In the presence of President Yitzhak Herzog and the Minister of Social Equality and the Advancement of the Status of Women, MK May Golan, the 'Ministerial Award for the Prevention of Violence Against Women for 2024' was awarded this week to three organizations working to eradicate violence.
Against the backdrop of the difficult war, the advisory committee chose to award a medal of appreciation to units, corporations, or groups with uncompromising commitment and unique contributions in the field of combating violence against women during the 'Iron Swords' War.
In the presence of the President of the State, Yitzhak Herzog, the Minister of Social Equality and the Advancement of the Status of Women, MK May Golan, presented the award to the 'With You All the Way' project of the 'Woman to Woman' association, to the 'Michal Sala Forum', and to the 'Violet Prevention of Violence Against Women Ashdod', which were selected by the members of the advisory committee, headed by the Director General of the Authority for the Advancement of the Status of Women Merav Stern; Hadas Shon Levy, Deputy Director of the Interior, Planning and Development Division in the Prime Minister's Office; Ami Cohen - Senior Deputy to the Cabinet Secretary; former MK Dr. Aliza Lavie - Founder of '120 Leadership from Companies'; Aviva Hazan - Deputy Chairwoman of Naamat Merhav Petah Tikva; and Oshra Friedman - Deputy Director of the Authority for the Advancement of the Status of Women.
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The recipients of the "Ministerial Award for the Prevention of Violence Against Women for 2024" are:
Michal Sala Forum – The award was given for a significant expansion of the protection system for women threatened during the war, which included a comprehensive protection package that includes cameras, panic buttons and 24/7 security patrols, a free service that protected approximately 2,000 people (445 women and 1,504 children), the development of innovative solutions such as a voice panic button with GPS identification, and the "Michal Sala Dogs" project to provide protection dogs and increase public awareness of domestic violence during the war.
'With You All the Way' project by the 'Woman to Woman' association - The award was given for creating a unique model that connects women leaving shelters with volunteer mentors, expanding the scope of support during the war, providing a professional and personal response to women who have experienced double trauma - both from violence and the emergency situation, and operating weekly support groups for women leaving shelters.
WIZO Prevention of Violence Against Women Ashdod - The award was given for the establishment of 9 community centers for women escaping the cycle of violence, serving approximately 600 women and their children, developing a response that includes weekly meetings for women and children, professional social support, financial assistance and distribution of food baskets, and a unique vocational rehabilitation program - all during the war.
The President of the State: "Today, awards of appreciation are being presented here to women and organizations whose work on this issue inspires us all greatly, and I say this from a deep familiarity – with the organizations and their leaders and with the status of many women who are engaged in this field. These organizations have demonstrated inspiring work; work that emphasizes the simple truth – that the responsibility for this important struggle lies with all of us, women and men alike.".
""The word 'home,' to most of us, is synonymous with peace and security. Home is the place where we can shed our defenses, feel embraced, loved, and safe. But painfully, reality teaches us that for many women, home is not a safe space and is not a safe haven. We saw this in war as well.
The horrifying data on the constant increase in manifestations of violence against women is data that shows a real, dangerous and wide-ranging crisis that is happening around us right now and demands its correction. I thank everyone who worked on this important event and occasion. Thank you to all of you, rise up and succeed.".
Minister of Social Equality and the Advancement of the Status of Women, MK May Golan: "I stand here this morning out of a deep sense of mission and responsibility, out of a personal and public commitment - and above all a great sense of responsibility, a responsibility to ensure that women in the State of Israel can live in safety. Violence against women - crosses sectors, ethnicities and ages and can happen to any woman. The fight against violence cannot be conducted separately - but only through integrated work in which we can create a comprehensive framework of prevention, treatment and enforcement. Our role is not only to serve as a voice for the women who are affected, but also to work vigorously to create infrastructures that will enable effective prevention and treatment.".
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The Minister presented the tragic story of the late Maya Glogowski, a medical student who was murdered by her partner after three months of dating, as a regrettable example of the severity of the phenomenon and the need for prevention. She emphasized the personal and public commitment to combating violence against women, and noted the activities being carried out by the Authority for the Advancement of the Status of Women: Gender Violence Indicator: An innovative tool for monitoring data on violence against women in real time, with the aim of improving response and treatment, Prevention Programs: Cooperation with local authorities and government ministries, with the aim of developing and implementing effective prevention programs to combat violence against women, Strengthening social services: Expanding rehabilitation programs for women victims of violence and strengthening social services, in order to provide women with the necessary support and assistance.
The Director General of the Authority for the Advancement of the Status of Women, Merav Stern, said in her words of congratulations to the award recipients: "Many women experience online bullying in a way that leads to serious harm to their security and self-image, sometimes to the point of avoiding participating in online discourse for fear of further harm. Violence against women is not just an injury to women themselves; it is an injury to society as a whole, to values, and to the basic right to live in security and dignity. The indicator presents, for the first time in Israel, a snapshot of the extent of violence against women in Israel, a snapshot based on information collected from four government ministries, and for the first time in the world, also from two civil society organizations. The fight against violence against women is a fight for all of us. Only together can we ensure that every girl, woman, and every person, regardless of their gender, can live in a safe, equal, and just society.".
