Sexual education is one of the sensitive and controversial topics in our societies, especially in the Middle East and North Africa. With the rapid social, economic, and cultural changes, addressing this subject within the framework of our Arab culture, values,…
Discussing sex—here referring to educating individuals about the information they need to be healthy and productive members of society—remains limited and approached with embarrassment. Education is generally confined to basic physiological information about the body and reproductive systems, which is…
Being a woman during a war like the Gaza war means you are its most precise and painful target. This time, I will not write about your complex stories with your husband on an ordinary day, or your silent struggles…
Many men and women believe that the concept of reproductive health pertains exclusively to women due to their biological roles during pregnancy and childbirth. However, this belief is entirely incorrect, as reproductive health includes both genders. There are numerous misconceptions…
Under the weight of relentless bombardment, forced displacement, and the horrors of war in Gaza, Sally, a young woman in her twenties, was forced to leave her home and seek shelter in a “school” that serves as a refuge for…
When sexual and reproductive rights are mentioned, activists often recall the hundreds of donor-funded projects that emerged in our region after the Cairo Conference on Population in 1994. These projects aimed to focus on reproductive rights, birth spacing, family planning,…
Access to sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) is essential for everyone, but for individuals like Marcella (not her real name), a migrant worker in Lebanon, it can be life-changing. Previously without access to crucial information, Marcella and her…
Are they interconnected? How does climate change impact women’s and girl’s sexual and reproductive health? Climate change impact is not gender neutral The MENA region is projected to experience the worst impacts of climate change in the coming decades, and…
Definitions Sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) encompass bodily integrity, the right to express one’s gender identity and sexual orientation freely without discrimination or persecution, and the ability to choose if, when, and how many children to have without…
In a region where the media is often polarized and controlled by the vested interests of politicians or the business elite, and where media often doesn’t speak to public needs, Raseef22 stands as a beacon of hope. After the Arab…
7amleh – The Arab Center for the Advancement of Social Media launched a new research entitled “Gender Violence in the Palestinian Digital Space”, which aims to understand and analyze the phenomenon of digital violence against women, and to monitor gender-based…
About the Campaign “It’s Time to Speak Up” Prepare to be inspired by the youth-led movement aiming to spark positive change in our society. Born out of insights from the research titled, “Trends in Gender-Based Violence Among University Students in…
Accessing information and education related to sexual and reproductive health in the Arab region presents a real challenge for adolescents and youth. How much more so when discussing the rights to sexual and reproductive health for people with disabilities? The…
Introducing the NAYA Community Cafe in Zarqa Step into a world of camaraderie and inspiration at the all-new NAYA Community Cafe! Nestled in the heart of Zarqa, the space brings youth together to collaborate and create. This vibrant space promises…
Attending the Women Deliver conference was an experience like no other! Even though it took over 24 hours to travel from Lebanon to Kigali, the experience I had at Women Deliver made it worthwhile. The conference brought together high-level government…
SMEX’s Digital Safety Helpdesk supports activists, journalists, bloggers, marginalized groups, and human rights defenders affected by cybersecurity incidents and online threats in Arabic-speaking countries. Our main aim is to elevate the capabilities of the online civic space through digital…
The Digital Safety and Security training had been prioritized late last year as a priority need in Palestine due to the consistent harassment and the fear of defamation once the SRHR campaigns start. Hence, the training was delivered to the country…
AMMAN – “I was filming a new series, it was the first episode, and we were all excited. During the break, I checked my phone and found dozens of missed calls. I called one back, and they immediately asked me…
There are around 73 million young people aged 15 to 24 years in the Arab Region. If you were to ask them what is SRH? What would their answer be? Most probably, most young people wouldn’t be able to provide…
“Societies judge women's worthiness of safety and security based on their abidance to social norms regarding their clothing.” Women who don't commit to “modest” clothing lose “patriarchal protection”.
Today, 76% of women and girls in Lebanon suffer from difficulty in accessing menstrual products due to the sharp increase in prices resulting from the economic crisis and the collapse of the Lebanese currency. A national statistical study carried out…
Through interviews with 60 women from six countries in the Middle East and North Africa (Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Palestine, Egypt and Tunisia), this study seeks to analyse and understand how prevailing social norms contribute to and perpetuate violence against women…
