NARIKA'S MISSION

Narika's mission is to promote the empowerment of women in our community to confront and overcome the cycles of domestic violence and exploitation. We work to build a movement to end violence against women and to actively support women's rights as human rights.

NARIKA'S PHILOSOPHY

We consider women who are emotionally or physically abused in their homes and families to be victims of a larger societal violence against women. Such women may be abused by either men or women, and the violence they suffer is not the result of their class, education, race, religion, economic circumstances, sexual orientation, perceived inadequacies or other personal circumstance or characteristics. We are committed to the empowerment of women whether or not they share our analysis of violence against women. Those who work and volunteer at Narika are expected to understand and share this philosophy.

Narika is a non-profit organization. We are a non-hierarchical group of women from and for women of all countries in the region called South Asia (Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka) as well as from its diasporic communities.

We reject the separation between service providers and clients that underlies many of the mainstream services provided to women living in abusive situations. We follow a model that is based on the familial relationships between women in South Asia. This implies that we provide services based on our cultural and community affinities with our callers. Keeping issues of safety in mind we do not disclose personal information or phone numbers.

Our purpose is to provide support and referrals to women and children in abusive situations and a voice on the phone that is non-judgmental, sympathetic and understanding of the varied lives of South Asian women in the United States.

Narika's philosophy relies on incorporating our cultural affinities, our language capabilities and the most empowering practices from both South Asian and American cultures. Our volunteers and staff offer advice, helping hands, and a sisterly ear providing the support and information women need to make their own decisions.

Narika Helps Women Who:

• Are abused by their husband or partner
• Are abused by their in-laws and/or family members
• Are being harrassed or stalked by an ex-husband/boyfriend/partner
• Experienced violent and abusive homes
• Are forced or pressured into arranged marriages
• Are abondoned, divorced, or widowed
• Have children who have witnessed maternal abuse
• Are pressured and threatened by dowry demands
• Are victims of rape
• Are in abusive same-sex relationships
• Are subjected to sexual harrassment or unwanted sexual advances in workplaces, homes, schools, colleges and other social settings
• Are dealing with cultural identity issues, inter-generational conflict, and sexual identity issues