Sexual violence is a widespread social phenomenon. Yet public knowledge and awareness regarding sexual violence is limited, and muddled by confusion, silence and fear.
Raising awareness, educating for the prevention of sexual violence, and spreading information about sexual violence are central goals of the rape crisis centers.
The Education and Information Department at Ta’ir Rape Crisis Center (Ta’ir) conducts workshops, lectures and seminars for a number of target audiences.
TEENAGERS
Today, there are few opportunities for teenage boys and girls to speak with adults at eye-level about sexuality, relationships, and sexual assault.
Through our workshops in the formal and informal education frameworks, we act to raise awareness, reduce and prevent sexual violence amongst youth.
The workshops are implemented by facilitators who have undergone special training by Ta’ir.
Our facilitators speak with teenagers at eye-level about mutual respect and respectful sexuality, non-violence and gender equality. At these workshops, they ask participants to examine gender norms and messages, and to question the manner in which these norms are applied in courting and relationships. The workshops address the need to respect one another’s boundaries, achieve respectful communication, and to have relations willingly and with unrestricted consent by both parties.
Since the beginning of 2015, we held 630 workshops incorporating about 4,500 teenage boys and girls.
EDUCATORS
Ta’ir holds workshops for educators to raise their awareness to identify children and youth that have suffered sexual abuse, and to provide them with tools for preliminary response in cases of sexual violence within the educational framework. Through these workshops we aim to improve educators’ ability to create an open dialogue with their students on issues such as sexuality and gender.
In 2014, over 600 educators participated in our lectures, workshops and seminars.
PARENTS
Similar to our work with educators, Ta’ir holds workshops for parents to provide them with tools to identify sexual abuse among children and youth, and to respond initially in cases of sexual violence. As with the educators we meet, we instruct parents on how they may form an open dialogue with their sons and daughters about sexuality and relationships. Workshops for parents are conducted at schools, community centers as well as other frameworks.
In 2014 over 700 parents participated in our workshops and seminars.
SEMINARS
The seminars that we hold for the wider public address various aspects of sexual violence and its ramifications: the scope of the phenomenon, the myths of sexual violence, puberty, the implications of pornography and sexual assault in social media, among other subjects. The seminars are held primarily in conjunction with the local authorities, as well as additional organizations and institutions in our area.
For additional information, reserving a workshops/lecture/seminar: Education Coordinator 972-(0)8-6215755 or education@tair1202.org.