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Sen. Dhingra recognized for efforts to end domestic violence
The Norm Maleng Award is given by LifeWire NGO to leaders who fight against domestic violence.
Sen. Dhingra receives Norm Maleng Award from LifeWire / (Image - Washington senate democrats/website)
Indian-American Manka Dhingra, Deputy Majority Leader of the Washington State Senate received the Norm Maleng Award from LifeWire for her efforts to end domestic abuse.
The Norm Maleng Award is awarded annually to a member of the community who champions the fight to stop domestic abuse by LifeWire, a Bellevue non-profit organization that offers legal assistance, emergency shelter, housing, and other resources for victims of domestic violence.
“I am so honoured to receive the 2023 Norm Maleng Award,” said Dhingra, chair of the Senate Law and Justice Committee. “I started working on behalf of survivors of gender-based violence while I was in college and have continued to advocate for victims my entire life,” she added.
In the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office for 20 years, Dhingra served as a senior deputy prosecuting attorney. She is one of the co-founders of Chaya, a group that supports South Asian victims of sexual assault, domestic abuse, and human trafficking.
“It is especially special to me to get an award named after Norm Maleng to continue this legacy of working to end sexual and domestic violence since I was hired by him to be a Deputy Prosecuting Attorney in 2000," she recalled.
"Domestic violence is an emergency. The need is urgent for stronger protections, more expansive services, adequate funding and preventive strategies. There is still much work to do, but together we are making tremendous progress," she remarked.
“LifeWire is inspired by your work sponsoring and passing legislation that addresses a wide range of issues, including curbing domestic violence and sexual assault,” Theresa Anderson, president of the LifeWire Board of Directors, wrote to Dhingra.
Born in Bhopal, India, Manka Dhingra leads the Senate Law & Justice Committee with twenty years of experience as a prosecutor and expert in behavioural health. She also participates in the Ways & Means Committee and the Health & Long Term Care Committee.
Dhingra became the first Sikh state legislator in the state when she was first elected to the Senate in November 2017 by residents of the 45th Legislative District.
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