Grantee

KAYAN

The Feminist Organization for Women in Arab Society

BACKGROUND
Kayan ("being" in Arabic) is a Arab-Israeli feminist organization started by a group of Arab women from Haifa and the Galilee. The organization runs empowerment activities for women aimed at identifying collective problems and encouraging social activism. Last year, Kayan started running a legal department that operates mainly at a grassroots level. It is the first such department in the Arab community for women. Kayan is active mainly on the regional level in the North and in the Triangle area, and runs a few projects on a national scale.

STRATEGIES
Empowerment and community organizing, litigation and consciousness-raising.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Empowerment workshops for 200 women, lecture series attended by some 350 women, a course for 17 Arab women leaders on social activism, and project management.
• Advocacy efforts against the remarks made by a member of the Shefaram local council condoning "honor killing", which brought about a ruling by the Attorney General's office that any such remarks are inflammatory and those who make them will be prosecuted. A mass-mailing campaign condemning "honor killings".
• "Women Demand Mobility" – second conference was held with 200 participants.
• Representing Palestinian-Israeli women in local and national forums.
• Pro bono station established, staffed by 5 volunteer lawyers. Providing legal advice to women focusing on personal status, labor laws and government-provided benefits.