Aid package for women in abuse shelters progresses in Knesset
Gal-On: The state understands that it is not the women's private problem, but a social phenomenon.
By LAHAV HARKOVUpdated: JANUARY 7, 2016 04:58Meretz leader Zehava Gal-On presenting the party's diplomatic platform(photo credit: MERETZ)
Legislation guaranteeing that residents of battered women’s shelters receive a minimal income passed a preliminary reading in the Knesset Wednesday.The bill, proposed by MKs Zehava Gal-On (Meretz) and Aliza Lavie (Yesh Atid), with support from Social Equality Minister Gila Gamliel (Likud), will ensure that women living in a shelter for over a month will have an income.There are currently about 750 women living in 14 battered women’s shelters across the country.Gal-On said she was “happy the government recognized it had a responsibility to give a response” to battered women who lose their livelihood because they move to a shelter.“The state understands that it is not the women’s private problem, but a social phenomenon,” Gal-On said.“This is another important step in protecting battered women and preventing them from returning to the cycle of violence and despair because of economic need.”Lavie said the bill gave her hope that the government was showing sensitivity and taking responsible for women and children who face abuse.“Domestic violence is a national tragedy, but it is not our fate. We have to set aside resources and take advantage of every tool we have to ensure that women get a real chance to get away from the violence and be rehabilitated,” she said.Lavie added that she and Gal-On would work to pass the bill into law as quickly as possible to help victims of abuse.
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