Government approves grants for victims of domestic abuse
LAST UPDATED: 02/06/2012 03:16
Bill calls for women to be given NIS 8,000 upon their departure from a shelter and an additional NIS ,1000 per child.
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Woman covers her face [illustrative] Photo: Thinkstock/Imagebank
Victims of abuse in a battered women’s shelter for over 30 days will be given an
“acclimation grant” from the government when they leave, according to a bill
approved by the Ministerial Committee on Legislation on Sunday.
The bill,
proposed by MK Zehava Gal-On (Meretz), calls for women to be given NIS 8,000
upon their departure from a shelter and an additional NIS ,1000 per
child.
“This is revolutionary for women who suffered from domestic
violence,” Gal-On said. “Whoever was in a battered women’s shelter will now have
a chance to build a new life without returning to the house where she was
abused.”
According to Gal-On, many women in battered women’s shelters
return to their abusive husbands because they are not able to support
themselves.
The grant, she said, will give the women time to “stand on
their own two feet,” rent an apartment and look for work.
The Meretz MK’s
proposal would cost under NIS four million each year.
The bill is
expected to be brought to a preliminary vote in the Knesset on Monday, and will
have to pass three more votes before becoming law.