About Us

Manavi is a New Jersey-based women's rights organization committed to ending all forms of violence and exploitation against South Asian women living in the US.

Established in 1985, Manavi, which means "primal woman" in Sanskrit, was the first organization of its kind in the US to specifically address the unmet needs of South Asian women victims of violence. Manavi's programs involve direct service provisions for women survivors of violence, grassroots organization for social change within the community, and informing mainstream institutions and organizations in the US about how to better serve South Asian women. Through its work, Manavi ensures that women of South Asian descent in the US can exercise their fundamental right to live a life of dignity that is safe and free from violence.

Manavi Philosophy- Our Guiding Principles

• Manavi believes in woman-centered advocacy. Central to our work are women experiencing violence. Since its inception, Manavi's strategies and programs have been informed by the unmet and changing needs of South Asian women who have been survivor of violence.
  
• Manavi recognizes that any woman could be in an abusive situation. Therefore, a fundamental principle of the organization is to encorage advocates to challenge their own biases and preconceptions while being aware of the dynamics between the survivor and advocate.
  
• Manavi is a secular organization. We provide services equitably to all women and do not discriminate based on class, culture, nationality, religion, or sexuality.
  
• At Manavi, we take confidentiality extremely seriously. We respect the need/ preference of survivors who may not wish to disclose their identity. Maintaining the anonymity of the woman we work with is fundamental to our work