A recent study by Israeli Central Bureau of Statistics shows that sexual violence against women has been on sharp rise. Women experienced more violence by 30% since 2015.
As one of the countries with highest rate of sexual violence, Israeli society has always been unsafe for women. In the last five years, the rate of sexual violence rose by 30%, making females prey to male violence.
Local officials have revealed that the number of sexual violence indictments has been subject to a steer rise. Following the revelation, Israeli Attorney General made a statement in which it announced support for addressing such crimes.
According to a special analysis by the Central Bureau of Statistics, the female residents of Israel have less comfortable feeling to go near their homes. The study says they are less likely to consider reporting any crime than males. This is while more than thirty thousands of males reported physical assaults in 2020.
The data for the women is higher but less reliable due to social and legal constrains. The study reveals that more than sixty thousand Israeli females were subject to physical assault or intimidation last year. The number accounts for over 2% of Israel’s female population.
The study also notes that 14,000 women and 31,000 men were physically abused in 2020. As with the threats of violence, 41,000 women were victim. the number is 57,000 for the other gender. Israeli Central office of Statistics published the data one day before international day for the elimination of violence against women.
Israeli society isn’t traditionally rich and its 70-year history lends hand to the disintegration of efforts to lessen social challenges. Besides, residents in Israeli lands have been the national of different countries from the East to the West. They congregated in Palestine due to religious kinship.
Israeli Sexual Violence; Incessant Rise
Female victims of various crimes, sexual crimes in specific, are not prone to report the crime for various reasons. The data shows that men are more eager to file a lawsuit for an imposition to violence.
Firstly, the legal support for women following such moves is weak. More than 90% of women who file a lawsuit see the case closed in a short time due to lack of evidence. It seems that the legal authorities prefer to close the cases sooner than turning into a controversial one.
Besides the legal shortfalls, fear of a social disgrace usually forbids women to act against the transgressors. In a religious community that owes its formation on religion, there is no surprise that social contains are powerful. It was only a few months ago that dozens of Israelis died in bid to participate in a religious event.
Israeli attorney General’s office says that the legal system opened 4100 cases with at least one sexual crime in 2020. The number is considered to be less than the real one.
In August 2020, the gang rape of a 16-year-okd girl by 30 men made controversies in Israel. The men lined up outside the girl’s hotel room waiting for their turn. The witnesses overlooked the violence indicating the community response to violence against women.
Israeli officials condemned the violence then calling for justice and more support for sexual victims. Over the last 15 months, however, no measure has been introduced in government, legal or judicial apparatus.
Israel is a new society with diverse cultures, ethnicities, beliefs that have congregated during the past seventy years. Far from the political and military structures, the roots of social apparatus still seem to be lagging. Women need more help regarding sexual violence in Israel.
