Asian domestic violence victims in New Jersey don’t have to suffer abusive relationships in silence anymore. This is the message that rang out at the inaugural fundraiser of the Asian Women’s Safety Net, a project of the New Jersey Coalition of Battered Women, held on November 3.

The event started off with a procession of volunteers, led by the president of the organization and Ratepayer-Advocate of New Jersey, Seema Singh, all gathering in the hall, holding candles. There was a cultural performance showing the solidarity among the various nationalities represented by the organization, apart from a fashion show, art auction and raffle, which were put together to raise funds.

Asian Women’s Safety Net was introduced in May this year, and joined the other organizations in New Jersey working toward providing a safety net for immigrant women in abusive relationships. The main focus of the organization is to offer Asian women access to “culturally appropriate services,” Singh said.

This is an opportune moment to step up services to help victims of domestic violence, with Governor John Corzine marking October as the Domestic Violence Awareness Month by awarding $9.9 million that’ll benefit 15 domestic violence centers, and 37 transitional homes and emergency shelters, Singh said.

The exact numbers of Asian victims of domestic violence are difficult to judge, but overall, 76,651 cases of domestic violence were reported by New Jersey Police in 2005. Wives were victims in 21 percent of the cases, and children in 34 percent of the cases.

Among Asian women, those who do seek help often get discouraged along the way by their inability to communicate with the authorities, said Essex County Assistant Prosecutor Mark Ali. He had seen many immigrant women drop cases, frustrated by having to negotiate a cultural and linguistic gap while also dealing with the abuse.

The impact of social support was driven home by the moving testimony of a survivor of domestic violence, Dr. Anita Singh. “I’m a mother, sister, medical doctor, and yet, I’m a domestic violence survivor,” said Singh who was abused by her husband and had to move out with her daughter to make a life for herself outside the abusive relationship. “I am rebuilding my life brick by brick,” she said. When a woman musters her courage, she said, “you are no longer a victim; you are like me, a survivor.”

Volunteers and contributors interested in helping, may visit www.njcbw.org, or call 609-584-8107.