"A violation of the High Court - a direct violation of women's rights": about a thousand women demonstrated against the government - voila! News

2023-02-05T20:19:33.808Z

The demonstration was held on the main stage in Tel Aviv, as a sign of emphasizing the current government's marked effects on gender equality in the country. "There is no female representation in the coalition, there are discriminatory agreements, dark statements and an intention to strengthen the courts," argued MK Naama Lazimi. "We can't be turned back"

On video: Demonstration of women's movements in Bhima (photo: Merav Cohen)

About a thousand women demonstrated this evening (Sunday) on the stage in Tel Aviv against the legal reform promoted by the government, among them members of the Knesset from the opposition parties and other elected officials.

The demonstration, which joins a series of demonstrations that have been held against the government in recent weeks - was held while emphasizing the visible effects of the government on gender equality in the country.

"Today the harm may be to certain groups - and tomorrow to others. Therefore, this is a voice that needs to be heard by all parts of society, men and women alike," claimed the chairman of the organization Naamat Hagit Par shortly before the demonstration as well as during it. "Behind all the lofty terms there is truth One is simple - the Supreme Court, which is responsible for correcting many injustices, will lose its ability to grant relief to the citizens of Israel.

The legal changes proposed by the government mean a potential harm in the long-standing struggle for gender equality, and the first to be harmed will be the populations that are permanently excluded."

"There is no equality for women in Israel, but this coalition, which is made up almost exclusively of men - wants to give women even fewer rights," commented the chairman of the Labor Party, Rav Michaeli, who was present at the demonstration. "Less rights over our bodies, our wages, and the violence towards us.

Democracy cannot be taken away from us."

About a thousand women in a demonstration against the legal revolution in Tel Aviv (Photo: Merav Cohen)

"An attack on the High Court is a direct attack on the fight for equality"

The chairperson of the Committee for the Advancement of Women's Status and Gender Equality, MK Panina Tamno-Sheta (state camp) said at the demonstration: "I am very disturbed by the direction the current government is taking us. In practice, you can already see a lack of representation of women in key positions in the government, and not even a woman One of the many appointments to the CEOs of the offices.

The legal reform is going to harm the status of women and the ability of the court to protect women's rights.

Unfortunately, even the attempt to change the composition of the committee for the selection of judges will harm the representation of women on the committee, a serious thing in itself.

We are 52% of the population, and we will not be allowed to take giant steps backwards.

We will not quietly accept attempts to harm women's rights or exclude us from positions of influence on the state."

"More than once the High Court has ruled in our favor and promoted equality when the state has not, a violation of it is a direct violation of our rights and our fight for equality in the country," labor Knesset member Noama Lazimi also commented on the protest. government officials, and with the addition of an intention to strengthen the powers of the rabbinical courts, discriminatory coalition agreements and dark and misogynistic statements - the current government has declared war on women. We will not let them take us back."

We will not stop until we save democracy

Member of Knesset Orna Barbibai from Yesh Atid and former prime minister's wife Lihya Lapid also came to the demonstration and expressed their support with messages.

"It is very unfortunate that this government promotes legislation that harms women - just because they are women. We will be everywhere until there is equal and full representation of women everywhere the sun shines," said Barbibay.

Lapid claimed that "a democratic country is a country that promotes women's rights and fights against violence against them. It is important that women from the entire political spectrum make a strong and clear voice today."

On behalf of Yesh Atid it was stated: "Due to the real danger to women's rights in Israel following the legal revolution and the lack of adequate representation in the Netanyahu-Ben Gabir government - Yesh Atid companies came out tonight to demonstrate. We will continue to fight for full equality of rights and to maintain the place of women in society and in the public sphere. The fight for the state Ours and its democratic nature will continue in the plenum, in the committees and in the streets. We will not stop until we save Israeli democracy."

"A government that promotes legislation that harms women - just by virtue of being women", MK Barbibai, this evening (photo: official website, Elad Gutman)

This morning, the "Women's Yard" association submitted to Minister of National Security Itamar Ben Gabir a request to reduce weapons in the public and private spheres.

The association, which operates protected spaces and promotes girls and young women in situations of risk and exclusion across the country, submitted the appeal against the minister's stated intention to increase the presence of weapons in the civilian space, and to ease the conditions for obtaining a license to carry weapons.

"From our experience, and in the reality of our daily lives, this is a dangerous trend that will harm the safety of women in their homes. We are well aware of the deadly meaning of access to weapons in the home and the results of using them as part of a violent argument in the home," the letter claims.

"As access to firearms increases, so does the murder of women, the murder of our sisters and girlfriends, increases. It should be emphasized that according to studies from recent years and in general, the availability of weapons in our homes definitely increases the risk of murder in light of its ease of use, its availability and its deadly potential. Thus, bone The presence of a weapon could escalate any conflict situation into murder."

"It is important that women make a loud and clear voice."

Lihya Lapid (photo: official website, Elad Gutman)

Last week, the women's lobby sent an urgent letter to Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu demanding immediate action to appoint women to the positions of CEOs in government ministries - while threatening to go to the High Court on the matter.

So far, the 37th government has appointed 20 CEOs in the government ministries, and today (Sunday) the appointments of three more CEOs will be approved - all men and not a single woman among them.

"Such a low representation of women among the CEOs of government ministries is a blatant violation of the duty of adequate representation that applies to our affairs, a duty that is enshrined in legislation, Supreme Court rulings, international treaties, government decisions and the instructions of the Attorney General," the letter sent by the lobby to the head The government last week.

There are still a number of ministers who have not yet approved the CEOs of their ministries, but in the meantime 23 men have been appointed, and zero women. This is a sharp decrease compared to the previous government, which broke the record of nine female CEOs, but also at the lowest point to which the representation of women in the senior management levels of the government has fallen For over 20 years.

Data from the women's lobby show that since 2001, when only one female CEO served in government ministries, the number of female CEOs has not been so low.