South Asian Solidarity Network

Mission

The SASN was formed to create community solutions to address and prevent issues of gender based violence, labor exploitation and economic distress that migrants from the diaspora are faced with in the US.

Our mission is to bring together South Asian community members and allies who are committed to social justice, human rights, anti-oppression and anti-violence values/principles.

The coalition will struggle/organize against gender based violence, class, caste and color, oppression, sexism, heterosexism, racism, xenophobia, religious oppression and hegemonic nationalism.

Our Goals

1. Coalesce a team of socially, politically and culturally conscious, trained, sensitive and experienced community helpers and survivors.
2. Act as a collective that will offer concrete care, solid prevention measures, sensible safety planning and practical resources to women in need, e.g. legal representation, safe housing, economic options, emergency funds for groceries, transport, immigration services, medical and mental health care, etc.
3. Create new and support ongoing grassroots initiatives in which women can help each other help themselves, foster economic self-sufficiency and give and get support.
4. Unpack our own community issues that get in the way of truly empowering and supporting women—such as internalized class, caste and color oppression, community sanctioned violence practices against women and children, class based oppression and enslavement of migrant workers, domestic help, restaurant workers, etc. The inter-generational, cross cultural and cross-economic issues that impact the cohesion of our communities.
5. Promote an empowering, respectful, trauma sensitive, egalitarian, anti-racist, anti-sexist and heterosexist human rights based philosophy in working with our South Asian communities here and abroad.
   

Issues that we typically deal with in the community:

1. Domestic violence and extended family violence
2. Sexual abuse, incest and rape
3. Labor exploitation and domestic servitude (women, men and children)
4. Gender based discrimination of women who don't conform to the "norm"
5. Heterosexism and homophobia
6. Class/caste based oppression
7. Homelessness
8. Immigration complications related to domestic violence and trafficking
9. Poor health outcomes and awareness
10. Child abuse/child disciplining practices that result in state involvement