WIZO - Domestic Violence

We are all aware of a massive surge in domestic violence cases worldwide. According to a State Comptroller report from June 2021, the number of domestic violence complaints filed in Israel increased by 800%, a phenomenon mainly attributed to the country's lockdowns and economic crisis. The report also noted a 26% increase in the number of women seeking help at domestic violence shelters around the country. Sadly, 25 women were killed by their partners during 2020.

To help combat this disturbing trend, WIZO has opened a new emergency shelter for women and children fleeing abuse. Due to the pandemic, those who presented to WIZO were unable to be moved into existing shelters for fear of spreading the virus. The emergency shelter was set up to allow women and their children to spend two weeks in isolation before being moved to an established facility. In its first eight months, 177 mothers and 270 children found a haven in which to safely quarantine.

For many women who are confined to home, it is sometimes impossible to reach out for help without alerting a violent partner. To this end, WIZO set up a silent hotline. Women are able to call the hotline using certain generic phrases that would identify their plight (for example, ‘I would like to order a pizza’).

WIZO also realised that, due to the pandemic, it was essential for our comprehensive day care centres, specifically those that operate in hospitals, to remain open. In early January 2021, WIZO arranged, at lightning speed, a vaccination program for its 200 strong staff to ensure that young children had access to care, so health care workers could continue their critical duties.