| 31 March 2016
Israel Family Planning Association
The Israel Family Planning Association (IFPA) is Israel's leading organization advancing the human right to sexual health. 'Open Door' is a national network consisting of 14 information, counselling and treatment centres. The centres deal with issues of adolescence, such as intimacy, love, prevention of sexual violence, and healthy and responsible sexual behaviour. They serve as open and safe places for young people, in particular at-risk individuals. 'Open Door' serves Jews and Arabs, secular and religious, native Israelis and new immigrants, in a variety of languages and with cultural sensitivity. It provides accessibility to individuals with disabilities. The service providers are mostly volunteers who have completed special training and certification. Their work is monitored and guided appropriately. 'Open Door' centres uniquely adapted for the Arab society are active in Nazareth, Haifa, Be'er Sheva, and Umm Al-Fahem. 'Open Door' is included in the World Health Organization (WHO) list of best preventative practices for youth in the world. For over a decade, IFPA has been operating a unique and comprehensive certification service for professionals from the Arab sector as sex educators. More than a thousand graduates of this certification programme promote and disseminate information and counselling on sexual health to young people, parents and teachers. IFPA runs a national centre which offers a comprehensive, 300-hour certification programme for sex educators. It has so far trained over 2000 professionals. The centre also offers an International Innovation Award for the leading sex educator certification programme for individuals with physical or sensory disabilities. There are additional courses and continuing education activities for different groups of the population, tailored to suit the target audience and its needs. IFPA operates a community outreach centre which organizes workshops, lectures, and seminars for all sectors of the population on topics of education and the promotion of healthy sexuality, in Hebrew, Arabic, Russian and Amharic. These take place in schools, schools, universities and the army and in absorption, youth, women’s, community, and welfare centres and centres for individuals with disabilities. A unique project, Empowering Specially-Enlisted Women Soldiers (Hagam), offers workshops for young vulnerable women, preparing them for life and social integration. In the past 5 years, aided by this initiative, 4500 specially-enlisted young women soldiers successfully completed full army service. The Information Center provides access to continuously updated professional information, in topics related to healthy sex, in Hebrew, English, Arabic, and Russian. The information in our extensive database is unparalleled anywhere in Israel, and includes lesson plans, instructional videos, presentations, group activities, and more.
| 07 April 2025
Positive Vibes
Positive Vibes is a progressive, Namibian-registered organization that focuses on advancing queer rights and human rights in Southern, East, and West Africa, as well as in Southeast Asia, Southwest Asia, and Central America.The organization works at the intersection of human rights, health, and Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) to create an inclusive society where all individuals, regardless of gender, sexuality, or background, have the opportunity to participate in civic, developmental, and political processes, including making decisions about their sexual and reproductive health.The organization supports marginalized and vulnerable groups, including LGBTQ+ individuals, sex workers, and women-led groups, by ensuring access to comprehensive SRHR services and promoting social, policy, and structural change.Positive Vibes empowers these communities to raise their voices, engage at local and national levels, and contribute to positive change. Their approach is grounded in the belief that people have the right to lead their own lives and movements, strengthening communities to achieve broader goals of social inclusion, justice, equity, and comprehensive sexual and reproductive health rights for all.