Aswat
Aswat - Arab Israeli Feminist Center for Gender and Sexual Freedoms | |
أصوات | |
| Formation | 2000 |
|---|---|
| Founder | Rauda Morcos |
| Headquarters | Haifa, Israel |
Co-director | Ghadir Shafie |
Aswat - Israeli Arab Feminist Center for Gender and Sexual Freedoms, also known as Aswat (Arabic: أصوات, lit. 'Voices'), is an Israel-based feminist organization that advocates for lesbians and other LGBT women in the Israeli community. The group started as an online platform in 2000, started having the regular meetings in 2001 and was joined Kayan-Feminist Organization in 2003 as an independent project, making it the first Palestinian organization for Queers and lesbians (LBTIQ). It was initially membership-based, but has since transitioned to a movement-based structure. It is based in Haifa, Israel.
The organization was cofounded by activist Rauda Morcos, who received the Felipe de Souza Award from OutRight Action International for her work with the group. Today, Aswat engages in advocacy work and education while also hosting monthly support group meetings that address sexual orientation, gender identity, and nationality. As of May 2016, its co-director was Ghadir Shafie.