Israeli Embassy helps women fight back

The Embassy of Israel in South Africa has joined Fight Back SA, a non-profit organisation focused on the empowerment of women and children, to provide free self-defence classes to individuals living in high-risk and crime-ridden areas.

In honour of International Day of Eliminating Violence against Women and the start of the United Nations 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence (GBV) this month, the embassy donated funds towards the establishment of a safe centre for women and children in Lavender Hill on the Cape Flats, which will provide a secure and permanent space for Fight Back SA self-defence classes.

Ambassador Lior Keinan said, “The embassy is committed to the empowerment of women across South Africa, first for their own safety, and to increase their participation at all decision-making levels.”

The embassy’s donation will fund 25 workshops, providing thousands of women across the Western Cape with vital tools to defend themselves and immobilise an attacker. The training is based on the principles of Israeli combat system Krav Maga.

The founding director of Fight Back SA, Nicole Mirkin, said, “Over the past two months, Fight Back SA has been able to reach more women than ever before due to the help and funding we have received from the Embassy of Israel in South Africa. The embassy’s generous donation towards the safe centre will ensure the best care of victims of GBV, and it will serve as a safe space for Fight Back SA to operate to deliver permanent free self-defence classes to women living in the Cape Flats.”

This project is a continuation of various women-empowerment projects sponsored by the embassy such its sanitary towel initiative that has reached most provinces around the country. The embassy promotes gender-based and youth empowerment projects in communities across South Africa.