The Rackman Center initiated an important debate at the Knesset Committee on the Status of women and gender Equality. The debate was about the use of children as an expression of violence against women, and the brave Karen Levy spoke to the whole committee. Adv Adi Raz, who has been by her side throughout, and especially since the tragic murder of Karen's children, Sarah and Yishai by her ex-husband.
Karen – you an incredible mother, a strong woman, an inspiring person and a friend for life. I am so proud of you for coming to the Knesset today to talk about what happened to you so eloquently. Karen, you have taken your immense pain and set about making change and improving things for others who suffer violence. As was said in Knesset, instead of looking at what there is not, you look at what there is – the word 'יש' is the initials of your beloved children's names. Together, we will DO it for a better future. Forever here for you, Adi Raz.
Read Professor Ruth Halperin-Kaddari's blog piece about yesterday's important Knesset meeting on The Times of Israel.
http://blogs.timesofisrael.com/who-i-am-now-a-mother-without-children
Prof Halperin-Kaddari writes a follow up blog about the emotional silent march in memory of Karen's children ho were murdered by their father. We must remember them and stop this happening to others!
http://blogs.timesofisrael.com/remembering-and-saying-no-more
An article that was written by Dr. Galit Shaul about “The Cameras Were Everywhere”: Media Conduct Through the Eyes of Homicide Victims’ Families: Switzerland, Italy, and Israel.
On November 10th, The Rackman Center and The Ministry of Justice held a joint conference marking The International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women. The conference was held at Bar Ilan University and included fascinating speakers and a viewing of the movie Gett: The Trial of Vivוane Amsalem – The Law is for us all.
As published in The Times of Israel, "the stirring drama, from brother-and-sister duo Ronit and Shlomi Elkabetz, picked up the Best Picture prize on Sunday night at the Ophir Awards, which are the Israeli equivalent of the American Academy Awards." Read more here.
"The Times of Israel" "'Gett': An Inescapable Experience":
http://blogs.timesofisrael.com/gett-an-inescapable-experience.
"?Is 'Gett' a Realistic Portrayal of Israeli Divorce"
http://blogs.forward.com/sisterhood-blog/214492/is-gett-a-realistic-portrayal-of-israeli-divorce.
Prof. Halperin-Kaddari was invited to be the keynote speaker at the CEDAW Seminar convened by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Human Rights Center in Finland, after having served as the Raporteur for the Periodic Report of Finland to CEDAW during the Committee's 57th session earlier this year. Finland's Minister of Foreign Affairs, as well as the Minister of Welfare and Health, had also addressed the Seminar. This is the first time a State Party to one of the UN Human Rights Treaty Bodies invites a Committee Expert who was in charge of evaluating the State Report to discuss the outcome of the dialogue with the Committee, and it may well serve as an example of good practice for other states to follow. Prof. Halperin-Kaddari's presentation was received with a lot of enthusiasm, and her honest remarks pointing to much that is still needed in Finland – usually viewed as a paradise for women – were highly appreciated.
An article that was published in a local newspaper in Sweden
CEDAW UN Committee reelects Prof Ruth Halperin-Kaddari for 3rd Time
On Thursday, Professor Ruth Halperin-Kaddari, Chair of The Rackman Center in Bar Ilan University, was elected for her third term to the UN Committee for the Elimination of Discrimination against Women. The election took place at the UN Headquarters in New York and this is the first time an Israeli candidate has been selected for the third time to a UN Human Rights Committee. This is particularly significant as the election has come at a time when Israel’s status at the UN is at an all-time low. Halperin-Kaddari won a staggering 128 votes out of 188 countries of the Convention of which 50 nations, including the newly acceded State of Palestine who refused to acknowledge Israel’s vote in the first place and abstained. In the past 8 years on the CEDAW Committee, Halperin-Kaddari has initiated the adoption of a new General Recommendation on the Economic Consequences of Family Relations and their Dissolution. This result is a landmark result for Israel and we are sure that she will represent Israel in the best way – benefiting Israel on the international and national front.
Professor Ruth Halperin-Kaddari established and now chairs The Rackman Center for the Advancement of the Status of Women at Bar Ilan University which is soon to celebrate its Bat Mitzva. Her fields of expertise are family law, feminist criticism of law and women’s rights in international law and she has an LLM and PhD in law from Yale University. Prof. Halperin – Kaddari is a firm believer in combining academic research with practical steps in order to bring about significant change in the status of women in family law both in Israel and elsewhere, and is proactive in the achievement of this goal.
