Violence Against Women

Our Work

Violence Against Women: Direct Service and Community Education

For the past 25 years, the Women’s Law Project’s Telephone Counseling & Referral Service has provided information and counseling to untold numbers of victims of domestic violence and sexual assault. Domestic violence accounts for the highest number of calls to the service; many seek assistance securing protection from abuse and ask for help concerning adverse employment and housing actions resulting from domestic violence. Callers reach out to the WLP when batterers intentionally damage their homes and cars. The WLP also regularly hears from women who need but have not been given their rights with respect to Family Violence Option waivers in the welfare system.

Recognizing that 85% of abuse and custody litigants in Philadelphia’s Family Court lack legal representation, the WLP makes as much information as possible available to help litigants navigate difficult court processes. In addition, the WLP provides judges in Pennsylvania with legal tools to address domestic violence and makes recommendations to the community for improving litigants’ experiences in Family Court.

The WLP has produced these useful publications in service to these goals:

Deciding Child Custody When There is Domestic Violence: A Benchbook for Pennsylvania Courts
Justice in the Domestic Relations Division of Philadelphia Family Court: A Report to the Community
Family Violence & The Child Custody Process: A legal guide for protecting children (1996)
Brochures on Protection From Abuse, Support, Paternity, Custody, & Divorce

Domestic Violence Assistance Project: The Domestic Violence Assistance Project is designed to assist individuals in pursuing the protection from abuse (PFA) process.