Domestic violence (DV) touches every community in this nation and the South Asian community is not an exception. Let’s admit that we all know at least one survivor, #Every1KnowsSome1! We see several devastating losses due to disturbing acts of domestic violence, we know that the pain and trauma of violence transmit to the next generation and leave damaging consequences, we witness how this learned behavior takes different forms and damages the foundation of our community. The question is: What are each of us doing to end DV in our community?



Advocates have been raising awareness through advocacy, and prevention campaigns but advocates and survivors alone cannot end domestic violence. Each of us has a role in building a culture with zero tolerance for DV.

In this Domestic Violence Awareness Month, let’s take a pledge that individually and collectively we will:

• Hold domestic violence prevention as a priority.
• Join hands in changing harmful social and cultural conditions that enable violence and abuse in relationships
• Change perceptions, attitudes, and practices that are critical to build violence-free homes and communities.

Prevention is possible if we are all into it.



Keep reading for more updates on our activities in the last three months.

"As we celebrate our accomplishments, we must also acknowledge that our work is far from complete. We renew our commitment to be steadfast in our work empowering survivors and standing by them in their journey towards dignity and self-sufficiency". Message from Geetha Krishnamurthy, President, Maitri Board.

Read the impact of our work here!

We hosted Assemblymember Alex Lee at the Maitri office in August, 2023. We discussed need for prevention funding, easier access to digital hearings in Courts, negative impacts of COVID-19 on our work and our learnings from the period and other intersectional issues. More here.

Outreach Booths



Community engagement is at the heart of Maitri's outreach efforts. Last quarter we continued to offer informational booths throughout Santa Clara and Alameda county. Our volunteers and staff members spread anti-violence awareness at 11 different faith-based, cultural, and social gatherings. Here are a few photos taken at the Evergreen Islamic Center, the Festival of India event, and the Dilli Haat Food & Shopping Festival.

For the Maitri information booth, please email us here.

Panel: Need for Prevention

Maitri and CPEDV sat down to discuss the need for prevention in the anti-violence movement, the current state of Govt. budget and the way forward for advocates seeking consistent funding. We invited our volunteer, allies and community members to attend the event. Please watch the discussion video here.

In this episode, Fraidy Reiss, a forced marriage survivor turned activist and the founder of Unchained At Last had an insightful discussion on child marriage and California's stand on this issue. Episode Link .

In this episode, Yasmin Azad, the author of Stay, Daughter talked about her reflection on the dilemmas that Muslim women face in balancing the rules of orthodox Islam with the freedom of the modern world. Episode Link

In this episode South Asian teens discussed how inter- generational cultural conflicts can be damaging for individual, family and community well-being, and what can be done about it. Episode Link

The National Poet of Bangladesh was a lifelong rebel against all oppressions limiting the human potential and a vocal proponent of women's rights. His poems and lyrics continue to inspire a new generation of activists against violence against women. More here

Registration link will be out soon!

Please save the date: Saturday, March 2, 2024