HR 2023: Uwigabye, Prisca; commend

House Resolution 2023

By: Representatives Lim of the 98th, Lupton of the 83rd, Clark of the 108th, and Olaleye of the 59th

A RESOLUTION

Recognizing Prisca Uwigabye; and for other purposes.

WHEREAS, Prisca Uwigabye is a survivor of gender-based violence and human rights advocate in the Atlanta community; and

WHEREAS, for more than 16 years she has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to advancing the rights of immigrant survivors of domestic and sexual violence; and

WHEREAS, through her visionary leadership, she has developed impactful programs and fostered strategic partnerships that uplift vulnerable communities and promote long-term healing and stability; and

WHEREAS, Ms. Uwigabye, like all survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, human trafficking, and other crimes, shows strength and resilience in overcoming significant barriers to safety, including escalating violence, and abusers' threats of incarceration or removal from the United States in retaliation for reporting abuse to law enforcement; and

WHEREAS, survivors like Ms. Uwigabye often fear retaliatory criminalization by abusers and are thus less likely to report crime; and

WHEREAS, Georgia is home to Ms. Uwigabye and an immigrant population where one out of every ten Georgia residents is an immigrant; immigrants experience domestic abuse at twice the rate of the general United States' population; and it is a common tactic of abusers to keep survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking silent by threatening their removal and separation from children; and

WHEREAS, when such threats are made, key witnesses and victims of crime in Georgia have been less likely to assist local law enforcement as they seek to crack down on human trafficking and domestic violence crimes, including during events like the FIFA World Cup; and

WHEREAS, when law enforcement exercises discretion and builds trust with vulnerable communities, including survivors, survivors have felt safer to leave their homes to seek safety and shelter, and to serve as witnesses to help law enforcement prevent further violence and trafficking.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES that the members of this body recognize Prisca Uwigabye, and her championing of Georgia's survivors of gender-based violence and human trafficking, including immigrant survivors, and the challenges they endure and overcome; and reaffirm the General Assembly's commitment for all survivors, including immigrant survivors, to be able to report crimes to law enforcement safely, including during the 2026 FIFA World Cup hosted by Georgia, rather than face further control and abuse.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Clerk of the House of Representatives is authorized and directed to make appropriate copies of this resolution available for distribution to Prisca Uwigabye and the General Assembly.