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SACOMSS

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(438) 943-4855 (see calendar for hours)

Facebook Instagram
LEAVE NOW
This is the official SACOMSS logo.
Menu
EN
EN FR

(438) 943-4855

LEAVE NOW
This is the official SACOMSS logo.
EN
EN FR
Menu

Values

We recognize that our SACOMSS mandate is broad and inclusive of many nuanced and crucial terms. We have included some definitions and explanations of how we implement these elements into our practices. We also recognize that all of our mandates are general and idealistic; we are not perfect and do not claim to live up to our mandates in everything that we do. However, we look to them for inspiration, guidance and accountability. If you have any questions, concerns, or recommendations on how we can better implement our values, please reach out at ombuds@sacomss.org

As a pro-survivor organization, our goal is to prioritize the rights, agency, and experiences of survivors. A starting point for SACOMSS is that aggressors, not survivors, are responsible for incidents of sexual assault and harassment. We offer support to survivors without judging or doubting them, their actions or inactions. We believe in them. This is the most fundamental aspect of all our services.

Our listening service is non-directional, meaning that we do not offer advice and instead respect the right and capacity of each survivor to make their own decisions. Additionally, SACOMSS does not provide services for perpetrators.

Pro-feminism acknowledges the existence of women’s oppression and injustice in the gender binary in the context of systems of power and privilege.  At SACOMSS, we feel that a feminist analysis of power is crucial to a clear understanding of the systemic roots of sexual violence, which greatly affects how we operate, how we treat each other, and how we hope to value the experiences and choices of survivors. We call ourselves pro-feminist to acknowledge the feminist roots of movements to support survivors, and to underline the continued statistical dominance of male-on-female sexual violence. 

With all this in mind, however, we do strive for inclusivity, by supporting survivors of all gender identities, and acknowledging that sexual assault comes in many different forms. The Centre recognizes that not all sexual violence as perpetrated by men against women and instead recognizes the diverse natures of both gender and violence.

Being anti-racist requires the active and ongoing recognition that race is a concept that was fabricated with the intent of creating inequality between racial groups and continues to be upheld through systemic policies, practices, and procedures that perpetuate white supremacy. We seek to identify such practices in our own communities and replace them with anti-racist actions. 

At SACOMSS, we recognize that racialized minorities face sexual violence at higher rates than non-racialized groups. We aim to acknowledge these disparities and respect how these may affect the courses of action and resources survivors may wish to seek.

Being anti-oppressive means being knowledgeable about the systematic oppressions such as sexism, racism, ableism, homophobia, transphobia, ageism, and classism, the power imbalances these oppressions create, and the valuing of experiences and voices of a diversity of people. It means making sure that everyone has the opportunity to volunteer, participate and contribute, and feels safe using our services. It also means actively seeking ways to be more welcoming, more knowledgeable and more supportive of as many people as we can. This might involve changing policies, developing new programs, finding new resources, retraining volunteers, or developing new ways to work as a non-hierarchical organization.

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