The Tahirih Justice Center is a secular organization founded on the principles of the Baháʼí Faith. The following statement conveys the core values on which Tahirih was founded and operates. The Tahirih community strives to uphold these values within the organization and in its work on behalf of the organization.

Oneness

We are one human family. We advance unity by celebrating and honoring our diverse beliefs and identities. We believe that the welfare of each of us is inextricably bound to the welfare of all.

We believe there is strength in unity – so we build bridges and strive to partner with everyone to make the change we seek. We do not make blanket assumptions about any person or group. And because the change we seek transcends partisan politics, we are strictly nonpartisan.

Equity and Justice

We reject White supremacy, anti-Blackness, racism, misogyny, xenophobia, and other forms of oppression, and acknowledge the harm that they cause. We believe that our laws and systems too often benefit those with power and privilege and must be transformed to advance gender equality, racial justice, and social equity.

We know that justice looks different to different people, and we serve with humility, recognizing individuals as experts in their own journeys.

(Read more about Tahirih’s Commitment to Anti-Racism)

Survivor-Centered and Trauma-Informed

We focus our work on women and girls and take an inclusive approach to gender expression and identity. We honor the dignity of the whole person, making space for everyone to contribute with the full range of their lived experiences. We center immigrant survivors as advocates in their own lives, families, and communities and honor their knowledge and lived experiences.

We work to recognize and understand trauma and the many ways it shows up in our work. We believe that immigrant survivors are more empowered to make decisions about their safety, their healing, their legal cases, and their future if all their needs are being met.

We advocate both for individual immigrant survivors and to change the systems that are complicit in the conditions of their oppression.

Inclusion

We strive to investigate the truth by centering marginalized voices, unlearning our own biases, and seeking perspectives outside our own. We believe that decisions are made better by consultation and harnessing collective wisdom. We believe that trust, transparency, and accountability are essential to a truly inclusive community.

Transformation and Growth

We believe that a transformed world is one where all are held in community and where communities have the resources they need to not just survive but thrive. We believe that growth requires strategic action, wholehearted reflection, continuous learning, and accountability.

Please take a moment to learn more about our mission and our impact.

Please read our Principles for a Trauma-Informed, Survivor-Centered Immigration Framework.