How a World WIZO Shelter for Battered Women changes women’s lives – one woman’s personal story.

*Miriam was a strong, independent, and educated woman. At the age of 38 she was single and ready to become a mother when she met Ron*. Things moved quickly and they decided to begin their family together. Ron began being verbally abusive and following the birth of their daughter, things escalated with threats of violence. Miriam began living in constant fear, Ron controlled every part of her life. Miriam became pregnant with their second child and she felt imprisoned.

One evening, the police were called to their home and the gravity of the situation was discovered. Social Services intervened and took Miriam, with her two children, to a World WIZO shelter. The family spent nearly one full year in rehabilitation in the shelter. When Miriam and her children left the shelter, she was once again a strong and confident woman.

Today, Miriam is 51 years-old. She has started her own business has allowed her to be financially independent and take care of her children. She is happy, no longer living in fear, and fulfilling her dreams.

This story came to light following a WIZO UK visit to the World WIZO shelter that was accompanied by Louise Scodie, a journalist from UK Jewish News.

Click here to read the article summary on the World WIZO website.
Click here to read the full article on The Jewish News website

*Names changed for confidentially

CHW is proud to be a a strong supporter together with World WIZO as they lead the fight against domestic violence, both in Israel and around the world.

This week, on Sunday, November 25th, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women was globally recognized.

To bring awareness to this day, World WIZO held a conference in Tel Aviv, Israel. The focus of the conference was on the aggressor; the treatment and therapy that can be offered to help make a positive change.

In World WIZO’s effort to “shine a light” on men and the role they play in the cycle of violence, World WIZO produced an excellent film. This film draws attention to the need to look at the men perpetrating the violence and help to put a stop to it now. The actor in the film is the well-known Israeli actor, Lior Ashkenazi.

Along with this film, World WIZO announced staggering facts from 2017: 22 women were killed by domestic violence, 200,000 women were victims of domestic violence, and a total of 192 women have been murdered in the last decade due to domestic violence. 

As the UN Secretary-General António Guterres said on this day, “Not until the half of our population represented by women and girls can live free from fear, violence and everyday insecurity, can we truly say we live in a fair and equal world,” CHW, together with World WIZO, remain dedicated to making a change as we help women and children who are victims of domestic violence. 

To learn more about CHW’s programs, click here.

To read the original article from World WIZO, click here.

These stories of overcoming the darkest times in these women’s lives illustrate the grave importance of World WIZO’s Shelters. Daily, thousands of women are suffering from abuse and in 2018 alone, 12,000 women were treated in shelters.

CHW, along with World WIZO, advocate for women’s rights and issues. CHW proudly supports the shelters that help victims of domestic violence escape the abuse and get their lives back… as WIZO says it, “Changing Fear into Strength.”

CHW is proud to work with World WIZO, an organization who, hand-in-hand, advocates for the rights of women.

Recently, Professor Rivka Lazovsky, Chairperson of World WIZO called attention to the urgent need to prevent domestic violence against women; prompted following the untimely death of two women who had been murdered by their spouse in the span of one week. 

Professor Lazovsky expressed the deep sadness by the loss of these women and the immensely negative impact this has on their families and most importantly their children. Moreover, Rivka Neumann, Head of the Department for the Advancement of the Status of Women for World WIZO shared that 200,000 families in Israel, which include half a million children, are living with violence.

In light of these tragedies, World WIZO has initiated a new project in their daycare centres that is aimed at focusing on prevention via the education system. This project focuses on a violence-free education for children between the ages of two to three.

This is critical work and CHW is proud to be a part of this initiative!

See below for the original articles:

https://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Head-of-WIZO-World-Organization-For-women-against-violence-569706

https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-5372317,00.html?fbclid=IwAR180ZneUcBBaHm7lxZgT893vVFXU9CbR5YxG74QlRxYB_9qfRaszvlp-h4