This election season, Survivors’ rights are on the ballot

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As election day nears, it’s vital to recognize how the policies we vote on are directly tied to pressing issues highlighted during October: Domestic Violence Awareness Month and Breast Cancer Awareness Month. For South Asian and Indo-Caribbean communities, the stakes are high. This month spotlights the systemic and intersecting barriers survivors face, from healthcare inequities to immigration obstacles and inadequate access to justice. At Sakhi for South Asian Survivors, we witness every day through our work in the community how policy choices directly affect the lives of survivors and how election outcomes leave lasting impacts on our communities.

While national elections grab attention, the most critical decisions for survivors often happen at the state and local levels, where laws on domestic violence, reproductive rights, healthcare access, and immigration are shaped. The South Asian and Indo-Caribbean diaspora, one of the fastest-growing communities in the U.S., faces unique challenges. Nearly half of South Asians in the U.S. report experiencing violence, and in New York State, where most of our work is concentrated, a staggering 85% of young South Asians report some form of sexual violence. For immigrant survivors, these challenges are compounded by immigration-related abuse, with many facing threats to their legal status as a means of control.

These numbers tell a broader story: policies that limit healthcare access, criminalize immigrants, or fail to provide legal protections endanger entire communities. Voting isn’t just a civic duty; it’s an act of survival. It shapes systems that either protect or fail survivors. In addition to the weight of our vote on policy, it’s essential to educate oneself before heading to the polls. Informed voting means recognizing that the choices we make in the voting booth directly affect our lives, the healthcare we receive, the legal protections we are afforded, and the resources available in times of crisis.

For 35 years, Sakhi has worked to combat gender-based violence through culturally specific services, policy advocacy, and spaces for survivors to heal and rebuild. We know that systemic change, not just services, is key to addressing the root causes of violence. In recent pieces for Ms. Magazine and Inside Philanthropy, I’ve stressed the need for transformative policies and sustainable funding to ensure survivor justice. Change happens not only through services but through dismantling punitive immigration laws, expanding healthcare access, and strengthening protections for survivors.

This election is a chance to elect leaders who understand these issues and are committed to enacting policies that promote safety, equity, and justice. At Sakhi, we’ve seen how transformative policies can rebuild lives. When survivors have access to healthcare, economic resources, and legal protections, they can break free from violence. But this requires leaders who will deliver on policy, not just promises.

This election, let’s use our vote to elect candidates who will fight for survivors’ rights and safety. The future of our community depends on it.