In 1999, the sisters of SYZ formally adopted our National Philanthropy: To Combat the Violence Against Women. The first Asian Interest sorority to take on this very worthwhile cause, SYZ hopes to bring awareness to our universities and communities at large of this issue. For over eight years, SYZ sisters have built a campaign to help those affected by this tragic violence, to educate the community about the nature of this problem, and to empower our sisters to make a lasting commitment to the issue of violence against women.

One of our primary goals is to educate and empower the Stanford community on the issue of sexual assault and domestic violence. We work with the Women's Center, Vaden Health Center, the Stanford Police Department, and a number of student organizations to educate and empower our community. For our efforts in raising awareness about our philanthropy around campus, we were honored with the Stanford Dean's Outstanding Achievement Award in 2005.

Violence against women in its varied forms includes, but is not, by any means, limited to the following: rape, incest, domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, exploitation, the trafficking of women and children, the abuse of migrant workers, intimidation at work, child abuse, harassment, and spousal abuse.

Through our combined individual and group efforts, we have demonstrated a commitment to education and Asian unity. Any kind of physical, emotional or mental duress constitutes violence. More a mission to educate and inform ourselves and our communities, Sigma Psi Zeta takes a preventive and pro-active stance where violence against women is concerned, rather than simply provide philanthropic support.

We accomplish this by:
- volunteering our time to domestic violence shelters
- sponsoring or attending conferences and meetings that empower womens' rights
- lending our ears to women that need this specific type support and seeking help for them
- helping to stop violations against women refugees and asylum-seekers
- advocating for political causes that affect such demographics
- attending and hosting self-defense workshops and classes
- collaborating artistically and educationally with other women-of-color
- donating proceeds of activities to organizations that support this same cause
- obtaining organizational memberships to human rights organizations

Activism is the means to uproot injustices. We cannot forget that we are the heirs of two histories. One of our foremothers who have built for us our cultural history in Asia, and another of the countless Asian-American women here who have forged a path for social justice and equality in the United States. If it weren't for these brave women, we would not be enjoying the freedoms we have today. We must honor those Asian-American feminists by being advocates of their work and remembering that their dreams live in us.

Although there are many noteworthy causes and philanthropies, we believe that this is especially an important one. By adopting this ethic within our sorority, we immediately become involved in a demographic that we seek to advocate for --- one of the asian female. Historically oppressed by tradition and objectified in the eyes of the contemporary media to be physically powerless, emotionally isolated, and mentally voiceless.

Some Asian females fall prey to violence before they are born, when expectant parents abort their unborn daughters, hoping for sons instead. Sometimes, they are compelled to marry at an early age, or perhaps are raped as a weapon of war. Some are sold or volunteer into economic slavery, to care for households, only to be beaten and/or raped by their masters or incarcerated by local governments. In many countries, and especially on the continent of Asia, women fall victim to traditional practices that violate their human rights. The persistence of the problem has much to do with the fact that most of these physically and psychologically harmful customs are deeply rooted in the tradition and culture of society.

We encourage and empower ourselves as undergraduates and alumnae of institutions of higher education. Attacks are likely to happen at universities and colleges all across the nation.
Violence affects the lives of millions of women worldwide, in all socio-economic and educational classes. It cuts across cultural and religious barriers, impeding the right of women to participate fully in society. Violence against women takes a dismaying variety of forms, and constitutes a violation of basic human rights. It is an obstacle to the achievement of a society's objectives of equality, development and peace. Of course, in this respect, ALL women -- Asian or non-Asian -- when abused, still bleed, cry, and feel the same pain.