Ministry of Welfare: Number of Complaints of Domestic Violence - Triple • Director General of the Association of Centers for Assistance to Victims of Sexual Assault: "The closure, designed to keep us safe, has made dangerous homes more dangerous"
The corona has affected domestic violence
Photography:
Illustration: GettyImages
Jump in the number of complaints of domestic violence: Since the beginning of the Corona crisis, in March to October, 7,200 complaints of domestic violence were received - three times the corresponding period in 2019, when the number of complaints at 118 was 2,530.
The dismal figures are being released by the Ministry of Welfare ahead of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, which will be marked on Wednesday.
The significant increase in the Ministry of Welfare is attributed to the many tensions among the family members during the closure period brought with it by the Corona as well as the economic damage to many families which increases the tension in the home.
From the beginning of the year until October, 2,885 cases of domestic violence were opened in the social services departments of the local authorities, an increase of 22% from the same period last year.
20% of cases are new cases that were not widely known before.
Since the beginning of the year, 20 women have been murdered in Israel, 12 of them by their spouses.
In 2019, 23 women were murdered, 16 by their spouse and 7 by another family member.
Since 2004, 180 women have been murdered in Israel by their spouses.
This number does not include women who were murdered by another family member.
As soon as a call is received at the 118 hotline regarding domestic violence, it is absorbed by social facts for the purpose of an initial risk assessment, and from there the call is made as needed.
In emergencies, police are called (11% of calls to the center are immediately forwarded to the police), in some cases the women are evacuated to a shelter for women victims of violence and there are also community care centers.
Due to the corona a quiet call center has been added - 7000128 - 055, where women can report via text message.
The Ministry of Welfare states that 5% of the referrals were received via text message on the quiet line.
In addition, a dedicated line was launched for injured and injured men at 1218. The firm also developed a digital questionnaire to assess risk for cases of domestic violence.
The questionnaire is intended for women as well as their immediate environment, who wish to check anonymously whether the situation in which they find themselves is a violent situation that turns on warning lights, and to offer them a variety of actions that can be taken to protect themselves.
The Association of Assistance Centers for Victims and Victims of Sexual Assault also published data on sexual assault for the corona period and in 2019. According to him, following the corona, the number of referrals to the assistance centers jumped by 24% compared to 2019.
Most of the increase occurred in the first wave (April-June 2020), when the aid centers received 16,515 applications - an increase of 37% compared to 2019.
The sharpest increase occurred in June - 43%.
This is against the background of the withdrawal from the quarantine, which made it easier to apply for assistance.
We also noted that in April and May 2020, with the transition of the economy to cyberspace, there was also a significant increase in the number of complaints to the police regarding the publication and distribution of videos and sexual images (the "Video Law").
According to the director general of the Association of Centers for Assistance to Victims and Victims of Sexual Assault, Orit Soliciano: "The closure, which is designed to keep us safe, has made the dangerous homes more dangerous.
Unfortunately, one has to take into account that what has been revealed so far is just the tip of the iceberg.
We will continue to see the consequences of the current crisis for months and even years. "
Minister of Labor, Welfare and Social Services Itzik Shmuli commented on the data and said:" In the last six months we have developed and expanded many services to deal with the huge influx of domestic violence.
Under my guidance, an additional 60 units for the prevention of domestic violence will be established throughout the country, and in the near future, four additional emergency centers, transitional apartments, shelters and a significant addition of new standards and flexible budgets will be opened. "