Victims Rights
Whether you exercise your rights, or not, knowing victims rights in the midst of domestic violence will empower you. Your rights give you options. In the United States of America whether you are a citizen, a legally resident, or staying illegally... you have legal rights.
Most abusers will take away as many of your rights as possible through fear, intimidation, and/or abuse. Your abuser's actions do not change the fact that legally you have rights.
You have the right to equal protection of the law, whether you are legally, or illegally in this country.
You have the right to come and go within the United States of America whenever you please.
You have the right to see and talk to whomever you want, whenever you want to.
You have the right to express yourself freely.
You have the right to further your education if you want to.
You have the right to work and choose your career as long as you are a citizen, or have a worker's visa.
You have the right to your earned wages and to spend them as you prefer.
You have the right to refuse sex when you don't want it.
You have the right to have sex when you want and with whomever you want, as long as the other person agrees.
You have the right to use birth control.
You have the right to have an abortion without you partners permission.
You have the right to choose if, and when you have children, and how many.
You have the right to take your children and hide with them from you abuser, even if your abuser is the other biological parent, verify this based on your state of residence! Make sure you have your
paper trail of abuse
and your
emergency documents
with you.
You have the right to live without violence.
For further information on your rights, I highly recommend
http://www.justicewomen.com
For immigrants, work place, and housing information I also recommend
http://www.legalmomentum.org/our-work/domestic-violence/legislative-advocacy-vawa.html
There are many laws set up to protect victims and your rights. Please take some time to do further research and learn about your rights and how to advocate for yourself.
