Sanctuary for Families

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Sanctuary for Families

| New York’s leading service provider and advocate for survivors of gender violence

10/07/2026

Mark your calendars — Sanctuary's 3rd Annual Survivor-Owned Small Business Fair is back!

Looking for a fun way to support survivors of gender-based violence? Want to check out the incredible small businesses survivors have launched? Or maybe you’re hunting for unique holiday gifts…

If so, this event is for YOU!

Stroll through our lively space anytime between 12 PM and 4 PM, and explore a wide variety of survivor-owned businesses.

Thank you to Hilton Midtown for once again hosting this event in partnership with Sanctuary.

👉 RSVP at https://bit.ly/3TKm6eH

09/30/2026

Sanctuary for Families stands with the survivor at the center of the deeply disturbing s*xual assault allegations at Cornell University, and with every survivor who has been blamed, mocked, doubted, or forced to defend themselves after coming forward.

This case reflects a broader crisis of campus s*xual violence and the r**e culture that allows it to persist. We see that culture when a woman’s intoxication is treated as an invitation. We see it when men excuse, minimize, or joke about s*xual violence. And we see it when people online focus more energy on blaming the survivor than on confronting the alleged abuse.

At the heart of this and so many other s*xual assault cases is a basic principle: consent requires capacity. If someone is too intoxicated to understand or agree to s*xual activity, they cannot consent. The responsibility should rest with the person who chooses to take advantage of that condition, not with the survivor for having been intoxicated.

Yet New York law still draws a dangerous distinction between someone who was drugged without their knowledge and someone who became incapacitated after voluntarily drinking or using drugs. That distinction does not reflect the reality of s*xual assault and leaves too many survivors without a meaningful path to justice.

Survivors should not have to prove they were the “perfect victim” to deserve protection. They deserve accountability at every level: from those who commit s*xual violence, from institutions like Cornell that are responsible for safeguarding students, and from investigators and prosecutors entrusted with pursuing the facts with rigor.

No amount of drugs or alcohol can excuse s*xual violence. It is time for New York to close the voluntary intoxication loophole and for our institutions, investigators, and prosecutors to stand with survivors and hold perpetrators accountable.

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If you or someone you know has experienced campus s*xual assault, you are not alone. Sanctuary offers services dedicated to student survivors, including crucial legal support and the representation needed to navigate these challenging times.

Learn more: https://sanctuaryforfamilies.org/gender-violence/campus-gender-violence/

09/29/2026

Last night, Sanctuary for Families, Columbia Law School, and Davis Polk & Wardwell celebrated the 29th Annual Abely Awards — honoring two extraordinary advocates for their tireless work fighting for the rights of gender-based violence survivors.

Dr. Luz Towns-Miranda has spent more than four decades providing trauma-informed court testimony that has educated courts about the reality and impact of domestic violence and helped survivors retain custody of their children.

Katie Marquart, Pro Bono Chair at Gibson Dunn, has led more than 1.5 million hours of pro bono work globally, most recently spearheading a federal habeas petition on behalf of a survivor of domestic abuse and trafficking who had been deported to a third country.

Congratulations to both honorees and thank you to the Sanctuary community for coming together year after year to stand with survivors.

09/28/2026

Despite the pouring rain, Sanctuary Survivor Leaders and staff proudly joined the Annual Brides' March this weekend to honor the lives of women lost to domestic violence in New York City's Latino community and demand an end to femicide.

began in 2001 to commemorate the life of Gladys Ricart — a Dominican woman from Washington Heights who was murdered by her abusive ex-boyfriend on the day she was meant to marry her fiancé.

Every year, rain or shine, we take to the streets in wedding gowns because we refuse to let Gladys' story, and the stories of so many women like her, be forgotten.

09/26/2026

💪 Entrepreneurs supporting entrepreneurs.

Sanctuary's Economic Empowerment Programs welcomed Tatiana, founder of Miss Bellator, to lead a networking and business development workshop for survivors who are business owners and entrepreneurs.

The workshop was designed to give participants space to practice presenting their businesses, receive expert feedback, and identify potential customers, referral partners, and collaborators to support their next steps.

Economic empowerment is one of the most powerful pathways to safety and independence for survivors. That is why Sanctuary is committed to supporting survivors who dream of building something of their own.

Thank you, Tatiana, for giving your time and expertise to empower survivors.

09/25/2026

Miriam Haley and Jessica Mann first testified against Harvey Weinstein six years ago. On Wednesday, Weinstein was sentenced to 15 years in prison in a New York City retrial. This win belongs to the survivors whose courage made it possible despite a legal system where fewer than 4 percent of s*x crime allegations result in a conviction.

Haley and Mann were asked to return to the stand again and again to relive some of the worst moments of their lives. Mann testified three times, and her case was only dropped after she said she could not endure testifying a fourth time. When Haley recounted her assault in court for the second time, Weinstein's attorney repeatedly asked her what she was wearing when he assaulted her.

This case is a stark example of how difficult it is to successfully prosecute s*xual assault, and of how much of the weight falls on survivors. Survivors must overcome a high burden of proof and often face jurors and judges who are not familiar with how s*xual violence, power dynamics, and consent work.

Nearly nine years after began, the movement faces a coordinated backlash, and accountability for people in power remains extremely rare. Yesterday's sentence tells survivors that their voices matter.

But one sentence does not fix a broken system. Sanctuary for Families will keep fighting for a justice system that hears, believes, and respects survivors. Above all, we will keep standing beside survivors and supporting them on their journey toward safety and healing.

Read the 19th News article on Weinstein's sentencing at https://bit.ly/4xEsUsg

09/19/2026

SURVIVORS & ALLIES ARE COMING TOGETHER IN NEW YORK CITY. JOIN US.

On Friday, September 25, we will gather in Union Square for 60 Million Survivors Rising: NYC — an artistic and fierce expression of survivor power and solidarity.

At a moment of profound impunity, violence, and abuses of power, we are coming together to disrupt the injustice and demand justice, accountability, healing, and an end to the systems and cultures that enable s*xual violence and protect those who perpetrate it.

JOIN US WITH:
•V (formerly Eve Ensler) - Playwright & V-Day and One Billion Rising Founder
•Rosanna Arquette - Actor, Advocate & Weinstein Survivor
•Dani Bensky - Advocate & Epstein Survivor
•Jess Michaels - Advocate & Epstein Survivor
•Alva Johnson - Advocate & Trump Survivor
•Rev. Jacqueline Lewis - Middle Church Senior Minister & Public Theologian
•Cheyenne Hunt - Attorney & Reckoning Justice Founder
•Taína Asili - Singer & Activist, One Billion Rising US
•Singing Resistance NYC/ Songs In the Key of Resistance - Singing Movement for Liberation
& more

BRING YOUR COMMUNITY. WEAR RED & BLACK.

Union Square - South (at E 14th St. and Union Sq E)
Friday, September 25
4:30 PM Gather | 5–7 PM Rally

Let us know you're coming at 60MillionSurvivorsRising.org/NYC

09/18/2026

Many student survivors are further traumatized by the daunting task of navigating complex institutional policies and legal landscapes.

The journey towards justice and healing can feel isolating and overwhelming. But you are not alone. If you are a student survivor, we encourage you to reach out to Sanctuary for Families' Campus Advocates Program.

Together, we can navigate the complexities of the law, advocate for your needs, and work towards a future where every student can learn and thrive without fear.

Get help today at https://bit.ly/4lY6mhM

09/17/2026

Join us for an interdisciplinary, intergenerational, intercultural United Nations General Assembly parallel event with these powerhouse global human rights leaders:

✨ Jessica-Wind Abolafia: Senior Program Director of the Anti-Trafficking Initiative (ATI) at Sanctuary for Families and legal expert on human trafficking and femicide

✨ Ruchira Gupta of Apne Aap Women Worldwide: Columnist, Emmy-winning documentarian, author, and professor exploring gender, power, democracy, and freedom

✨ Dr Shobana Powell: Mental health clinician and global human rights consultant specializing in the intersections of human trafficking, gender-based violence and systemic oppression (Obama Leader USA)

✨ Luis Villaherrera: Founder of TRACODA, a Salvadoran organization working at the intersection of tech, democracy, and civic empowerment, with work extending across El Salvador, Honduras, and Guatemala (Obama Scholar)

✨ Ivanna Morales Mercado: Multicultural climate storyteller and founder of Ecoluminary, exploring how food, culture, storytelling, and gathering can foster belonging and hope amid a changing climate (Obama Voyager)

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In-person registration at https://bit.ly/3UYs10a. Location is Midtown East, NYC (Address will be shared upon completion of registration).

Online registration at https://bit.ly/4cLhjAg.

09/16/2026

Colleges are required to offer supportive measures to survivors of gender-based violence at no cost.

Supportive measures are individualized services designed to restore or preserve your access to education and to ensure your safety.

Please know that supportive measures are available to you even without going through the formal grievance process.

Get help at https://sanctuaryforfamilies.org/get-help/

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http://www.sanctuaryforfamilies.org/

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Heart River Center for Intuitive Healing

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