OAITH Statement of Principles

• Women and their children have the right to equal access, opportunity and results.  Safety and the equality rights of women and their children will be the focus of the association and her members.
• Violence against women is one of the many tactics used by men that is integrally linked to the social, economical, political structures, values and policies of our society.  OAITH is committed to ongoing actions to change the systems, structures and values that support the domination of women and maintain women’s inequality.  Ongoing action to denounce and change these systems is critical to ensure that equality is advanced.
• OAITH and her members are accountable to women and their children who have experienced abuse.  Women continue to inform the work of service development, delivery and evaluation.
• There is an inherent power imbalance between the service provider and the service participants.  Service providers have a responsibility to acknowledge this power and not to misuse it.
• A woman’s decision to stay with, return or to leave an abuser is her right and will be respected by the service provider.
• Women and their children have the right to make informed choices.  As a result, service providers have an obligation to ensure that women have access to information, resources and options, through education, awareness and advocacy.
• OAITH and her members are committed to advancing and creating an equitable, antiracist, anti-oppressive service.
• Children have unique needs and therefore require their own supportive counselling and programs both within the shelter and in their community.
• Every women and her children have the right to receive necessary, supportive and adequate assistance from both government and community – based service systems based on self identified, individual needs of the woman.
• OAITH believes that men are responsible for male violence against women and are responsible for their attitudes and actions and must be held accountable for their abuse.  OAITH also believes that men who choose not to take action to end violence against women are complicit with the abusers.