Immigrant Women's Support Service recognises that:
- Australia is a multicultural society but one which is male-dominated and has structural inequalities which perpetuate the disadvantages experienced by certain groups of people.
- Violence against women is a violation of human rights and is a crime against the individual and society. Therefore, the entire community and all levels of government must take responsibility for its prevention.
- Violence against women is both a consequence and reinforcer of the imbalances of power between men and women.
- Violence against women occurs along a continuum and includes domestic violence and/or rape and sexual assault. Domestic violence includes physical, sexual, financial, emotional, social and racial abuse. Sexual violence includes any uninvited sexual behaviour which makes the recipient feel uncomfortable, harassed or afraid; unwanted touching or remarks; sexual harassment; any coerced sexual act; and rape with physical injury and threat to life.
- Women of non-English speaking backgrounds can be amongst the most disadvantaged in society: through experiencing a double power imbalance as women in a male-dominated society and as members of the non-dominant cultural group.
- The impact of violence against women is complex and has emotional, social, psychological, legal, health and political consequences.
- The impact of violence against women can be compounded by factors relating to socio-economic class, age, ethnicity, race and physical and intellectual disability.
- Women of non-English speaking background and their children have the right to live in safety and security and the right to access services and facilities to make their independent survival possible.
- Women and their children in need can ultimately become self-sufficient with support, and can attain full participation in society.