Deltapuch: 60 Years of Promoting Healthy Sexuality in Israel
The Israeli organization "Deltapuch" (Open Door) is celebrating 60 years of promoting healthy sexuality and reproductive rights in Israel. Founded in 1966 as the Israeli Association for Family Planning, the organization became registered in 1984 with the goal of advancing gender equality and human rights, including the right to healthy sexuality. Deltapuch operates in cooperation with the Israeli government and is part of the International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF), which works in 180 countries.
Deltapuch offers free online and in-person counseling services through its centers across the country, staffed by volunteer social workers, nurses, and doctors. These services include information on contraception, emergency contraception, and guidance on sexual health. Prominent volunteers include Professor Roni Gamzu, who serves as a professional advisor for gynecology and assists the organization in policy promotion to the Knesset.
For 25 years, Yafa Tzarfati has managed Deltapuch's training center, the first in Israel to educate professionals on human sexuality. She recalls an incident in 1980 where a 16-year-old student's pregnancy was discovered, highlighting the lack of sexual education at the time, which led her to Deltapuch. The organization has adapted its training to diverse populations, including immigrants from the former Soviet Union and Ethiopia, as well as Arab and Bedouin communities, and people with disabilities.
Sivan Lotan, a certified sex therapist and chair of the Israeli Association for Sex Education, credits Deltapuch with shaping her career. She emphasizes the organization's positive approach to sexuality, contrasting it with a focus solely on risk prevention. Lotan notes that Deltapuch has trained generations of professionals in healthy sexuality education and considers it a foundational influence on other sex education organizations in Israel.
In recent years, Deltapuch has faced significant financial challenges, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent government budget reallocations. The organization is actively seeking donations to continue its work. CEO Liron Bauchner stresses that Deltapuch does not promote abortions but empowers women and girls to make informed decisions about their bodies. The organization has advocated for including contraception in the national health basket and supports the implementation of digital committees for abortion requests to reduce stigma.
Despite efforts, Tzarfati observes a concerning trend of increased exposure to pornography and a rise in sexual aggression among young people, including those in religious communities. Both Tzarfati and Bauchner highlight persistent societal taboos, fear, and ignorance surrounding sexuality, making it difficult to engage parents and educational institutions. Bauchner notes that educational systems often resist sex education workshops, while parents may be unaware of the harmful content children encounter online.
