By Leandra Hettenbach | Resource Development
Dear Friends,
Thank you for believing in Kayan Feminist Organization. Your support helps us to expand our reach and the projects that we launch. The Palestinian women in this organization are working every day to realize their rights in the wake of multiple crises, including the crisis of COVID-19.
As you already know, Kayan works to empower Palestinian women to implement social change. Kayan empowers grassroots women to work together to break down the barriers to gender equality, being involved in 12 local groups around Israel.
In 2021, our annual 16 Days Against Gender-Based Violence Campaign (25 November - 10 December) played a vital role. Arab Palestinian women face a huge amount of violence as women in a patriarchal society, and as an oppressed minority in Israel, and this violence increased significantly during the COVID-19 crisis. The theme of this years’ campaign was how masculinity is a root cause of SGBV, and how social scripts dictate all of our behavior. This year’s launch event symbolised the theme through the wearing of masks over the whole face, and also through glasses cleaners with feminist slogans on them, symbolizing clearing your vision to witness how the patriarchy causes SGBV and other harm towards women.
The 16 Days campaign took place across 13 Arab cities and towns in Israel in accordance with Covid-19 restrictions. Over 33 collective actions were involved in the campaign, making our voices heard. There have been marches, workshops, art activities, discussion groups, and youth workshops in community centers and schools with 1848 participants around the whole year. We have also been publishing information and photos on social media, including feminist infographics challenging patriarchal norms such as SGBV, and the focus on marriage as a measure of women’s worth.
Even during the pandemic, these women planned different workshops, protests and events. Over the last year,our grassroots groups have hosted over 21 workshops on SGBV, personal status rights, and women’s issues in the community.
Kayan’s work against SGBV is buttressed by our hotline for emotional and legal support. This hotline is being utilized and expanded now more than ever. Here are some of the statistics which you helped to contribute to:
We want to express our gratitude for all your support and partnership in ending violence against Palestinian women in Israel. In the meantime, we sincerely hope that you and your families are staying well in this difficult time. We sincerely appreciate your support. With your help, long term change is possible.
Gratefully,
The Kayan’s Team
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