Tahirih Houston celebrated International Women’s Day on March 8, 2012, with a gathering to honor pro bono attorneys, volunteer interpreters, and others who have assisted Tahirih throughout the year.

During the Women in the World Summit, Tahirih Founder and Executive Director Layli Miller-Muro accepted the DVF People’s Choice Award at the DVF Awards Ceremony at the United Nations.

Tahirih held a training for frontline service providers on identifying and supporting victims of forced marriage—the first training of its kind in the United States on March 2, 2012.

For many of us, reports on women and girls being threatened with violence and forced to marry seem distant and incomprehensible.

Forced marriage is an issue that has increasingly come to our attention as Tahirih received calls for help from around the country. There is a regrettable lack of information in the United States about forced marriage, there are no laws designed to protect forced marriage victims, and there is a void in community dialogue and advocacy on the issue.

New office at 1717 St. James Place, Suite 320, will accommodate Tahirih Houston’s growing direct services staff and client roster.

The training series is possible through a grant from the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office on Violence Against Women.