Eliminating the threat of violence from women's lives
Violence Against Woman (VAW) shelters grew out of a social justice movement when women demanded change to address the gender-based violence rooted in the social, economic, and political inequality of women.
Women will not be free from violence until we achieve equity, by dismantling systemic barriers to justice and oppressive systems for ALL women, and thereby removing the threat of violence from women’s lives.
Ending violence against women requires a combination of political action, individual advocacy, and education to break the cycle of violence.
Every woman who comes to our shelter has made an individual decision to stand up and make a change in their lives and that takes tremendous courage.
Every person can help eliminate violence against women and children by learning to identify the signs of abuse, helping women who are being abused by supporting organizations that offer shelter and support, and by challenging our leaders to make real change for women and children. Here are just a few examples of the ways that leaders can make positive change:
- create access to affordable and safe housing
- enable access to affordable childcare
- a legal system that holds perpetrators accountable
- immigration policy and practice that protects rather than punishes women without status who are fleeing abuse
- anti-poverty measures that address the root causes
- an educational curriculum that teaches both girls and boys that girls are of equal value
Ernestine’s has a Social Action Committee which works to address the above issues.
Look for upcoming campaigns and consider attending any of our upcoming events listed on our Homepage.
Making the Links
The conversation needs to get louder and broader if we want to make violence against women a thing of the past. Systemic racism, discrimination, and oppression based on race, class, sexual orientation, gender identification, age, and ability must be addressed as part of an integrated approach to ending violence against women and children. Please check the links below and generate some conversation of your own.