Kavita Mehra testifies for Sakhi against restructuring
Mehra, Executive Director of Sakhi for South Asian Survivors, opposes the restructuring and cites high rates of gender-based violence in South Asian communities. She says NGBV must maintain a strong City Hall position and resources and urges investment in community-based services.
Good afternoon.
Thank you, Chair Farias and members of the Women and Gender Equity Committee for this opportunity to testify.
My name is Skavit Amara, and I am the Executive Director of SACI for South Asian Survivors.
I'm here today to testify in opposition to the proposed restructuring of the Mayor's Office to End Domestic and Gender-Based Violence, or NGBV.
Saki has worked with the South Asian and Indo-Caribbean survivors of gender-based violence in New York City since 1989.
And through this work, we have become acutely aware that gender-based violence is the defining crisis in our city.
For survivors, it is not an issue that exists in isolation.
It affects their ability to access safe housing, economic stability, food security, education, health care, and community safety.
That is why the city's response must be strong, coordinated, and centered on survivors.
The urgency of this public health matter is reflected in the experience of the communities we serve.
Among South Asian American New Yorkers, 85% of women between the ages of 18 to 34 report experiencing sexual assault at least once in their lifetime.
48% of South Asian Americans report experiencing gender-based violence.
41% have witnessed domestic violence in their homes.
And 25% have experienced...
child sexual abuse.
Behind each of these numbers is a survivor, a family, and a community.
That is why we are deeply concerned about the restructuring that could diminish NGBV standing and access to decision-making in City Hall.
At a time when survivors and service providers are calling for stronger coordination and greater investment, we should not be creating additional barriers between survivors and institutions responsible for serving them.
A meaningful gender justice movement must be survivor-led.
Survivors must have direct and meaningful voice in the policies and systems that affect their lives.
They deserve to be seen, believed, heard, and included in decisions about their communities.
A reorganization that buries NGBV deeper in bureaucracy with no constitution sends the opposite message.
Saki welcomed Mayor Mamdani to our Iftar in March, and we appreciated the opportunity to welcome him in our community.
But meaningful engagement with survivors and advocates must extend beyond individual moments.
It must be reflected in the structure, authority, and resources of city government.
We look forward to building on this engagement with Commissioner Sethi and working together to strengthen support for this important and often
overlooked population.
For these reasons, Saki urges the City Council to oppose the proposed restructuring of NGBV and to ensure that the office maintains strong and
meaningful position in the city, in City Hall, and with the authority and resources necessary to lead coordination citywide in response to gender-based violence.
We also urge the city to strengthen its investment in community-based organizations and services provided directly to survivors every day.
If we are committed to a safer, more equitable New York City, survivors must
not only have their voice, they must also have a meaningful place in decisions that shape their lives.
Thank you.