Cheryl has worked with partners around the world to promote women’s human rights and achieve systemic and legal reform to end violence against women and girls since 1993. She has participated in the drafting of laws on violence against women and girls and led training to enforce such laws in dozens of countries. Cheryl Thomas […]
A Powerful New Chapter: Global Rights for Women Joins Forces with the Battered Women’s Justice Project We are thrilled to share exciting news with you: Global Rights for Women (GRW) has merged with the Battered Women’s Justice Project (BWJP) to form a new BWJP Center, the Center on Global Rights for Women. This merger brings […]
Global Rights for Women and Battered Women’s Justice Project Merger Announcement Contact: BWJP Communications, communications@bwjp.org Cheryl Thomas, Executive Director, Global Rights for Women, cthomas@grwomen.org MINNEAPOLIS, MN—Global Rights for Women (GRW) has officially merged with the Battered Women’s Justice Project (BWJP), becoming the Center on Global Rights for Women—the latest specialized Center under the BWJP umbrella. […]
By Kaitlyn Baker, Intern, National Legal Center on Children and Domestic Violence When the justice system fails to protect its most vulnerable, the effects are tragic. On June 2, 2025, the bodies of three young sisters-Paityn, Evelyn, and Olivia Decker-were discovered, murdered, in a Washington campground. Paityn was 9 years old, Evelyn 8, and Olivia […]
Read More… from Building a SAFeR System: Preventing Tragedy in Child Custody Outcomes
I’m a Michigander through and through, I’ve lived in other places but there’s no place like home. I received my law degree and doctoral degree from Michigan State University, GO GREEN, GO WHITE, where I studied family dynamics, race and ethnicity, and law and society. Prior to coming to BWJP, I spent my time as […]
Rosario de la Torre, a proud Latina from Mexico City, came to the United States in 1986 with her parents and siblings to attended school and learn English, with the idea of returning one day. For the last 30 years Rosario has been devoted to support survivors in the areas of domestic violence, sexual assault, […]
Avery-Grace Blanco has been working with survivors and their families for nine years, since she was a senior in high school. She received her Bachelor of Science degree in three years from the Metropolitan State University of Denver and took graduate level coursework focused on human rights and social justice at Arizona State University. She […]
Introducing the National Restraining Order Center (NROC) Expanding Safety and Access for Survivors At BWJP, we are committed to strengthening legal protections for survivors of gender-based violence. That’s why we’re launching the National Restraining Order Center (NROC)—a new, comprehensive Center that expands our work on restraining orders to better serve survivors, advocates, and legal professionals. […]
By Alyssa Toledo, Communications Associate I’ve spent most of my life searching for freedom. As a queer, Mexican American kid growing up in a turbulent home, I learned early how to survive by making myself small—by hiding, by quieting my voice, by pretending everything was fine. But survival isn’t the same as living, and I […]
Read More… from Loving Out Loud: Navigating Queer Teen Dating Violence Amidst Political Turbulence
Esther is passionate about advocacy for survivors of domestic violence. Prior to joining BWJP, Esther worked for Northeast New Jersey Legal services providing legal representation in all areas of family law. More recently, Esther served as a Senior Staff Attorney at Partners, representing survivors of domestic violence in final restraining order trials, custody and parenting […]
Read More… from BWJP Welcomes Esther Aparicio, as the new Attorney Advisor for SAVES
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