Tuesday, March 25, 2008

Israel at 60: Women's rights in Israel

All women in Israel, regardless of ethnicity or religion, enjoy broad freedoms, rights and protections, including the right to vote, dress as they wish, say what they wish and pursue any career. Women are protected by law from discrimination. Indeed, Israel’s Declaration of Independence grants “all Israel’s inhabitants equality of social and political rights irrespective of religion, race or gender.” [1] Three years after declaring statehood in 1948, Israel passed legislation guaranteeing women the right to live in dignity, including providing equality in work, education, health and social welfare. [2]

Since 2004, the Israel Forum for International Humanitarian Aid (IsraAid) has provided Darfurian women refugees in the African nation of Chad trauma counseling and social service expertise. The organization also focuses on women who have been raped and subject to clitoral excision.

-Dressler, Tamar, “Picking up the pieces,” The Jerusalem Post, Feb. 4, 2008
Today, Israel also initiates and implements programs to improve the status of women globally. For the past decade, Israel’s MASHAV program -- a Center for International Cooperation, run by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs -- has educated thousands of women from around the world, including Palestinians, emphasizing microenterprise development and women’s leadership. [3]

During its 60 years of existence, Israeli society has undertaken many steps to advance women’s status. Women have progressed in multiple spheres of Israeli life, such as politics, economics, education, the domestic realm and the military.

Israeli Women in Politics

Since Israel’s establishment in 1948, dozens of women have served in the Knesset (Israel’s parliament), and have held leadership roles in politics. [4]

* Ten women have served as cabinet ministers, including Prime Minister Golda Meir, Israel’s first - and the world’s third - female prime minister; [5]
* Israeli-Arab women actively participate in political life. Nadia Hilou was the second Israeli-Arab woman to serve in the Knesset when she took her current seat in office in 2006; [6]
* At present, 17 Knesset members are women;
* 34 percent of judges in Israel are women. [7]

Currently, three women hold senior political roles in Israel: Tzipi Livni, vice premier and minister of foreign affairs; Dalia Itzik, Knesset speaker; and Dorit Beinisch, president of Israel’s Supreme Court. [8]

Israeli Women in the Workforce

Israeli law protects the right of women to equal opportunity in the workplace. Since the 1950s, women’s opportunities in the workplace have been secured by legislation guaranteeing maternity leave allowance paid by the National Insurance Institute, protection against dismissal during pregnancy and affordable childcare facilities. In 1964, legislation was passed mandating that women receive pay equal to that of men. [9]

Today, women are making great strides in the Israeli workforce. Though Israeli women still haven’t achieved equal pay, women have risen to the CEO level in several Israeli Fortune 500 companies. Examples include Dalia Narkiss, CEO of Israel’s largest employment agency, Manpower; and Galia Maor, CEO of leading commercial bank Bank Leumi. [10]

Israeli government and non-governmental initiatives consistently strive to ensure full equality for women. Legislative efforts include:

* The Equal Retirement Age Law, passed in 1987, and the Equal Employment Opportunities law, passed in 1988; [11]
* Three-month paid maternity leave for all women guaranteed by law; [12]
* Amendments to the Equal Rights Law, added in 2000, which mandated representation by women at all levels in public entities. [13]

In the Israeli national trade union (Histadrut), women are represented at each level. The Histadrut has adopted a resolution requiring that 30 percent of its leadership must be women. [14]

In addition, Israel’s Ministry of Commerce and Industry has established a unit to encourage women to open small- and medium-sized businesses. The unit has aided Bedouin women in Israel in setting up small businesses, and is providing them the planning and marketing skills necessary to maximize their success. The Negev Institute for Strategies and Development has also instituted a project in southern Israel to provide Bedouin women with vocational, entrepreneurial and managerial training, combined with financial support and counseling. [15]

RAYA STRAUSS BENDROR: PROFILE OF A LEADER


Raya Strauss Bendror
Courtesy of www.aliyah.org Raya Strauss Bendror is the co-founder and president of billion-dollar food conglomerate Strauss-Elite Group. A leader in Israeli corporate social responsibility, she has been a social, public and personal activist through her involvement, partnership and support of a wide range of projects and organizations such as MAALA (Business for Social Responsibility in Israel) and the Reut Institute (strategic advice on security and socioeconomics). She has also worked with homeless teens and on projects providing leadership and excellence training for marginalized teens.

Source: “Israel Biz at 60: Lessons & Directions in Israel’s Business & Economy,” American University’s Center for Israel Studies,” March 3, 2008

Israeli Women in Schools

The Israeli educational system treats boys and girls equally. No measurable educational gap exists between male and female students through high school.

In 2001, women earned 57 percent of all academic degrees and among doctoral students, 46 percent were women. [16]

Israel’s Ministry of Education has adopted a policy of gender equality that requires schools to:

* Provide and promote equal opportunities for members of both sexes;
* Introduce programs designed to encourage a culture of gender equality;
* Maintain a climate of respect, growth and confidence regarding gender. [17]

In addition, Israel’s universities and colleges maintain committees to monitor women’s progress, and have an advisor to the university president on issues related to advancing the status of women. [18]

SAMAHER ZAINA

Samaher Zaina was Israel's first female principal of an Arab secondary school. The Sheikh Danoon School in the Western Galilee graduates the highest number of Arab students with full high school matriculation in all of northern Israel — a figure more than double the average in Arab-Israeli schools and exceeding that of most Jewish high schools.

Zaina’s efforts include a strong focus on establishing relations between Arab and Jewish students in the area. These include pushing for her students to study with Jewish students from the neighboring high school; teaching students how to guide tours at the Beit Lohamei Hagetaot Holocaust museum while leading their parents and other students through the exhibits; and organizing Children of Peace, a joint Arab-Israeli theater project for students. Said Zaina, "I want the Jewish students to meet their Arab contemporaries and see that they are not frightening, but rather they can be intelligent and optimistic."

— Bletter, Diana, “A Woman of Integrity,” The Jerusalem Post, Feb. 13, 2008

The
re is a broad array of initiatives aimed at encouraging women in fields in which they are traditionally underrepresented, such as the sciences. The prestigious Weizmann Institute of Science, for example, launched a nation-wide “Women in Science” program in which young women scientists who have completed their Ph.D. studies with honors at several Israeli universities and academic institutions each receive an award of about $20,000 annually for two years. [19] Israel’s Ministry of Education has established The Council for the Advancement of Women in Science and Technology, led by a female scientist and mobilized to direct initiatives encouraging women’s developments in these fields. [20]



Israeli Women at Home

Key issues of concern to women in Israel include domestic abuse, reproductive rights and healthcare. Women’s rights groups in the Knesset and the prime minister’s office, along with an active body of women’s advocacy non-governmental organizations, command continued national attention to these issues.

Laws aimed at protecting women at home and work include:

* The Committee on the Status of Women advances legislation on issues such as equality at work, violence against women, welfare, health and fertility; [21]
* The Authority for the Advancement of Women monitors and coordinates activities of government and local authorities regarding women’s status. It also promotes legislation and advises the government on the enforcement of laws promoting the status of women; [22]
* The Domestic Violence Prevention Law enables victims of domestic violence to issue restraining orders against abusive domestic partners; [23]
* The Law Preventing Sexual Harassment, which prohibits sexual harassment in the workplace. [24]

Additionally, Israel has 13 government shelters for battered women, including two dedicated to Arab women, and 50 centers for the prevention of violence against women, which include programs to rehabilitate violent husbands. [25]

In addition to three months of paid maternity leave for all women, Israeli laws include a provision that mothers may use paid sick-leave to tend to their sick children. [26]

Israeli Women in the Military

Military service in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) is considered the “great equalizer” between the sexes in Israeli society. The National Service Law, passed in 1953, mandated two years of compulsory military service for men and women alike. [27] Today, conscription extends to all able-bodied men and women once they are 18. At present, men are required to serve three years and women are required to serve two years. [28]

Women are making visible and dramatic strides in the IDF. For example:

* Approximately three years ago, 60 percent of army professions were open to women. Today, that number is closer to 80 percent; [29]
* Fewer than 10 years ago, about 40 percent of all women soldiers were in clerical positions; today, that has decreased to 20 percent. [30]
* Since 1999, following an Israeli Supreme Court decision, women have been admitted to train as Air Force pilots or navigators. [31] In 2001, the Israeli Air Force Academy graduated its first female combat pilot. [32]
* Almost 26 percent of IDF officers are women. [33]

Expert Sources (U.S. and Israel)

Israel:

Leah Aharonov, President of International Council of Jewish Women
Tel: 972-52-423-9507

Ilany Ayelet, Spokeswoman, Economic Empowerment for Women (Reduces poverty and bridges social and economic disparities among women in Israel)
Tel.: 972- 4- 852-0027
E-mail: eew@womensown.org.il

Rula Deeb, Spokeswoman, KAYAN (Advances the status of Arab-Israeli women by catalyzing independent thought and action, and changing the way women are viewed and treated in Arab and Jewish society in Israel)
Tel.: 972-4-864-1291 or 972-4-866-1890
E-mail: kayan@netvision.net.il

Nahum Eido, Spokesman, Israel Ministry of Social Affairs
Tel.: 972-2-675-7424
E-mail: nachumi@molsa.gov.il

Rula Elatuna, Director, Association of Bedouin Women to Promote Education
E-mail: info@Bedouinwomen.org.il

Yahel Ash Kurlander, Spokeswoman, Isha L’Isha (Literal translation: Woman to Woman; the most veteran, grassroots feminist organization in Israel and the country’s leading voice for women’s rights.)
Tel.: 972-4-865-0977
E-mail: yahelmedia@gmail.com

Frances Raday, Ph.D., Chairwoman, Committee on Women’s Status of the Israel Lawyers Association; director, Concord Research Center for Integration of International Law in Israel; visiting professor, College of Management Academic Studies University College London; visiting professor, Hebrew University of Jerusalem; emerita chair, Israeli Association for Freedom of Science, Religion and Culture
E-mail: radayf@netvision.net.il

Mark Regev, Foreign Press Adviser, Prime Minister's Office
Tel. (office): 972-2-670-5555
Tel. (direct): 972-2-670-5354
Fax: 972-2-670-5602

Einat Rubin, Spokeswoman, Association of Rape Crisis Centers in Israel
E-mail: einat@igud1202.org.il

Sister for Women in Israel - Improves and advances the status of working women at the bottom of the socioeconomic ladder.
Tel.: 972-3-687-0545
E-mail: achoti@zahav.net.il

Raya Strauss Bendror,
Co-founder and president, Strauss-Elite Group
E-mail: straussr@netvision.net.il

Women Lawyers for Social Justice - Fights the widening gaps in Israeli society, particularly what they refer to as the “growing violation of women's rights.”
Tel.: 972-3-516-3936
E-mail: mail@itach.org.il

United States:

American Miklat Committee - Israel's only domestic abuse shelters
for observant women and their children
Tel.: 212-419-2778
E-mail: info@miklat.org

Phyllis Chesler, Ph.D., Emerita Professor of Psychology and Women’s Studies, City University of New York; co-founder, Association for Women in Psychology and the National Women’s Health Network; founder and board member, International Committee for the Women of the Wall
Tel. (home office): 212-722-1038
Tel. (office): 212-831-2745
E-mail: pchesler@phyllis-chesler.com

Jennifer Laszlo Mizrahi, Founder and president, The Israel Project
Tel.: 202-857-6644
E-mail: jenniferm@theisraelproject.org

NA'AMAT USA - An organization and movement striving to enhance the quality of life for women, children and families in Israel, the U.S. and around the world.
Tel.: 212-563-5222
E-mail: naamat@naamat.org

WIZO USA - A non-political international movement dedicated to the advancement of the status of women, welfare of all sectors of Israeli society and encouragement of Jewish education around the world.
Tel.: 212-751-6461
E-mail: wizo@wizony.com

Footnotes

[1] “A Free People in Our Land: Israel’s Declaration of Independence,” Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs Web site, April 1, 2005, http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/Government/Facts+about+Israel-+The+State/A+Free+People+in+Our+Land-+Declaration+of+Independence.htm

[2] "Israel - National Labour Laws Profile," International Labour Organization Web site, http://www.ilo.org/public/english/dialogue/ifpdial/info/national/is.htm, accessed March 23, 2008

Israel, Steve, “Jewish Women in Israel,” The Jewish Agency for Israel Web site, accessed Feb. 12, 2008, http://www.jafi.org.il/education/100/people/women/5.html

[3] “Statement by Ambassador Uzi Manor, Coordinator for Sustainable Development, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Jerusalem,” United Nations Web site, accessed Feb. 29, 2008, www.un.org/esa/sustdev/csd/csd15/statements/israel_1mar.pdf

[4] “Did You Know? Women in Israel,” Embassy of Israel Web site, accessed Jan. 28, 2008, www.israelemb.org/education/publications/Women.pdf

[5] Chazan, Dr. Naomi, “Women in Public Life,” Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs Web site, Oct. 25, 2003, http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/Facts%20About%20Israel/State/Women%20in%20Public%20Life

[6] “Did You Know? Women in Israel,” Embassy of Israel Web site, accessed Jan. 28, 2008, www.israelemb.org/education/publications/Women.pdf

[7] “The Advancement of the Status of Women — Israel 2001,” Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs Web site, accessed Feb. 18, 2008, http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/MFAArchive/2000_2009/2001/8/The%20Advancement%20of%20the%20Status%20of%20Women%20-%20Israel%2020

[8] Solomont, E.B., “Feminist Magazine Rejects Ad Featuring Israeli Women,” New York Sun, Jan. 11, 2008, http://www.nysun.com/article/69338

[9] Raday, Frances, “A Free People in Our Land: Gender Equality in a Jewish State,” Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs Web site, April 1, 2005, http://www.israel-mfa.gov.il/MFA/Government/Facts+about+Israel-+The+State/A+Free+People+in+Our+Land-+Gender+Equality.htm

[10] “Did You Know? Women in Israel,” Embassy of Israel Web site, accessed Jan. 28, 2008, www.israelemb.org/education/publications/Women.pdf

[11] “Equal Retirement Age for Men and Women Employees - Israel,” International Labour Organization Web site, accessed Feb. 18, 2008, http://www.oit.org/public/english/employment/gems/eeo/law/israel/eram.htm; "Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs - Israel," International Labour Organization Web site, http://www.ilo.int/public/english/employment/gems/eeo/law/israel/mlsa.htm, March 23, 2008

[12] “Israel,” The Clearinghouse on International Developments in Child, Youth and Family Policies at Columbia University Web site, July 2004, http://www.childpolicyintl.org/countries/israel.htm

[13] “Concluding observations of the Human Rights Committee: Israel. 21/08/2003,” United Nations Web site, Aug. 21, 2003, http://www.unhchr.ch/tbs/doc.nsf/(Symbol)/CCPR.CO.78.ISR.En?OpenDocument

[14] Chazan, Prof. Naomi, “Women in Public Life,” Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs Web site, Oct. 25, 2003, http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/Facts%20About%20Israel/State/Women%20in%20Public%20Life

[15] “Israeli Statement on Advancement of Women at 59th UN General Assembly,” Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs Web site, Oct. 14, 2004, http://www.israel-mfa.gov.il/MFA/Foreign%2BRelations/Israel%2Band%2Bthe%2BUN/Speeches%2B-%2Bstatements/Israeli%2Bstatement%2Bon%2BAdvancement%2Bof%2BWomen%2Bat%2B59th%2BUN%2BGeneral%2BAssembly%2B14-Oct-2004.htm

[16] Werczberger, R., “The Advancement of the Status of Women-2001,” Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs Web site, Aug. 20, 2001, http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/MFAArchive/2000_2009/2001/8/The%20Advancement%20of%20the%20Status%20of%20Women%20-%20Israel%2020

[17] “Gender Equality: School Policy,” Israel Ministry of Education Web site, accessed Jan. 28, 2008, http://cms.education.gov.il/EducationCMS/Units/Owl/English/Gender/Objectives/

[18] “Israeli Statement on Advancement of Women at 59th UN General Assembly,” Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs Web site, Oct. 14, 2004, http://www.israel-mfa.gov.il/MFA/Foreign%2BRelations/Israel%2Band%2Bthe%2BUN/Speeches%2B-%2Bstatements/Israeli%2Bstatement%2Bon%2BAdvancement%2Bof%2BWomen%2Bat%2B59th%2BUN%2BGeneral%2BAssembly%2B14-Oct-2004.htm

[19] “Weizmann Institute Launches a New Nationwide Women in Science Program,” Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs Web site, Nov. 4, 2007, http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/Israel+beyond+politics/Weizmann%20Institute%20launches%20a%20nationwide%20Women%20in%20Science%20Program%204-Nov-2007

[20] “Israeli Statement on Advancement of Women at 59th UN General Assembly,” Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs Web site, Oct. 14, 2004, http://www.israel-mfa.gov.il/MFA/Foreign%2BRelations/Israel%2Band%2Bthe%2BUN/Speeches%2B-%2Bstatements/Israeli%2Bstatement%2Bon%2BAdvancement%2Bof%2BWomen%2Bat%2B59th%2BUN%2BGeneral%2BAssembly%2B14-Oct-2004.htm

[21] “Knesset (Parliament) Committee for the Status of Women — Israel,” International Labour Organization Web site, accessed Feb. 18, 2008, http://staging.ilo.org/public/english/employment/gems/eeo/law/israel/i_knes.htm

[22] Werczberger, R., “The Advancement of the Status of Women-2001,” Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs Web site, Aug. 20, 2001, http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/MFAArchive/2000_2009/2001/8/The%20Advancement%20of%20the%20Status%20of%20Women%20-%20Israel%2020

[23] The Advancement of the Status of Women- Israel 2001,” Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs Web site, Aug. 20, 2001, http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/MFAArchive/2000_2009/2001/8/The%20Advancement%20of%20the%20Status%20of%20Women%20-%20Israel%2020

[24]“Concluding observations of the Human Rights Committee: Israel. 21/08/2003,” United Nations Web site, Aug. 21, 2003, http://www.unhchr.ch/tbs/doc.nsf/(Symbol)/CCPR.CO.78.ISR.En?OpenDocument

[25] “The Advancement of the Status of Women- Israel 2001,” Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs Web site, Aug. 20, 2001, http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/MFAArchive/2000_2009/2001/8/The%20Advancement%20of%20the%20Status%20of%20Women%20-%20Israel%2020

[26] “Israel,” The Clearinghouse on International Developments in Child, Youth and Family Policies at Columbia University Web site, July 2004, http://www.childpolicyintl.org/countries/israel.htm

[27] “International Association for National Youth Service 6th Global Conference,” International Association for National Youth Service Web site, Sept. 2002, http://www.ianys.utas.edu.au/proceedings/2002/2-nys-policy-impact.html

[28] “Israel-Military,” GlobalSecurity.org Web site, accessed Feb. 18, 2008, http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/israel/army.htm

[29] Israel, Steve, “Jewish Women in Israel,” The Jewish Agency for Israel Web site, accessed Feb. 12, 2008, http://www.jafi.org.il/education/100/people/women/7.html

[30] Ibid.

[31] "The Israel Defense Forces," Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs Web site, May 31, 2997, http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/Facts%20About%20Israel/State/The%20Israel%20Defense%20Forces

[32]“Did You Know? Women in Israel,” Embassy of Israel Web site, accessed Jan. 28, 2008, www.israelemb.org/education/publications/Women.pdf

[33] Ben-Ari, Bar, “A Woman of Valor,” IDF Spokesperson’s Web site, Aug. 1, 2007, http://dover.idf.il/IDF/English/News/Up_Close/2007/08/0101.htm

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