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Landmark Filing With International Human Rights Organization Seeks Justice for Domestic Violence Victim
In Town of Castle Rock v. Gonzales, the Supreme Court found that the U.S. Constitution does not recognize an entitlement by domestic violence victims to enforcement of their protective orders. In response, the ACLU has filed a landmark petition with the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) seeking justice for Jessica Gonzales in the international arena.
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> Gonzales v. USA
> Town of Castle Rock v. Gonzales

Domestic Violence Survivor Asks International Tribunal To Hold U.S. Responsible For Human Rights Violations (03/25/2008)
NEW YORK – The American Civil Liberties Union and Columbia Law School's Human Rights Clinic filed a merits brief with the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) detailing their charges that the U.S. broke international law in violating the human rights of a domestic violence survivor. The brief was filed on behalf of Jessica Lenahan (formerly Gonzales), whose three daughters were kidnapped by her estranged husband and killed, and whose domestic violence protection claims were rejected by the U.S. Supreme Court.

ACLU Calls for Greater Congressional Oversight of HUD and its Failure to Meet its Obligations Under VAWA (03/11/2008)
Washington, DC – The American Civil Liberties today called on Congress to examine the failure of the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to fully implement the requirements of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) as it relates to victims of domestic violence. The House Financial Services Committee and Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee are slated to begin oversight hearings of the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) this week. The ACLU urges these committees to ask HUD why it leaves battered women and children out in the cold.

Private Housing Company Won’t Evict Domestic Violence Victims After ACLU Lawsuit (02/26/2008)
DETROIT – A groundbreaking settlement agreement finalized today between a domestic violence survivor, a private housing complex and a property management company offers victims of domestic violence, stalking, date rape and sexual assault far reaching protections from eviction and discrimination. This is the first settlement of its kind that applies to private housing.

Inter-American Commission on Human Rights Holds U.S. Responsible for Protecting Domestic Violence Victims (10/09/2007)
NEW YORK – Jessica Lenahan (formerly Gonzales), whose three daughters were kidnapped by her estranged husband and killed, and whose domestic violence protection claims were rejected by the U.S. Supreme Court, will finally get her day in court. In the first decision of its kind, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) ruled on Friday that it will hear her case. The American Civil Liberties Union and Columbia Law School’s Human Rights Clinic represent Lenahan.

Domestic Violence Victim Sues U.S. Government for International Human Rights Violations (03/02/2007)
NEW YORK – Jessica Gonzales, whose three daughters were kidnapped by her estranged husband and killed, and whose domestic violence protection claims were rejected by the U.S. Supreme Court, spoke publicly today for the first time before an adjudicating body, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights. The American Civil Liberties Union and Columbia Law School’s Human Rights Clinic represented Gonzales.

Know Your Housing Rights: For Survivors of Domestic Violence (02/06/2008)

Conozca sus derechos respecto de la vivienda: Para sobrevivientes de la violencia doméstica (02/06/2008)

Fair Housing for Battered Women: Preventing Homelessness Through Civil Rights Laws (07/28/2006)
An article by WRP Deputy Director Emily J. Martin discussing new protections against the eviction of domestic violence survivors provided by the Violence Against Women Act of 2005.

Domestic Violence and Public and Subsidized Housing (03/03/2005)
Article by Emily Martin addressing the needs of battered tenants through local housing policy.

Merits Brief Exhibits in Gonzales v. USA (03/25/2008)

Merits Brief in Gonzales v. USA (03/25/2008)

Lewis v. North End Village - Settlement Order (02/26/2008)

Lewis v. North End Village - Employee Manual Amendment (02/26/2008)

Lewis v. North End Village - Complaint Form (02/26/2008)

ACLU Letter to House Financial Services Committee Leadership Urging Implementation of the 2005 Violence Against Women Act (PDF) (03/11/2008)
On March 11, 2008, the House Finance Committee will hold an oversight hearing for the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). On behalf of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and its more than half a million members and activists and 53 affiliates nationwide, we ask the Committee to examine HUD’s implementation, or lack thereof, of the 2005 Violence Against Women Act (“VAWA”) housing provisions as part of its mandate.

ACLU Letter to Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Leadership Urging Implementation of the 2005 Violence Against Women Act (03/11/2008)
On March 12, 2008, the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs will hold an oversight hearing for the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). On behalf of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and its more than half a million members and activists and 53 affiliates nationwide, we ask the Committee to examine HUD’s implementation, or lack thereof, of the 2005 Violence Against Women Act (“VAWA”) housing provisions as part of its mandate.

ACLU Letter to House Financial Services Committee Leadership Urging Implementation of the 2005 Violence Against Women Act (03/11/2008)

ACLU Letter Urging Members of the House of Representatives to Vote in Favor of the Velasquez Domestic Violence Amendment (07/12/2007)

ACLU Testimony in Support of Senate Bill 755, an Act Relative to Housing Discrimination Against Victims of Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault and Stalking (06/05/2007)
The ACLU of Massachusetts and the ACLU Women's Rights Project present testimony to a Massachusetts legislative subcommittee in support of a bill banning housing discrimination on the basis of domestic violence.

Achieving Fair Housing for Survivors through Domestic Violence Housing Policies: Lewis v. North End Village (03/26/2008)
Article by Sandra S. Park, Staff Attorney in the ACLU Women’s Rights Project, about a groundbreaking settlement in February 2008, in which a Michigan landlord and management company agreed to adopt a comprehensive policy on domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking, including anti-discrimination protections and the options of early lease termination and/or relocation.

Model Advocacy Letter to Public Housing Authority (02/06/2008)

Violence Against Women : Employment (12/31/2007)

Violence Against Women : Housing (12/31/2007)

Violence Against Women : Protective Orders and Government Accountability (12/31/2007)

Domestic Violence and Homelessness (02/06/2008)

Los derechos de los sobrevivientes de la violencia doméstica ante la vivienda pública y subsidiada (02/06/2008)

Violencia doméstica y carencia de vivienda (02/06/2008)

Housing Discrimination and Domestic Violence (02/06/2008)

The Rights of Domestic Violence Survivors in Public and Subsidized Housing (02/06/2008)

Lewis v. North End Village, et al. (02/21/2007)
WRP filed a federal lawsuit on behalf of a domestic violence victim who faced eviction from her private apartment due to property damage caused by her abuser.

Boswell v. GumBayTay, et al. (02/14/2007)
WRP filed a federal lawsuit on behalf of a tenant who was sexually harassed by her housing manager.

Bouley v. Young-Sabourin (04/18/2005)
WRP submitted an amicus brief in a federal lawsuit brought by a woman who received an eviction notice after her husband was arrested for assault.

Warren v. Ypsilanti Housing Commission (02/06/2002)
The ACLU represented a domestic violence victim who was threatened with eviction from public housing.

Alvera v. CBM Group, Inc., et al. (06/01/2001)
WRP co-counseled the first case to challenge the application of “zero-tolerance for violence” policies to victims of domestic violence.