Jane Doe Inc.
Thirty years ago survivors and activists in Massachusetts and across the country started speaking out against rape, sexual assault, domestic violence and violence against women. Today, every state and territory has a coalition like Jane Doe Inc. that bridges the life-saving services of local programs with state and national policy, promotes best practices, conducts research, and provides education and training.
Currently our statewide coalition consists of more than sixty community-based sexual assault and domestic violence independent non-profits throughout Massachusetts. Jane Doe Inc.’s role complements the work of our membership and helps ensure the safety, dignity and liberty of victims and their children.
Jane Doe Inc. works to secure funding, pass laws, and change regulatory and administrative practice and policies to enhance sexual assault and domestic violence intervention and prevention services for victims and their children and to hold perpetrators accountable. The coalition also engages in prevention efforts.
For thirty years Jane Doe Inc. has been a catalyst for change and held true to its mission: being guided by the needs of survivors to create a world free of violence and abuse.
Men’s Initiative for Jane Doe Inc.
Though domestic violence and sexual assault have clearly gained prominence as matters of public concern over the past few decades, these continue to be viewed primarily as a "women´s issues." In 2000, The Men's Initiative for Jane Doe (MIJD) was established to help encourage men and boys to get involved in prevention and education work through community organizing and strong collaborations with direct service anti-violence programs.
The Men’s Initiative works in three main areas:
provide education, training, and support for all men interested
in direct participation
create a volunteer clearinghouse to identify opportunities where
men can play a role on the statewide level as well as within their
local communities
facilitate the formation of men's outreach teams in collaboration
with community based programs; efforts will range from personal
support groups, auxiliary fundraising committees for shelters for
battered women and mentoring programs for boys and young men.
MIJD firmly believes that men's voices and active participation are critical to the success of efforts to end men's violence against women, children and other men. While men who work in clinics, professional education and criminal justice arenas are engaged in this work, historically men in the general public remain uninvolved.
If you would like more information about MIJD or would like to
get involved, please visit our webpage at MIJD News
or contact mensinitiative@janedoe.org
