gender ideology,” or serve undocumented immigrants, even when those services were required by law or essential to survivor care. These new restrictions would have made it impossible for many domestic and sexual violence service providers to operate programs effectively, threatening to eliminate services that victims of violence rely on in communities throughout the country. 

Democracy Forward and co-counsel won a preliminary injunction to block these unlawful restrictions on behalf of a nationwide group of 17 state domestic violence and sexual assault coalitions, including the DC Coalition Against Domestic Violence, in Rhode Island Coalition Against Domestic Violence, et al. v. Bondi, et al. This ensured that funding could continue for state coalitions that rely on these grants to provide trauma-informed care, emergency housing, legal assistance, and more. The groups also blocked an attempt at similar restrictions on grants for survivors of domestic violence and others in need from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

“Democracy Forward is honored to represent DC communities in two lawsuits that have blocked efforts to restrict access to survivors of domestic violence. We are so grateful to DC SAFE for this recognition, and are in awe of the survivor-defined advocacy and robust crisis intervention services they provide to those in need in the District,” said Perryman. 

DC SAFE began as a project of the DC Coalition Against Domestic Violence in 1997 with advocates providing court-based services to survivors of domestic violence. In 2006, the group incorporated as an independent nonprofit organization and immediately began developing its robust crisis intervention services, which are now the foundation of DC SAFE’s work with survivors. 

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Democracy Forward Foundation is a national legal organization that advances democracy and social progress through litigation, policy, public education, and regulatory engagement. For more information, please visit www.democracyforward.org.