My name is Aicha.

I am an advocate and a survivor of gender-based violence. Many years ago, I endured abuse and threats of forced marriage simply because I am a girl. The public authorities did nothing to stop the abuse. I had no other options left for survival, so I left the only home I’ve ever known in search of safety.

I thought I would find refuge immediately upon arrival in the United States, but that only marked the beginning of a long and difficult journey through the asylum system.

For many survivors fleeing for their lives, the asylum system can still feel rigged today. Our outdated asylum laws do not clearly recognize gender as a ground worthy of protection.

As a result, survivors face an overly complicated system, full of inconsistent and arbitrary asylum decisions. It’s almost impossible to navigate without a lawyer. Too many survivors have been unjustly denied asylum, even if they are otherwise eligible under international guidelines.

Without clear laws that explicitly protect survivors, the limited access to asylum that is available remains under constant threat. At any time, it can be attacked, weakened, and even eliminated by a new court ruling or administration.

Relying on cobbled together regulations to ensure protection for survivors is no longer an option. No one should experience violence because of their gender. And when they do, they should have a right to seek safety.

By stating explicitly in regulations and laws that survivors of gender-based violence should be protected by asylum, we are saying once and for all that every person deserves access to safety, dignity, and justice.

I am asking you today to sign this petition and join me in demanding justice for survivors.