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Working to end sexual violence against women

ORGANIZATIONAL PROFILE


Purpose     

The Ontario Coalition of Rape Crisis Centres (OCRCC) was formed in the mid 1970s to act as a communication network for Rape Crisis/Sexual Assault Centres.  It provides information sharing in policy stances, funding and lobbying for Centres.  The OCRCC will act as an advisory body to governments, institutions and community groups.  It will also maintain a position of responsibility for provincial and national advocacy, and when called upon, for global advocacy.

Goals     

  • To work for the prevention and eradication of sexual assault to promote legal, social and attitudinal changes regarding sexual assault.
  • To organize the collective strengths of Ontario rape crisis centres in the anti-sexual assault movement to provide a mechanism for communication, education and mobilization to alleviate the political and geographical isolation of rape crisis centres in Ontario.
  • To encourage, direct and generate research into sexual violence.

Objectives    

To work as a force for social change regarding sexual assault by:

  1. Determining policy on a provincial level on issues relevant to rape crisis centres;
  2. Educating and making recommendations on a provincial level on issues relevant to rape crisis centres;
  3. Participating in public education;
  4. Facilitating rape crisis centre communication;
  5. Working with the Canadian Association of Sexual Assault Centres and other provincial and national groups on developing national policies; and,
  6. Liaising with other provincial organizations addressing similar issues.

The Basis of Unity

  1. Sexual violence against women and children is both a crime and a human rights violation.
  2. Sexual violence against women and children is power-based, gender-based, structurally supported and therefore political.  Unity in this analysis will strengthen our organizations.
  3. All forms of oppressions are acts of violence.  Sexism is but one of the oppressions used to reinforce men's dominance over women and children.
  4. Sexual violence is a direct result of sexism in our society and is a tactic of control used to reinforce men's dominance over women and children.
  5. There is a direct link between male violence and pornography which exploits, objectives and degrades women and children.
  6. Sexual violence is experienced by all women, therefore our commitment to diversity must be reflected in the delegates and the work of the Coalition.
  7. Traditional psychiatry and its institutions are sexist and are used as a means of social control to coerce women to adjust to and accept oppressive roles, and to punish them if they don't.
  8. A society that reinforces inequality between its members perpetuates sexual violence against women and children. We acknowledge that there is a fundamental power imbalance in this patriarchal society, based on privilege and access to resources.
  9. It is essential and crucial to the vision, political analysis and direction of the O.C.R.C.C. to recognize the herstorical contributions of Black women, First Nations women, women of Color, disabled women and lesbians in the anti-sexual violence movement.  Therefore, the voice of Black women, First Nation women, women of Color, disabled women and lesbians must be heard and these women be considered vital members of this organization.
  10. Every woman has the right to choose and have control over her own body.
  11. This feminist political analysis of sexual violence is essential to our organization.

Feminist, anti-racist/anti-oppression framework

The OCRCC works from a feminist, anti-racist/anti-oppression framework.  This framework supports increasing the accessibility to rape crisis and sexual assault centres for Aboriginal women, women of the African Diaspora, other racialized women, women living with disabilities, women in rural/remote communities and LGBITTQQ identified women.  Some approaches to increasingly accessibility that OCRCC supports includes:

  • Women from marginalized communities are in paid staff positions. This would support women from marginalized communities not just being in short-term, temporary and contact employment but also be reflected in long-term permanent employment.

  • Women from marginalized communities are in decision-making power within rape crisis/sexual assault centres and OCRCC.

  • Change is facilitated within the Centres with respect to employment practices, service provision and advocacy to support and reflect women from marginalized communities.

  • The increased presence and active participation of Aboriginal women, Women of Colour and women from other marginalized communities.