Researcher - SOGIESC and the Law

The purpose of this initiative is to fill in knowledge gaps on existing legislature concerning LGBTIQ+ individuals across the
MENA region with a specific connection to written and audio-visual resources wherever they can be
found. The information gathered is designed to equip individuals with information to better
understand and navigate the complexities and challenges of each country’s penal and other legal
codes and better protect themselves and their communities.

Desired Outcome: The purpose of this project is to provide users with epistemic information on
existing regional legal frameworks in relation to rights, gender, and sexuality at a click of a button.
It seeks to create an exhaustive list of Questions to the most popular inquiries, pervasive
mythologies, and hidden truths and facts and provide Answers to them in an accessible abridged,
but thoroughly researched and cited format. The Q&A segment would concentrate on legal texts
concerning LGBTIQ+ communities in multiple countries in the Arab World and how to explain
them properly so they cannot be used to discriminate against queer people and violate their civil
and political rights. The gathered information will be presented in a user-friendly and accessible
platform which will serve as a reference for users to access freely in Arabic and English languages.
By surfing Helem’s digital search engine platform, users will be able to instantly gain access to an
archive of information via a simple and informative web directory. Users will be able to explore
answers about diverse legal codes and legislature in the Arab region within multiple Q&A formats.
Key Concepts: Sexuality; Arab queer history; identity and belonging; cultural, societal, and legal
understandings of gender; Politics; Arab queer terminologies; discrimination, stigma, and fear.

Deliverables:
● Lead focus group discussions (FGDs) with members of the LGBTQ+ community to be done
in person and/or online.
● Organize interviews with experts and specialists in the relevant fields to be done in person
and/or online.
● Conduct research on specific LGBTQ-related topics and gather references for materials as

well as guidance on how to answer questions.
● Provide complete and comprehensive addendum contents and further reading for each
question and sub-category/subject.
● Provide a clear and comprehensive topic description of each sub-category to be utilized in
promotional material.
● Convert gathered information and materials into clear, and comprehensive responses.
● Create a digitized database of information including questions, answers, categories, and
references.
● Accompany a graphic designer in the creation of all audio-visual material for the digital
web directory platform.
● Ensure all aforementioned information is correctly translated into Arabic/English through
a meticulous review of all translations.