From Abu Dhabi to Jerusalem

Dear Chaverot,

As we conclude our World WIZO mission to Abu Dhabi, I feel proud of what we achieved together and grateful to the women who made this journey with me.

Our delegation brought together WIZO chaverot from Argentina, Uruguay, Brazil, Austria and Sweden. Coming from different countries, we met in Abu Dhabi with a shared purpose: to stand for Israel, to speak for those whose voices must be heard, and to put our international relationships to work.

It was a particular honour to have Sara Friedman, CEO of WJC Israel & North America, join our delegation. Her presence reflected the close partnership between our organisations and the importance we place on working together.

During our visit, we had the honour of meeting Ambassador Marcy Grossman and Israel’s Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates, Yossi Shelley. We also met Emirati women and members of the local Jewish community. These conversations gave us an opportunity to listen, exchange perspectives and get to know people whose work and experiences deepen our understanding of the region.

I attach great importance to these encounters. Personal relationships allow us to speak openly, find common ground and create possibilities for cooperation. Our chaverot brought their own experiences and perspectives to each conversation, making this a richer mission for all of us.

At the heart of our visit was our official side event on September 30 at the UN Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice: Responding to Conflict-Related Sexual Violence in the Digital Age.

In an Arab capital, on a United Nations platform, WIZO brought the sexual crimes committed by Hamas on October 7 and against hostages in captivity into an international discussion about accountability. As I opened the event, I felt the significance of being there and the responsibility to take this work further.

For almost three years, we have fought for the world to acknowledge what happened. Recognition alone is not enough. We must also ask how those responsible will be brought to justice.

Experts from Israel and Ukraine addressed the practical challenges of preserving testimony, turning digital documentation into evidence that can be used in court, and confronting denial and disinformation. The discussion also explored how artificial intelligence can help preserve survivors’ voices while respecting their privacy, dignity and consent.

This is the alternative diplomacy I continue to advance through the presidency: using WIZO’s international standing to open doors, connect people and bring expertise into forums where it can make a difference. Our work in Abu Dhabi builds on the efforts we advanced at the UN in New York earlier this year. Each encounter gives us relationships to develop and work to carry forward.

Coverage in The Times of Israel, Israel Hayom and Argentina’s Vis-à-Vis brought our message beyond the conference, reaching readers across countries and languages.

My warm thanks to Dr. Hava Bugajer-Gleitman, our speakers, our hosts and everyone who helped make this mission possible. To our delegation, thank you for your friendship, your commitment and the spirit you brought to these days together. And to our chaverot who joined online, thank you for being with us across the distance.

And we are not resting on our laurels. On October 8, I have been invited to participate as one of the speakers at The Jerusalem Post’s Diplomatic Conference. This is another opportunity to bring WIZO’s perspective to an influential gathering, strengthen our relationships and keep our movement at the forefront of the conversation.

Next week, we are also excited to welcome two WIZO delegations to Israel, one from Melbourne and one from Sydney. The war kept these visits on hold for a long time, and I am so pleased that we can finally welcome our chaverot here.

Our Melbourne chaverot will also join us as guests of honour at the Diplomatic Conference. It will be a joy to have them by my side.

From our days together in Abu Dhabi to welcoming our chaverot in Israel, I am reminded of how much we can achieve when we come together.

With warm wishes,

Anat Vidor
President, World WIZO