Have you experienced violence?

Gender-Based Violence (GBV) refers to harmful acts directed at an individual based on gender. It is rooted in gender inequality and the abuse of power.  It is a serious violation of human rights.

Gender-based violence can include rape, sexual assault or any other physical, mental and economic harm inflicted in public or private. It also includes threats of violence, coercion and manipulation. This can take many forms, such as intimate partner violence, sexual violence, child marriage, female genital mutilation, trafficking in persons and so-called ‘honour crimes’ (when a woman is punished, injured, or killed by a family member because of so-called “shame” on the family).

Experiencing any form of GBV can result in trauma, and it is essential that you take care of yourself before you decide to do anything else.

• If you are in immediate danger or are seriously hurt, contact the police: call  100 from any phone, or approach your nearest police station for urgent assistance.  The police should be able to pursue your case and can also connect and refer you to a medical professional and a trained counsellor if you require one. At every police station, interpretation services should be available. Please let the police know if you need a language interpreter or if you would like a female officer to assist you.
• Try to reach a safe place and out of danger as soon as possible. If you cannot do this for whatever reason, consider reaching out to someone you trust who can assist and support you.
• If you are injured, you can seek immediate medical assistance from a clinic or hospital. A clinic or hospital can conduct a sexual assault forensics exam and may also help you report the case if that is something you wish to do. No clinic or hospital will force you to report your case.
• For urgent counselling services, you can call the Social Welfare Ministry’s hotline for domestic/family violence: call  118 from any phone.
• For ongoing support and counselling, reach out to ASSAF or Mesila during the Tel Aviv Municipality welfare department hours (Sunday, Wednesday 08:00-19:00 and Monday, Tuesday and Thursday 08:00-16:00).
  You can also contact the Tel-Aviv municipality hotline 24/7 by calling 106.
  In urgent GBV issues, UNHCR can also connect you to the correct resources. Contact us during reception hours.

Confidentiality:  It is your right to choose to whom you will or will not tell your story.  Any information you have provided to the police, hospital or counsellor about you cannot be shared with government authorities, NGOs, journalists, or even with your own family members or friends without your permission.

• Domestic violence (also referred to as intimate partner violence) is violence that occurs within a family or household.  It is most often women and children who are victims, but not always.
• There can be all kinds of violence such as physical, emotional, verbal, or sexual. This type of violence may also include the denial of resources, opportunities or services.

Domestic violence is a violation of Israeli law no matter if you are an Israeli citizen, or a foreigner.  Persons who engage in violence risk punishment and imprisonment.  

It is important that you talk to someone if you think this is happening to you or someone you know.  The things that are most common when it comes to domestic violence are:

1. Physical abuse such as: beating, kicking, pushing, but also yelling, cursing, threatening.
2. Control: If you feel that your partner is controlling you, always telling you what you can and cannot do, deciding everything for you, not letting you go out, or telling you how you should behave.
3. Sexual abuse: You always have the right to say no to sex.  So if your partner is forcing himself on you sexually, this is sexual violence.
4. Economic abuse: If your partner does not let you keep the money that you earn at work, or if he takes all the money for himself to spend.
5. If you feel afraid of your partner or do not feel safe with him, or if you find yourself doing your best not to anger him.

• The violence is not your fault.
• You don’t deserve to be a victim of violence for any reason.
• Even if your partner isn’t violent directly to your children and the violence is only directed at you, family violence has a tremendous impact on your children and hurts them directly.
• There are options to protect and help you and your children.

If you think you are a victim of domestic violence or someone you know is, there are many things you can do.

Protection 

Women experiencing violence from their partners can get referrals to government shelters for victims of family violence. You can get a referral from places like Mesila, ASSAF, or any municipal social worker across Israel.   These shelters are where women and their children who have been abused can find safety from their abusers.  The shelter’s location is kept confidential to keep your abuser from finding you.
In Israel, there is a legal obligation to report children at risk if you witness any kind of abuse.

Treatment 

You can be referred to family violence prevention centres in the community by approaching ASSAF or Mesila. Outside of Tel Aviv, approach the social welfare department in the municipality where you live.

Police: call 100

Social Welfare Ministry’s hotline for domestic/family violence: call 118 (service is available 24/7 in several languages: Hebrew, Arabic, Amharic, Russian and English).