Mayor Adams Appoints Saloni Sethi As Commissioner To Combat Domestic Violence Issues

New York City Mayor Eric Adams today announced the appointment of Saloni Sethi as commissioner of the Mayor’s Office to End Domestic and Gender-Based Violence (ENDGBV).

Sethi has served as acting ENDGBV commissioner since February 2024 and will continue the office’s work of supporting survivors of domestic and gender-based violence, enhancing prevention efforts, and developing innovative and responsive programming to assist survivors on their journey to stability and healing.  

“Saloni Sethi has worked to address gender-based violence for the past decade by directly working with survivors as a social worker as well as by ensuring coordination across city agencies and community-based service providers. I am proud to appoint her today as commissioner to continue the important work at the Mayor’s Office to End Domestic Violence,” said Mayor Adams. “I am confident that under Saloni’s leadership, ENDGBV will continue to be a survivor-centric organization committed to reaching every person and family in need.”   

“Saloni Sethi’s exceptional work in championing programs and strategies to support survivors and their families over the years has been the epitome of public service,” said First Deputy Mayor Maria Torres-Springer. “Through Saloni’s tireless efforts, we have made significant progress in driving critical change, and I am thrilled to see her take on this new role to ensure that New York remains a leader in safety, equity, and justice.” 

“The Mayor’s Office to End Domestic and Gender-Based Violence develops policy, delivers training, builds partnerships, and operates a network of Family Justice Centers across the city,” said Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services Anne Williams-Isom. “ENDGBV is a resource and support for every individual and family touched by these issues and is a catalyst for structural change as we work toward a world free of domestic and gender-based violence. Saloni Sethi has deep knowledge of the office and of the issues at hand. Saloni is a compassionate, thoughtful leader who centers her vision on the safety, stability, and agency of survivors. Over the last few years, I’ve worked closely with Saloni, and I’ve seen her responsiveness and care in action with both individual cases and in her policy approach. I look forward to continuing to work with her and the ENDGBV team to address both the needs of survivors and the root causes of these issues.” 

“Serving New Yorkers impacted by domestic and gender-based violence over the past six years has been an honor for me both personally and professionally,” said ENDGBV Commissioner Sethi. “I am proud of the strides we have made to expand access to resources and support for survivors and thrilled for the opportunity to lead ENDGBV’s work in partnership with its incredibly talented and dedicated staff. I look forward to deepening our collaborations with community-based providers, city partners, law enforcement, and survivors to ensure that diverse groups of survivors have what they need to heal from abuse and live lives free of gendered violence.” 

“Our administration is laser-focused on building a safer city, especially for our most vulnerable New Yorkers,” said Chief of Staff Camille Joseph Varlack. “Saloni will build on the important work being done every day by the Office to End Domestic and Gender-Based Violence to support survivors and keep families safe. Her leadership will ensure that New York City continues to become a safer, more equitable, and more inclusive city for all.” 

“Congratulations to my colleague Saloni Sethi on her well-deserved appointment as commissioner of the Mayor’s Office to End Gender-Based Violence,” said Assistant Deputy Mayor for Public Safety Chauncey Parker. “Commissioner Sethi has dedicated her career to supporting crime victims in New York City for many years, and in her new position, she will be able to continue leading, expanding, and strengthening this vitally important work.” 

“Saloni Sethi has been a staunch advocate for survivors of domestic and gender-based violence and has worked tirelessly to advance evidence-based, human-centered reforms to the city’s services for survivors and their families,” said New York City Department of Social Services Commissioner Molly Wasow Park. “We’ve appreciated the opportunity to work with Saloni on novel initiatives to support survivors and expedite connections to housing and are pleased to see her appointed as commissioner of ENDGBV. We look forward to continuing to work together to prevent and address domestic and gender-based violence across New York City.” 

“On behalf of the Administration for Children’s Services, I am so pleased that Saloni Sethi has been appointed commissioner of the Mayor’s Office to End Gender-Based Violence,” said New York City Administration for Children’s Services Commissioner Jess Dannhauser. “Her dedication and commitment to championing programs and supports for survivors has made New York City a better place, and I look forward to our continued collaboration on behalf of the city’s families.” 

“Saloni Sethi is an exceptional leader who has dedicated her career to advocating for survivors of gender-based violence. Her inclusive approach ensures that no one is left behind — promoting safety, justice, and long-term stability for survivors across all communities,” said New York City Chief Equity Officer and Mayor’s Office of Equity and Racial Justice Commissioner Sideya Sherman. “I am thrilled to continue working with Saloni and the ENDGBV team to support our city’s mission to end gender-based violence and build a more just and equitable New York City, where everyone can live free of fear and harm.” 

During her time at ENDGBV, Sethi has overseen the consolidation of the city’s resources for those impacted by crime under one office to help streamline access to and improve quality of services for survivors. Additionally, through “Women Forward NYC” — a strategic plan first announced in Mayor Adams’ 2024 State of the City address with the ambitious goal of helping make New York City the most women-forward city in the United States — Sethi is working with other agency partners on innovative strategies to reduce felony domestic violence assaults by 25 percent and to reduce homicides involving women victims by 30 percent. Initiatives under Women Forward NYC include the launch of Respect First — an abusive partner intervention program for young people who have caused harm in relationships — and the introduction of chat functionality to the city’s domestic violence hotline, both forthcoming in the winter of 2024- 2025. Further, during Sethi’s tenure, ENDGBV has helped place more than 1,200 survivors — a historic high — in permanent housing by increasing the number of rapid rehousing programs available to New Yorkers and increasing access to the use of emergency housing vouchers. Sethi — a social worker by training — has more than a decade of experience serving survivors of domestic and gender-based violence, including experience providing direct service to survivors that continues to inform her work today.   

Domestic and gender-based violence includes intimate partner violence, family violence, sexual violence, stalking, human trafficking, female genital mutilation/cutting, and other forms of gender-based violence. Those seeking support can call 800-621-HOPE (4673) or visit NYC Hope’s website for more resources. 

Saloni Sethi 

Saloni Sethi has 20 years of experience working across private, non-profit, and public sectors, and has been serving as acting commissioner of the Mayor’s Office to End Domestic Violence and Gender-Based Violence since February 2024. Sethi has spent six years working for ENDGBV, serving as first deputy commissioner, director of policy, and deputy director of policy and training. At ENDGBV, Sethi has been instrumental in coordinating a citywide response to domestic and gender-based violence. The office collaborates with city agencies and community stakeholders to ensure access to inclusive services for survivors of domestic and gender-based violence. ENDGBV oversees intervention and prevention programming and the New York City Family Justice Centers, which receive over 42,000 client visits annually.  

Before working at ENDGBV, Sethi was the deputy executive director of the Office of Crime Victim Supports at the Mayor’s Office of Criminal Justice, where she founded the Office of Crime Victim Supports —the first municipal office of its kind in the country.  

Between 2014 and 2016, Sethi served as deputy director for the economic empowerment program at Sanctuary for Families.  

Sethi is a graduate of the University of Chicago and holds a Master of Social Work from New York University.  

Sethi will report to Deputy Mayor Williams-Isom. 

“I have had the good fortune to work with Saloni Sethi and know that she has the expertise, focus and commitment to move anti-violence work forward,” said New York Governor Kathy Hochul’s Deputy Secretary for Public Safety Marcos Soler. “My team and I look forward to working with her, the city’s district attorneys, and service providers to implement Governor Hochul’s initiative to make New York City safer for anyone who has been affected by intimate partner and gender-based violence. The Mayor’s Office to End Gender-Based Violence is in excellent hands.” 

“As someone who has spent years working with domestic violence survivors, I welcome Saloni Sethi as our new ENDGBV Commissioner.,” said New York State Assemblywoman Jenifer Rajkumar. “She is eminently qualified, bringing to the role over a decade of experience empowering survivors and aiding crime victims. I am a staunch ally of the survivors of gender-based violence. I have advocated for $35 million in financial support for survivors in our annual budget, and I look forward to partnering with Sethi. Our partnership will include addressing the underreported issue of domestic violence in immigrant communities. Together, we will root out gender-based violence in every community, empower survivors, and foster a society where all women will reach their full potential.”  

“A longtime practitioner and close partner in this work, Saloni Sethi is an excellent choice for ENDGBV commissioner,” said Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, Jr. “Intimate partner sexual violence and other forms of gender-based violence are some of the most significant public safety and public health crises facing our city. These deeply entrenched challenges require innovative, survivor-centered solutions, and we look forward to continuing to collaborate with Sethi in this critical role.”  

“It takes a village to end domestic violence, and no one knows that better than commissioner Saloni Sethi,” said Staten Island District Attorney Michael McMahon. “Working in lockstep with my office and the Staten Island Family Justice Center, Commissioner Sethi has long been a tireless advocate for survivors of intimate partner violence on Staten Island and across New York City, and it is only fitting that she be tasked with leading the Mayor’s Office to End Domestic and Gender-Based Violence. I along with the men and women of my office are grateful for Commissioner Sethi’s leadership, and we look forward to partnering with her in the months ahead to ensure that survivors of domestic and gender-based violence in our borough continue to receive the vital supportive services and justice they deserve.” 

“Saloni Sethi brings with her more than a decade of experience working with and for survivors of domestic and other forms of gender-based violence,” said New York State Office for the Prevention of Domestic Violence Executive Director Kelli Owens. “The New York State Office for the Prevention of Domestic Violence admires her dedication, and we look forward to furthering our partnerships with the New York City Mayor’s Office to End Gender-Based Violence under her leadership.” 

“Our city must support the survivors of gender-based violence and work hard to prevent gender-based violence from affecting more victims,” said New York City Council Majority Whip Selvena N. Brooks-Powers. “While I am proud of the steps we have taken at the council to confront gender-based violence, including through Local Law 21, which has empowered survivors to fight for justice, there is more work to be done. Having previously worked for this agency, I look forward to partnering with Sethi and the Mayor’s Office to End Gender Based Violence to strengthen our city’s response to domestic and gender-based violence and to ensure every New Yorker can live free from fear and harm.” 

“The New York State Unified Court System congratulates Saloni Sethi on her appointment as commissioner of the Mayor’s Office to End Gender-Based Violence,” said Deputy Chief Administrative Judge for Justice Initiatives in the New York State Unified Court System Hon. Edwina G. Richardson. “We look forward to working with the commissioner across a range of important matters, including: reviewing the collection of domestic violence data; establishing listening sessions with survivors and stakeholders; ensuring procedural justice in our domestic violence courts; and creating new initiatives around orders of protection. It is work that we will propel forward with urgency.” 

“Saloni Sethi has been an invaluable partner in the work that our New Destiny does to ensure that domestic violence survivors are safe, stably housed, and empowered to rebuild their lives,” said Nicole Branca, executive director, New Destiny Housing. “Her vocal support helped launch Project Home, a new pilot program to provide housing navigation services to families living in the New York City shelter system, and under her leadership, ENDGBV launched its landmark microgrant program for domestic violence survivors, which is set to provide over $1 million in readily available grants this year. It’s critical that survivors, and the providers that support them, have such a fierce advocate leading ENDGBV. We look forward to our continued work with Commissioner Sethi and her incredible team in meeting our shared goal of providing the resources and support survivors most need to heal and thrive.” 

“I had the pleasure of working with Saloni Sethi during my time as senior advisor with the Mayor’s Office to End Domestic and Gender-Based Violence, and I can think of no one better to serve as commissioner,” said New York State Office of Victim Services Director Bea Hanson. “She is experienced and compassionate, keeps victims and survivors at the center of her work, and values partnerships and collaboration. The city is lucky to have her in this role, and I look forward to working with her to further improve access to services and safety for all victims and survivors.” 

“Safe Horizon, the nation’s largest nonprofit victim assistance organization, congratulates Saloni Sethi for being named Commissioner of the Mayor’s Office to End Domestic & Gender Based Violence,” said Safe Horizon CEO Liz Roberts. “We have long admired Sethi for her belief that a world free of domestic and gender-based violence is possible. Her profound dedication to helping survivors heal, and her history of partnership with community-based providers who respond to survivors each and every day, exemplify her strong qualifications for this important role. We thank Mayor Adams for selecting Sethi for this position, and we look forward to working closely with her and her team to help survivors find safety and healing in every community.” 

“We are proud to congratulate Saloni Sethi, a former Sanctuary for Families staffer, on her appointment as Commissioner of the Mayor’s Office to End Domestic and Gender-Based Violence,” said Sanctuary for Families CEO Hon. Judy Harris Kluger. “Sethi has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to advancing the rights of survivors and addressing the systemic challenges that perpetuate abuse. Her leadership comes at a critical time, and we are confident that under her guidance, ENDGBV will continue to shape a safer future for all New Yorkers. We look forward to supporting her in this vital work.” 

“Urban Resource Institute (URI) applauds the appointment of Saloni Sethi as the new Commissioner of the New York City Mayor’s Office to End Domestic and Gender-Based Violence,” said Urban Resource Institute CEO Nathaniel Fields. “Sethi possesses a wealth of knowledge and a profound commitment to holistic approaches in survivor support, reflecting a shared dedication to comprehensive care that has been a cornerstone of our partnership. Our collaboration with former Commissioner Cecile Noel was incredibly fruitful, and URI is confident our shared progress will continue under Sethi’s leadership. We look forward to deepening our work together, enhancing the array of services available to survivors, their families and their communities, and collectively tackling the challenges of domestic and gender-based violence across New York City.” 

“The Korean American Family Service Center (KAFSC) would like to extend our warmest congratulations to Commissioner Saloni Sethi on her appointment,” said Korean American Family Service Center Executive Director Jeehae Fischer. “KAFSC greatly values her unwavering commitment to addressing and eradicating domestic violence and gender-based violence within our community, particularly her focus on shedding light on the challenges faced by immigrant survivors. Commissioner Sethi’s dedication to amplifying the voices of these vulnerable individuals is crucial in our collective efforts to create a safer environment for all. We look forward to collaborating closely with her and her team to strengthen our longstanding partnership with The Mayor’s Office to End Domestic and Gender-Based Violence. Together, we aim to ensure that New York remains a sanctuary for all survivors, free from violence and equipped with the resources they need to thrive.” 

“While’s she’s been serving in an acting capacity over the past several months, Saloni Sethi and the ENDGBV team have been an invaluable support to our team at the Family Justice Centers and the diverse communities we serve,” said Arab-American Family Support Center Vice President Danny Salim. “The Arab-American Family Support Center has worked with her as a partner for several years as her thoughtful leadership has helped to expand the work that organizations like ours—with particular linguistic and cultural competency in our work to end all forms of domestic and gender-based violence—are able to do in our communities. We look forward to continuing our productive relationship with Sethi and her colleagues.”

Photo credit: HWM.