Tahirih addresses an urgent need: serving survivors of gender-based violence, primarily immigrant women and girls, and members of the LGBTQ+ community. It provides holistic legal services, social service case management, advocacy, and education. Clients complete safety plans, set goals, develop budgets, and work with an advocate to find shelter, counseling, medical care, food, and clothing. The success rate is extraordinary: in immigration and family law cases, an astonishing 96%. In court and in the community, Tahirih gives a powerful voice to those who are not heard and whose needs often go unmet – training attorneys, police, judges, prosecutors, legislators, and social and medical service providers to understand the unique concerns facing those they serve, and then advocating for policies that better shield them. Each year, Tahirih seeks justice and rekindles hope for 2,000 courageous women, 1,000 of whom are members of our local community.
Headquarters: VA-Fairfax County
Where They Operate: DC-Citywide; DC-Ward 1; DC-Ward 2; DC-Ward 3; DC-Ward 4; DC-Ward 5; DC-Ward 6; DC-Ward 7; DC-Ward 8; MD-Statewide; MD-Montgomery County; MD-Prince George's County; MD-Frederick County; MD-Howard County; VA-Statewide; VA-Arlington County; VA-Fairfax County; VA-Loudoun County; VA-Prince William County; VA-City of Alexandria; VA-City of Fairfax; VA-City of Falls Church
Age Groups Served: All
Population(s) Served: Low- to Moderate-Income Community Members; Women/Girls; Immigrants/Refugees
- Individuals protected through free legal services in 2018:
993 - Clients and family members connected to vital social services in 2018:
93 - Attorneys who co-counseled cases in 2018:
312 - Community members and front-line professionals trained in 2018:
2,230
Awards & Recognition
Tahirih Justice Center
- 2016 Hispanic Bar Association of DC Hugh A. Johnson Jr. Memorial Award (Greater DC Office)
- 2014 Social Impact Business Plan Exchange Competition Finalist
- 2013 Night Court Pro Bono Award (Houston, TX Office)
- 2008 The Washingtonian Best Local Charities Award
- 2007 Washington Post Award for Excellence in Non-Profit Management
- 2002 The Washington Area Women’s Foundation Leadership Award
Tahirih CEO, Layli Miller-Muro
- 2015 DC Young Mother of the Year
- 2013 United Nations Association of the National Capital Area Community Human Rights Award
- 2012 Goldman Sachs’ 100 Most Intriguing Entrepreneurs Award
- 2012 Newsweek’s 150 Fearless Women
- 2012 Diane von Furstenberg People’s Choice Award
- 2010 Meyer Foundation’s Exponent Award for Excellence in Nonprofit Leadership
- 2008 Center for Nonprofit Advancement Excellence in Chief Executive Leadership Award
- 2007 Washington College of Law at American University Cicchino Public Service Award
- 2005 Soroptimist Club South Atlantic Region Making a Difference for Women Award
- 2005 Germantown Baha’i Community Elsie Austin Justice Award
- 2004 District of Columbia Bar Association Young Lawyer of the Year Award
- 2004 Georgetown Journal of Gender and the Law Wendy Webster Williams Award
- 2004 Public Leadership Education Network Mentor Award
- 2000 Feminist Majority Foundation Award
- 2000 Public Leadership Education Network Mentor Award
- 1999 Africa’s Children’s Fund African Children’s Champion Award
Other
- 2017 U.S. Attorney Agent Award (Anne Chandler, Houston Office Executive Director)
- 2015 Governor’s Victim Assistance Award (Morgan Weibel, Co-Chair of Maryland Human Trafficking Task Force Victim Services Committee)
- 2014 Liaison Division Leader of the Year Award (Morgan Weibel, San Francisco Office Executive Director)
- 2012 Ma’at Justice Award (Anne Chandler, Houston Office Executive Director)
- 2008 Virginia Sexual and Domestic Violence Action Alliance Agent of Change Award (Jeanne Smoot, Senior Counsel for Policy and Strategy)
Press
- Shutting the Door on Asylum Seekers
Wed Jul 17 2019, The New York Times
Tahirih Chief of Policy speaks to policies that shut the door on immigrant families and unaccompanied children seeking asylum in the U.S.
- Amid Immigration Crackdown, Undocumented Abuse Victims Hesitate to Come Forward
Sun Jun 30 2019, The Washington Post
Immigrant survivors of gender-based violence are increasingly reluctant to seek help from law enforcement due to a climate of fear.
- States Across the Country Take Action to Save Child Brides
Mon Jun 24 2019, NBC News
Courageous survivors of child marriage advocate for states to strengthen protections for vulnerable young women and girls.
- A Guatemalan Mother Could Lose Her Daughter, Because She's an American
Fri Nov 23 2018, The New York Times
Tahirih client Vilma Viviana Carrillo Carrillo, a mother from Guatemala, was detained and separated from her U.S. citizen child.
- Child Marriage in America By the Numbers
Mon Jul 10 2017, PBS Frontlines
Tahirih's legislative advocacy and groundbreaking legal research on child marriage laws were featured in a PBS Frontline series on child mar
Budget (FY2023)
- The current budget for Tahirih Justice Center is: $3 million or higher
- $1 million to $3 million
- $500k to $1 million
- Less than $500k
Catalogue charities range in size from $100,000 to
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