Domestic abuse among olim hits five-year low

Report also mentions that for the first time in five years, no woman who immigrated from Ethiopia was killed as a result of domestic abuse.

By ABE SELIG
abuse metro 88 224 (photo credit: Ariel Jerozolimski)
abuse metro 88 224
(photo credit: Ariel Jerozolimski)
Ahead of next week's Aliya Conference in Ashdod and to mark International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, the Immigrant Absorption Ministry released figures Tuesday depicting a significant decrease in domestic violence among new immigrants, in particular those from Ethiopia. According to the statistics, in 2008 the number of violent incidents among new immigrants dropped to a five-year low. "We feel quite encouraged by the numbers," said Sarah Cohen, head of the Absorption Ministry's Social Work Department. "But we're not stopping here. We plan on continuing our work and hopefully we'll continue to see these numbers go down." The report also mentioned that for the first time in five years, no woman who immigrated from Ethiopia was killed as a result of domestic abuse. This is a dramatic improvement compared with the years 2005-2006, during which 23 women were killed by their husbands, including 14 immigrants, eight of whom were from Ethiopia. Up to October 29 of this year, there have been 10 domestic-abuse- related murders, only one of them involving a new immigrant from the former Soviet Union. The decline in reported abuse cases among immigrants began in 2007, during which three out of the 12 cases of spousal murders involved Ethiopian immigrants. The number of registered calls reporting violence in the family has also decreased significantly. Owing part of the decline to specific programs established by the ministry in 2008, the Cohen also pointed to the "No to Family Violence" campaign, which was a part of the ministry's efforts in 2008, to combat domestic violence amongst new immigrants and raise awareness of domestic abuse. "Through the campaign, we're able to show these women that there is somewhere to turn to if they're being abused," Cohen said. "Part of it is about raising awareness, but it's also about comforting these women and giving them a place to go." As such, the Absorption Ministry's report stated that there had also been an increase in awareness of domestic abuse among immigrant populations in Israel, with a reported 25 percent rise in immigrants seeking counseling.