A thought-provoking animated video, which shows some Israeli women who have been murdered by their spouses in recent years, has been scorching the social networks in the country in recent hours.
The chilling video, which is published under the name "Listen to My Voice" on the occasion of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, was made with the help of artificial intelligence and the animation capabilities of the Israeli start-up D-ID.
It brings to life the late Michal Sala, the late Esther Aharonovitch, the late Marin Haj Yahya, the late Esther Barhani and the late Sagit Ozeri, and describes forms of toxic relationships - thus encouraging women who experience such a reality to seek counseling And for help.
A picture of Esther Aharonovitch, who was murdered by her partner, in the "Listen to Your Voice" campaign, Photo: Listen to Your Voice
Campaign initiator Shiran Malmedowski-Somekh, the campaign's entrepreneur and social tech entrepreneur, told Israel Today that she decided to launch the campaign after being exposed to the story of Shira Isakov, who was almost murdered by her partner and whose inspiring story moved the country. "I have also decided to give voice to the murdered women, who will 'make' their message heard. For me, the aim of the campaign is to raise awareness of a dangerous relationship and a safe separation," she said. "I discovered how relevant the issue of domestic violence is to a lot of women. That's basically the purpose of the video, that it can happen to anyone."
Malmedowski-Somekh added that it was important for her to harness families from different backgrounds, to show that violence against women is something that crosses every background, age, economic situation and sector.
"The families went with us all the way and encouraged us, saying the project is very important to save the next murdered woman," she said.
"The animation for the murdered does not allow people to remain indifferent to violence, because when people talk it is simply impossible to remain indifferent."
A photo of Marin Haj Yahya, who was murdered by her partner, in the "Listen to Your Voice" campaign, Photo: Listen to Your Voice
The "Listen to My Voice" campaign is designed to generate a new social discourse on the issue of domestic violence, in a number of sectors.
1) Dangerous relationship instead of violent relationship: Many murder cases were not preceded by physical violence on the part of the spouse.
Many women who are in a relationship with high potential for danger but do not experience violence are unaware that they are in danger, as the whole public discourse is about a violent relationship.
"Listen to My Voice" calls on women to pay attention to a dangerous relationship, even if it does not involve physical violence.
2) Raising awareness of safe separation: Many of the murders occur when a woman tries to separate from her partner, and does so in a way that does not keep her safe.
"Listen to my voice" raises awareness of safe separation and gives practical and clear tools for separation that will keep the woman safe.
A photo of Sagit Ozeri, who was murdered by her partner, in the "Listen to Your Voice" campaign, Photo: Listen to Your Voice
3) Changing a woman's representation in the cycle of violence: Many women are not identified with campaigns that deal with the issue because of a stigmatized representation of a battered, dependent, obsessive and weak woman, thus they miss out and do not realize they are in trouble.
"Listen to my voice" re-represents the woman who has fallen into a dangerous relationship and calls out in a clear voice - the phenomenon of dangerous and violent relationships across sectors, economic status, geographical location, origin or community and personality structure.
It can happen to anyone.
4) Expanding the scale of representing the cycle of violence: "Listen to my voice" places special emphasis on the broad scale of types of violence within the family - physical, mental, sexual and economic, and the early signs that can turn on red lights and motivate action.
