:: WELCOME TO AWAP.ORG ::
Welcome to the Abused Women’s Advocacy Project.
In 1977 it was apparent that the needs of women and children living in violent homes were not being met in the Tri County (Androscoggin, Oxford and Franklin Counties) area. Pearl Residential Facility, now doing business as The Abused Women’s Advocacy Project began as a response to a critical need for emergency shelter: abused women and their children needed a safe place to stay. Services have broadened today to incorporate prevention and an array of services to address the complex issues for any person victimized in an intimate relationship.
AWAP Vision & Philosophy:
The vision of the Abused Women’s Advocacy Project is a community without violence where people treat each other with respect.
Facts
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People often use power in a coercive way to control or dominate others. This abuse of power violates rights of individuals, negatively impacts entire communities and is unacceptable behavior.
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The historical imbalance of power between men and women has resulted in the current reality that over 90% of the victims of domestic violence is female. Men can be victims of domestic violence and domestic violence occurs in same-sex relationships.
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Domestic violence takes many forms including physical, sexual, emotional, verbal, economic, intellectual and spiritual abuse. When other members of the family, including children, or community witness domestic abuse, their lives, too, are impacted.
Beliefs
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People experiencing violence and/or abuse have the potential to control their own lives and can be helped in doing this through support, information and encouragement.
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Perpetrators of abuse are responsible for their actions. All of society must hold abusers accountable by clearly demonstrating that domestic violence and abuse is unacceptable and will not be tolerated.
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We have the responsibility to model behavior that is nonviolent, use power responsibly, manage conflict constructively. When we embrace this philosophy we encourage individual responsibility for personal and organizational action and growth.
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Collaboration with diverse community partners is crucial to achieving a community wide recognition of, and response to, domestic violence and abuse. We believe that widespread cooperative education about non-violence is key to building a community based on respect and ensuring safety for all.
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Above all, our work must recognize and advocate on behalf of the individuals with whom we serve.
All people have the right to live free from violence and domestic abuse. Domestic abuse is a pattern of behaviors that include the use of control, coercion, and intimidation (physical, sexual, mental, emotional or financial abuse) to gain power over one’s partner. People who abuse come from all classes, cultures, sex, gender, sexual orientation, race, religion, ethnicity, physical or mental ability or age. People who choose to abuse are the only people capable of changing their own abusive behavior. |
