By Sarah Hur, Deputy Director, National Restraining Order Center
April 2026
Attorneys and advocates working with Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) survivors of intimate-partner violence often navigate a complex intersection of cultural and linguistic differences that shape how survivors engage with the legal system.
At the National Restraining Order Center, we previously explored these challenges in our article, 3 Ways to Improve Access to Civil Protection Orders for Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Survivors, which outlines key system-level approaches including enhancing language access, practicing cultural humility and strengthening community-based support. That framework provides an important foundation for understanding how systems can better respond to AAPI survivors.
To build on that work, practitioners can look to NROC’s Listening Sessions on Supporting Asian, Asian American and Pacific Islander Domestic Violence Survivors in the Legal System, which offers a deeper survivor- and advocate-informed perspective on the lived realities shaping AAPI survivors’ interactions with the legal system. The findings report highlights themes such as the importance of language access support, the impact of cultural stigma, and the critical role of community support influencing survivors’ decision-making.
The following are just some additional resources designed to support attorneys and advocates in conducting more effective, culturally responsive interactions with AAPI survivors.
Attorneys and advocates play a critical role in shaping how AAPI survivors experience the legal system. By grounding their work in culturally responsive resources, practitioners can better support survivors in navigating the legal system and making informed decisions about their safety.
