What is OCTEVAW?
Our focus
We focus our efforts in three key areas:
1. Prevention — engaging with individuals and public institutions across the community to share best practices for preventing gender-based violence and supporting community-wide prevention efforts;
2. Public education and movement building — challenging the cultural norms that perpetuate GBV and isolate survivors;
3. Amplifying front-line voices — giving voice and resources to those who work with survivors of violence to ensure that their expertise informs public policy and contributes to legislative reform.
read our STRATEGIC PLAN
Our values
OCTEVAW works collaboratively with members and stakeholders in accordance with feminist, anti-oppressive, anti-racist, LGBTQ+ positive and pro-choice principles.
We recognize the intersectionality and interlocking of oppressions and seek to address these realities in our work.
We are committed to the struggle for social justice for all individuals who are marginalized and oppressed, and to advancing the cause of decolonization, reproductive rights, and disability, queer and trans justice.
Our vision
OCTEVAW aspires to a future in which:
All members of the community, including individuals, organizations, policy makers, and the legal system are united in efforts to ensure a permanent end to all gender-based violence and discrimination.
Respect for the inherent worth and dignity of women, trans and gender-variant individuals is reflected in our public institutions.
Women, trans and gender-variant individuals are able to live violence-free lives rooted in autonomy and self-determination.
What we don’t do:
Provide counselling, legal or other assistance to individual victims of abuse.
Assist individuals in pursuing claims or disputes with its member organizations.