Today (May 18, 2022), representatives of the Rackman Center participated in a discussion held by the Knesset Committee for the Advancement of of the Status of Women on the subject of Israel joining the Convention against Combating Violence against Women and Domestic Violence (the “Istanbul Convention”).
Prof. Ruth Halperin-Kadri, head of the Rackman Center, who spoke at the hearing explained that the Istanbul Convention can “change of the rules of the game” in the fight against violence against women. “There is an historic opportunity here to join countries that are struggling with domestic violence,” she said.
During the hearing, Lily Ben-Ami, Director of the Michal Sala Forum, named after her sister who was murdered by her husband in 2019, addressed opponents of the convention who were also present at the discussion.
“Anyone who opposes the Istanbul Convention is…killing my sister a second time,” she said in a voice choked with tears. “I would especially like to ask the dissenting Knesset members: When was the last time you came to the funeral of a murdered woman? A woman was murdered in Ashdod yesterday found in her home with strangulation marks. I speak on behalf of the murdered families who paid the most expensive price, and we are citizens of this country.… I see you working diligently and writing articles, working very hard to stop this convention. So tell me what you’ve done to date to stop the next murder?…This convention will save lives.”
We invite you to read more on the subject here in Ha’aretz English
