ADVOCACY

Given the underrepresentation of Arab/MENA psychology professionals, the critical need for additional resources for serving the mental health needs of AMENA individuals, and the ongoing marginalization of this population, advocacy is central to our organization’s mission. Advocacy requires an understanding contextual factors that influence problems experienced by individuals, and removing or reducing the impact of oppressive environmental barriers. We aim to advocate at local and national levels, and to support the efforts of organizations working to address the needs of Arab/MENA individuals. In line with this goal, one of our early efforts involved developing a collective response highlighting our deep concern regarding the events spanning the past decade documenting in the Independent Review Relating to Ethics Guidelines, National Security, Interrogations, and Torture (“the Hoffman Report”).

The goals of this section are to:

1. Advocate for the needs and goals of Arab/MENA individuals and communities.
2. Advocate for the needs and goals of Arab/MENA psychologists, and enhance representation and visibility.
3. Collaborate and mobilize with other organizations with overlapping interests and missions.
4. Publicly share statements and perspectives regarding socio-political developments and current events that impact Arab/MENA communities.
5. Disseminate policy-related materials and responses that have relevance to the Arab/MENA communities.

AMENA-Psy Stands for Justice

We Stand in Solidarity with our AAPI Siblings, Peers, and Colleagues (Resource Document) 

Visit our RESOURCE LIST which is continuously updated. 

Palestine Resource Guide 

Statements

• AMENA-Psy Statement on the Killing of Sonya Massey
• AMENA-Psy Statement of Solidarity with Afro Arab/MENA Community
• AMENA-Psy Statement of Support for Mohamed Abdou
• AMENA-Psy Statement on the Arrest of Hebrew University of Jerusalem Professor Dr. Nadera Shalhoub-Kevorkian
• AMENA-Psy Resources for Children Affected by Violence in Palestine
• AMENA-Psy Statement - Dr. Fadel Abu Hein
• AMENA-Psy Statement on Anti-Palestinian/Anti-Arab/MENA Hate
• AMENA-Psy Guidelines for Working with MENA Students
• AMENA-Psy Palestinian Solidarity Statement
• Letter to the president of GWU regarding attacks on Dr. Lara Sheehi
• Uplifting our LGBTQ+ MENA Siblings
• AMENA-Psy Statement on the Killing of Mahsa Amini & Solidarity with Iranian Women & Iranian People
• Statement in Solidarity and Allyship with the Afghan People in the US and Abroad
• AMENA-Psy Statement on Invasion of Ukraine
• AMENA-Psy Stands in Solidarity with the People of Palestine
• AMENA-Psy Stands in Solidarity with our Asian and Asian American Communities
• AMENA-Psy Statement on Anti-Black Racism
• AMENA-Psy Statement on Iran-US Crisis
• AMENA-Psy Deeply Concerned about the Supreme Court’s Ruling on “Travel Ban”
• AMENA-Psy Denounces Detention and Separation of Families at Border
• AMENA-Psy Steering Committee Statement Regarding Charlottesville Violence and Alt Right Movement
• Open Letter to the American Psychological Association & the Psychological Community by the American Middle Eastern/North African (MENA) Psychological NetworkAugust 14, 2015

Resources

https://linktr.ee/amenapsyadvocacy

Infographics

For questions related to advocacy initiatives please email the advocacy committee co-chairs:

Layli Khaghani, Psy.D. (drlkhaghani[at]gmail.com)

Nahaal Binazir, Psy.D. (ntbinazir[at]gmail.com)