Local-Lectures on Al-Qaws

alQaws Holds Study Day with Palestinian Counseling Center

Mon, 12 Apr 2021 00:00:00 +0200

On 6 April 2021, alQaws held a study day with the Palestinian Counceling Center (PCC) to discuss and launch “The Interaction of Palestinian Families with Diverse Gender and Sexual Experiences” alQaws’ most recent field study.

The day commenced with opening statements from both organizations. Haneen Sader, alQaws Director, applauded the partnership with PCC and valued their professionality, in spite of facing violence and incitement in the 2 weeks prior to the event. Khaled Obeidat from PCC emphasized the importance of this step in line with the center’s vision and objectives. The main session, streamed live on alQaws Facebook page, brought together experts and scholars to discuss the different aspects of the study. Haneen Maikey, former Director of alQaws and one of the research authors, gave an overview of the research process and its context.

alQaws Training for Institutions: Significant Progress in Social Discussion

Thu, 25 Jul 2019 00:00:00 +0200

alQaws Training for Institutions: Significant Progress in Social Discussion

In the first week of July, alQaws has completed its annual training for civil society institutions in Ramallah for the fifth consecutive year. alQaws held the training at its Ramallah office, with 14 attendees from different institutions from the area.

Participating institutions have varied in terms of the nature and scope of their work and included institutions working on gender issues, such as the Arab Forum for Sexuality, and other human rights and women's organizations such as alHaq in Ramallah, the Rural Women's Association and the Arab Rehabilitation Society.

Wikipedia Writing and Editing Training Completed

Mon, 15 Jul 2019 00:00:00 +0200

Wikipedia Writing and Editing Training Completed

On Saturday, July 13, 2019, alQaws completed a two-day long intensive training on writing and editing on Wikipedia, which focused on topics related to sexual and gender diversity in Palestine. The training took place at alQaws’s office in Ramallah.

Ten people participated in the training including alQaws activists, coming from various cities such as Ramallah, Jerusalem, Nablus and Haifa. The meetings were facilitated by a Wikipedia activist.

Fifth Annual Training for Civil Society Organizations in Ramallah

Sat, 11 May 2019 00:00:00 +0200

Fifth Annual Training for Civil Society Organizations in Ramallah

11-05-2019

Invitation to Register

Sexual and Gender Diversity in the Palestinian Society: Key Concepts and Terminology

Fifth Annual Training for Civil Society Organizations in Ramallah

June - July 2019

We are pleased to invite you to attend the 5th Annual Civil Society Training in Ramallah, which provides an important forum for discussion on the issues of sexual and gender diversity in the Palestinian society and its intersections with our different social and professional roles.

alQaws Holds Therapist Guidebook Discussions

Thu, 26 Jul 2018 00:00:00 +0200

Following the publishing of “Introduction to Sexual and Gender Diversity for Mental Health Professionals,” it was necessary to expand the conversation around it, and to allow professionals the space to discuss its contents with a critical lens.

In July, alQaws organized 3 events in Ramallah, Jerusalem, and Shefa-'Amr to discuss the guidebook among mental health professionals. Tens of therapists, educators, and social workers attended the events.

New Teacher Training in I'billin

Fri, 01 Jun 2018 00:00:00 +0200

With the start of summer, alQaws concluded a training course for teachers and educators at Mar Elias High School in the village of I’billin. The training began in March and ran for 3 months.

alQaws’ teacher training program aims to expand the conversation around sexual and gender diversity in schools. It provides basic knowledge to educators and opens the space to ask questions and share the difficulties facing teachers.

alQaws Holds Study Day on Sexual and Gender Diversity in Therapy

Tue, 06 Mar 2018 00:00:00 +0200

Today, alQaws held a study day on “Sexual and Gender Diversity Issues in Psychological Intervention” at the Palestine Red Crescent Society headquarters in al-Bireh/Ramallah. The event was attended by over 70 Palestinian psychologists, social workers, psychology students, and mental health professionals.

The study day was organized as the advocacy activity required of the first therapist advocacy group in Ramallah, which was held for a full year with alQaws activists and coducted by educational consultant Mustafa Shalata. The event included lectures and panels addressing basic concepts related to sexual and gender diversity, as well as the individual, familial, and societal factors affecting the experiences of LGBTQ people, and how they manifest in counseling or therapy.

alQaws Publishes Guidebook for Mental Health Professionals

Wed, 28 Feb 2018 00:00:00 +0200

This month alQaws published the guidebook “Introduction to Sexual and Gender Diversity for Mental Health Professionals,” which aims to assist mental health professionals in dealing with sexual and gender diversity issues within their field.

This guidebook is widely seen as the first attempt to provide a simple introduction to these issues, as well as a credible reference that deals with the basic questions posed by mental health professionals. The guide aims to advance how sexual and gender diversity is approached in the field of mental health, and to enable professionals to have more productive discussions within their circles regarding these topics.

New Poster: What is Sexual Identity?

Thu, 08 Feb 2018 00:00:00 +0200

(Click the poster above to download it in Arabic)

Sexual Identity:

A term that describes a person’s perception of the many different aspects of their sexuality. There are many components to sexual identity, each carrying its own meaning that evolves and develops throughout a person’s life.

Biological Sex:

A social construct that categorizes people based on their internal and external sex organs, genes, and sex chromosomes, as well as sex hormones. Most people are born with a relative “congruence” between their genetic/biological and hormonal makeup, and are therefore classified as “male” or “female.” The medical system and society at large usually choose to determine a person’s biological sex as “male” or “female” according to their external sex organs. In reality, people are born with diverse biological, chromosomal, and/or hormonal differences, or variances in their secondary sex characteristics. Many of these people cannot be conclusively assigned “male” or “female” at birth according to medical, legal, and/or social standards. The medical term intersex is often used to describe them.

alQaws Publishes Guidebook for Journalists

Wed, 08 Nov 2017 00:00:00 +0200

alQaws published earlier this month the guidebook “Journalism Guidelines for Covering Sexual and Gender Diversity Issues.” It serves as handbook for journalists, media outlets, journalism students, and activists covering stories related to people’s lived sexual and gender experiences, which are mostly marginalized in the media.

This guide comes as part of alQaws’ efforts to work with Palestinian media outlets regarding issues of sexual and gender diversity. The two-year research project titled “Attitudes & Trends in Palestinian Media on Sexual & Gender Diversity Issues” conducted by alQaws last year emphasized the need for professional tools, knowledge, and guidance on individual and institutional levels.

alQaws' Starts First Therapists' Group in the West Bank

Thu, 27 Oct 2016 00:00:00 +0200

Building on the success of alQaws' first therapists’ group in Haifa (a 3-year process), we are pleased to announce the inaugural therapists' group in the West Bank on November 8th, 2016. This innovative project, exploring therapeutic applications of sexual and gender diversity, is part of alQaws’ “Professional Advocacy Groups” strategy, a broad initiative that aims to work with different professional groups and meaningfully engage them in the discussion and the activism around sexual and gender diversity in Palestine. This appears to be the first ever professional working group on gender and sexuality in the West Bank and the registered therapists have expressed welcome, anticipation, and excitement.

alQaws’ therapists’ groups rely on peer-to-peer learning to explore issues related to sexuality, sexual identity and gender, as well as their dimensions and presence in therapy. The groups aim to provide space for a learning process that translates knowledge into action and allow participants to explore and reflect on aspects of sexuality and gender in therapy. The groups also aspire to organize professional activities dedicated to the production and development of new intellectual, theoretical, and locally-informed knowledge.

The group meets on Tuesdays between 10:00 - 14:00. Registration is closed.

For more information contact our advocacy and networking coordinator at Mary@alqaws.org.

Study Days for Palestinian Journalists in Haifa & Ramallah

Mon, 04 Jul 2016 00:00:00 +0200

alQaws is pleased to invite Palestinian journalists, reporters, editors, and broadcasters to a special event on alQaws’ newly-released media research, "Attitudes & Trends in Palestinian Media on Sexual & Gender Diversity Issues." The discussions will be held on July 14 and July 19 in Haifa and Ramallah, respectively. The study days provide an important opportunity to share research results and findings, as well as the chance to discuss the research recommendations. The study days are dedicated and open to Palestinian media professionals and journalists only.
For more information: info@alqaws.org

Bring alQaws Educational Training to Your Organization

Sun, 03 Apr 2016 00:00:00 +0200

In recent years, alQaws has become the primary source of information and knowledge on Sexual and Gender Diversity in the Palestinian context. alQaws’ expertise, which is enhanced by ongoing advocacy and service initiatives in alQaws, grew from years of experience offering educational training for professional staff and activists in civil society organizations (CSOs), political and social movements, and other professional settings. During 2015 alone, alQaws’ educational training team provided over 130 training hours in eight different CSOs and educational institutions, working with youth and marginalized groups from the Galilee, Nazareth, Jaffa, Lod, and East Jerusalem, in addition to providing training for teachers in high schools.

alQaws’ educational training unit aims to provide a wide range of professionals and activists with basic skills, information, and analytical tools on Sexual and Gender Diversity. The goal of this initiative is to develop inclusive workplace strategies and methods, as well as to facilitate effective and inclusive approaches to Sexual and Gender Diversity issues inside civil society organizations and movements. Through its training unit, alQaws offers educational workshops, intensive training sessions, and long-term courses about sexual and gender identity. In addition, alQaws offers one-shot lectures on topics related to the educational, psychological, social, and political aspects of sexuality in Palestine.

To learn more about the alQaws Training Unit and\or to schedule training workshops for your organization, please contact us at:

Tel: 0526946333 (Mary)
Emil: mary@alqaws.org

Second Study Day: Sexual and Gender Dimensions in Therapy

Thu, 03 Mar 2016 00:00:00 +0200

Friday, 18th of March, 2016, Nazareth (Program in Arabic Only)

alQaws and the Arab Psychological Association are pleased to invite you to our second Study Day, tilted “Sexual and Gender Dimensions in Therapy.” This year's program will explore the particularities of LGBTQ experiences in Palestinian society, and the ways it is shaped through personal, familial and social interactions, as well as its reflection in therapy and on therapists.
The second study day is an advocacy activity organized by alQaws’ Therapists Advocacy Group and is part of a broader initiative to engage Palestinian therapists and psychologists in issues related to sexuality, sexual identity/orientation and gender, as well as different dimensions and impacts in the therapeutic context.

To read the full program, in Arabic only, click here.

New Youth Group in Yaffa "Me, My Sexuality, and Society: Knowledge and Impact”

Fri, 25 Sep 2015 00:00:00 +0200

alQaws is pleased to announce the opening of our 5th youth group for participants from Yaffa, Lod/Ramleh and the Triangle area, starting at the end of October 2015. The youth groups, titled "Me, My Sexuality, and Society: Knowledge and Impact” are a safe space to examine aspects of gender and sexuality, and to voice and discuss personal opinions related to sexuality. Previous groups took place during the last two years in Ramallah, Yaffa and Haifa with 15 participants in each group.

Study Day \ Sexual and Gender Dimensions in Therapy

Sun, 22 Mar 2015 00:00:00 +0200

Friday, 27th of March, 2015, Nazareth

alQaws in partnership with the Arab Psychological Association are pleased to invite you to a first of its kind study day, tilted “Sexual and Gender Dimensions in Therapy.” This study day is the first public action of alQaws’s Therapists Group, and part of a broader initiative and effort to engage Palestinian therapists and psychologists in issues related to sexuality, sexual identity/orientation and gender, and their different dimensions and impacts in therapy. Full program (Arabic)

alQaws' Opens Therapists' Group Second Year

Fri, 27 Feb 2015 00:00:00 +0200

alQaws started the second year of the therapists group with 20 therapists and psychologists with different expertise and approaches.

The therapists’ group relies on peer-to-peer learning, to explore issues related to sexuality, sexual identity and gender, and their dimensions and presence in therapy. The group aims to provide space for a learning process that translates knowledge into action, and allows participants to both explore and reflect on aspects of sexuality and gender in therapy.

The group also aspires to organize professional activities dedicated to the production and development of new intellectual, theoretical, and locally informed knowledge.

alQaws' Therapists’ Advocacy Group Starts Its Second Year - Registration is Open

Mon, 26 Jan 2015 00:00:00 +0200

alQaws is pleased to announce open registration for the second year of its Therapists’ Advocacy Group, which will commence mid-February 2015.

The monthly meetings of therapists will focus on themes related to sexuality, sexual identity and gender, and their applications in therapeutic settings. Participants will actively explore and reflect on aspects of sexuality and gender dimensions in therapy, using their own training and experience as touchpoints for growth.. Moreover, the Therapists’ Advocacy Group will provide a platform for participants to create new professional initiatives, as well as a foundation for these professional experts to develop innovative and fresh theoretical and intellectual knowledge relating to sexual and gender dimensions in therapy.

Collaboration and Capacity-Building: Developing Support among Palestinian Civil Society Organizations

Tue, 30 Dec 2014 00:00:00 +0200

This year, based on recommendations of alQaws' “Palestinian Civil Society Organizations’ Attitudes on Sexual and Bodily Rights” field study, alQaws began strengthening its connections to other Palestinian civil society organizations. alQaws’ networking meetings built active partnerships and substantially increased the proportion of Palestinian society actively concerned with issues of sexuality and sexual and gender diversity. During this period, alQaws succeeded in establishing connections with more than thirty Palestinian community-based organizations (including youth, feminist, and human rights organizations). These partnerships enjoy wide geographical representation, as these civil society organizations are located throughout Palestine, including north and central in the Palestinian 48' areas and the West Bank.

Sexual Politics in the Colonial Context of Palestine \\ December 18-20, 2014

Mon, 27 Oct 2014 00:00:00 +0200

alQaws for Sexual and Gender Diversity in Palestinian Society is pleased to announce the new dates of the first ever academic school for sexual and gender diversity in Palestine titled:

Sexual Politics in the Colonial Context of Palestine
December 18-20, 2014 - Palestine

With this initiative we aim to develop a deeper understanding of terminology of sexual and gender differences as well as arrive at appropriate definitions that relate to the particularities of Palestinian society. Within as space built on a diversity of viewpoints, ideas and backgrounds we will discuss the following themes:

The Journey of Discovering Eden

Wed, 27 Aug 2014 00:00:00 +0200

The Journey of Discovering Eden: A new lecture by Ismail Nashif as part of alQaws' Haifa based initiative "Hawamesh" (Margins) – a monthly intellectual space about issues related to sexual and gender diversity in Palestine. The lecture aims to explore the current concept of the Palestinian City and its different spaces - and the place/status of different groups in it - beyond the notion of the "modern city", which is part of the colonial legacy. The liberation from colonialism starts with the liberation from the "modern city" as the Palestinian utopia. (The lecture is in Arabic)

Writing Our Media

Sat, 02 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0200

In January 2010, alQaws launched its first writing workshop that attempts to open a space for queer writing on erotica, the body and sexuality. The workshop led to a partnership with the online Palestinian journal Qadita.net in August 2011, and a regular queer column that includes literary writings, articles, and reviews, with the aim of presenting the points of views of LGBTQ people in Palestine and in neighboring countries. Media visibility is a tool that alQaws has used extensively to try to change social discourse on sexuality, and we intend to continue doing so through alQaws' website and our queer writing column at Qadita.net. To read an English translation of one of the texts that appeared in alQaws’ queer column "Intimacy," click HERE.