Women for women – the heart of WIZO

TAMAR LAZARUS

WIZO is proactive in reducing domestic violence via a wide range of help and therapies for women and children subjected to violence. Our battered women’s shelters, run in protected and secluded environments, give women a clean break from violence and a fresh start at a better life.

Programmes are run for single mothers, battered women and girls at risk in difficult situations. These programmes empower them to lead independent and stable lives.

Ranit, from a wealthy suburb of Tel Avi, never thought she would find herself in a battered women’s shelter. As her home life deteriorated rapidly, it became clear that her life was in danger.

In one swift movement, she and her daughters were clandestinely taken to a shelter for battered women and their children. Here, she began to rebuild. WIZO counsellors and staff helped her and her daughters to feel safe and secure, while Ranit prepared for an independent and self-sufficient life, free from violence.

Domestic violence is a phenomenon that occurs in about 200 000 families in Israel, and is witnessed by some 600 000 children across the broad spectrum of Israeli society.

Since the first Knesset, WIZO has had a representative on various government committees and continues to play a significant role in discussions, initiatives and legislation which impact women’s status and rights to this day.

Since her traumatic experience, Ranit has written a book on domestic violence and shelters to help other families and children to understand and deal with the issue. She and her children are safe and violence free thanks to WIZO.

August being a month of focus on Women, WIZO South Africa are proud to announce that they will be hosting Dr Einat Wilf, renowned public speaker, advocate for Israel and Women’s Rights

In her latest op-ed in the Jerusalem Post, Einat describes the many parallels between “feminism” and “Zionism” – both words have become “stained” in the 21st century. Since their inception, both have faced a purposeful and continuous effort to deprive them of their ideological force.

For decades, Zionism has been subject to the relentless attack of the “placard strategy” – the mechanism by which Zionism is equated in placards, UN resolutions and media utterances with a litany of the world’s most negative words, from racism to genocide.

Feminism has been painted as an affront to womanhood, an ideology of hatred toward men, and as the main barrier to a nice woman finding a man. The outcome has been to deprive both revolutions of vital support. (http://www.jpost.com/Opinion/Feminism-and-Zionism-411026).

Dr Einat Wilf will be visiting South Africa as the guest of WIZO South Africa in November in Johannesburg and Cape Town.