NYC’s Survivors of Gender-Motivated Violence Act’s lookback window will close on Feb. 28, 2025. Survivors are encouraged to act now.
On Feb. 28, 2025, the lookback window under New York City’s Gender-Motivated Violence Act (GMVA) will expire, erasing an essential opportunity for survivors of gender-based offenses, sex trafficking, sexual assault, workplace harassment, reproductive coercion and other forms of violence to seek justice.
The GMVA applies to any incident that occurred at any time during the victim’s life in any one of New York City’s five boroughs: Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, The Bronx or Staten Island.
Before March 2023, the law operated under a nine-year statute of limitations for civil claims; the law was then amended in 2022, establishing a two-year lookback window that temporarily suspended the statute of limitations.
“There is still time to hold abusers accountable, no matter how long ago the violence occurred,” said Sonia Ossario, executive director of the National Organization for Women—New York City chapter. “The GMVA provides a powerful tool for justice and healing, and we encourage anyone considering civil action to act before the lookback period ends. Resources are available through our website, and we encourage individuals to connect with legal professionals who can assist them through the process.”
The GMVA provides a powerful tool for justice and healing, and we encourage anyone considering civil action to act before the lookback period ends.
Sonia Ossario, executive director of the National Organization for Women—New York City chapter
Similarly to the expired New York State’s Adult Survivors Act that set a year lookback window for survivors and allowed 3,000 new cases to be filed, the GMVA has allowed many survivors to seek justice. Survivors of sexual violence have since used the lookback window to sue Sean “Diddy” Combs for damages. The plaintiffs in the case—two women and four men—filed anonymously under the GMVA and are part of a group of over 100 alleged victims suing Combs for rape and sexual assault.
In a press release on Jan. 16, Ossario encouraged victims of American rapper Snoop Dogg to contact her:
“I would like to remind anybody out there who was trafficked by Snoop Dogg many years ago, that this is the opportunity right now to file claims against him. Snoop Dogg has never been shy about the fact that he was a pimp. In fact, he admits it in Rolling Stone magazine. And this is a call to prosecutors of the federal government to investigate Snoop Dogg. And this is a call to his victims now living in New York City for any crimes that took place here in New York City. You can call me and I will help you navigate this process.”
The two-year window also serves as an opportunity for women who are being bought on internet service providers enabling abuse and exploitation like OnlyFans to seek justice, said Tiana Bien-Aimé, executive director of the Coalition Against Trafficking in Women.
“It can take a lifetime to recognize that what happened to you was gender-based violence, whether perpetrated by an individual or an institution,” said Bien-Aimé. “You may think that you signed up for the abuse you endured—which is what the prostitution industry and the pornography industry make you believe.”
“I am fighting to help the former version of me find worth in herself, a battle worth fighting for,” said survivor advocate, Gina Tron. “I encourage victim-survivors to consider this act as a tool for their own healing before the window closes on Feb. 28.”
I am fighting to help the former version of me find worth in herself, a battle worth fighting for.
Gina Tron, survivor advocate
The National Organization for Women, New York City, urges individuals to act quickly to protect their right to file civil claims for incidents of gender-motivated violence. This includes:
- Rape or sexual assault
- Domestic violence
- Physical or verbal assault or battery
- Sexual violence in the workplace
- Human trafficking
- False imprisonment
For support and legal guidance call the NYC 24 hour domestic violence hotline at 1-800-621-HOPE (4673) or call the legal referral service at the NYC Bar Association at 212-626-7373. More resources can be found on nownyc.org.
