Corona's undercover victims: Ministry of Social Affairs will launch silent reporting center to prevent violence during closure • Last week - a sharp increase in complaints

• Domestic violence

  Photo: 

  Illustration Illustration: GettyImages

Corona's undercover victims: The murder yesterday in Holon where Estwell Alaze was murdered by her husband Mandapro Alaze points to one of the serious side effects of the social closure imposed by the outbreak of the Corona virus - a sharp rise in domestic violence. 

The Ministry of Social Affairs decided on Wednesday to launch a silent reporting hotline and announces that last week there has been a sharp increase in the number of complaints of domestic violence to 118. Over the past week (21-28.04) 222 domestic violence complaints were received, between Thursday 16.04 and day On Tuesday, 21.04, 178 inquiries were made to the hotline regarding domestic violence. By comparison, in the first two weeks of March (01-15.03), before the Corona restrictions were entered, 191 inquiries were received. This is a continuing rise in the number of leads.

The hotline will be able to report domestic violence through a text message at 055-7000128. This is intended to enable reporting of privacy deficiencies due to the closure of homes. 

Head of Social Services Administration at the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs, Iris Florentin, says that despite the increase in referrals to 118 centers and the 100 hotline of the police, the premise is that there are still many and many who are not evacuating, despite increasing tension at home during the house closure. "One of the barriers to reporting or addressing domestic violence counseling is that in home confinement situations there is not the privacy required to make a referral," Florentin says, "The Pacific Line is designed to address this challenge."

"Don't hesitate to call and consult or report"

In the meantime, the Ministry of Welfare announced, and WIZO has announced the opening of another emergency shelter for violent victims of women in the wake of the Corona crisis. The shelter will begin operation this Sunday, absorbing families from across the country. In addition, the Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare is expected this weekend - in cooperation with the Intergovernmental Committee on Domestic Violence, to raise a television and digital campaign to encourage inquiries into domestic violence. The first part of the campaign was already on the eve of Passover, bringing a number of calls to the emergency centers. In recent days there has also been a significant increase in the number of calls to the hotline. According to Minister of Labor and Social Affairs, Ophir Akunis "We call on the public who have been exposed to violent incidents near them who will not hesitate to call and consult or report."

However, following the murder that took place yesterday, much criticism was voiced by the women's organizations. Ora Korazim, chairman of WIZO Israel, referred to the case, saying that "The murder of the woman last night in Holon is the tip of the iceberg of a wave of domestic violence that is sweeping the country from the outbreak of the Corona crisis, a wave whose scope and severity cannot be estimated yet. At this time, hundreds of thousands of women and their children are living under ongoing violence, aggression and fear, in a 'sit-in' situation with a violent partner, without safe access to assistance. However, the scope of welfare services has been reduced by tens of percent and families are promiscuous. Government is urged to take urgent care of the affected families and the second wave that may break as a result of the continued closure and deterioration in the economic situation of tens of thousands. "Wizzo Line for Violent Victims: 03-6923791. Wizzo Line for Men in the Violence and Their Families: 1-800-39-39-04

Na'am Hagit Farr Chairman added: "I urge the Prime Minister to immediately thaw the plan to combat domestic violence that has been raising dust since 2017. A committee sat, set goals and even set a budget of NIS 250 million to implement the plan - it is time to implement the plan fully and find it The budgetary sources for this, light and material in light of the Corona crisis and the real concern that will lead to an increase in domestic violence as a result of health and economic pressures. " Na'am operates a hot line for counseling and assistance 24/7: 050-2030504.