Empowering Women — Combatting Economic Abuse in a Pandemic
Intimate partner violence is not limited to physical violence and can take many other forms, including emotional, psychological, and financial. Financial abuse can encompass identity theft, the accrual of debt in the victim’s name without their knowledge or consent, the subsequent default of that debt, or having no access to the couple’s financial information. For low-income women in abusive relationships, a key component of escaping the abuse is achieving economic security. Amy Barasch, Executive Director of Her Justice, explains the legal and advocacy tools available to help survivors leave abusive relationships and economically empower them to start their lives anew. She discusses how lawyers can assist in divorce and obtaining support payments and work authorizations for immigrants.
Her Justice provides free civil legal services to women living in poverty in New York City. Through their pro bono first model, they mentor and train volunteer attorneys and pair them with women who have legal needs in family, matrimonial, and immigration law.
Recorded 12/4/20
