WIZO Men’s Hotline
“I told her I would teach her a lesson”
WIZO recently garnered a lot of press for our efforts to prevent domestic violence. Israel’s most popular daily, Yediot Aharonot, dedicated the cover of their weekly supplement and a major expose to cover this extremely important issue and WIZO’s role in helping to fight it.
Over the past year, statistics have proven that domestic violence, and even murder, has risen substantially. A few years ago WIZO introduced a hotline where men can call in anonymously if they feel triggered in some way to commit an act of violence.
In a small room in the Beit Hakerem neighborhood of Jerusalem, the only anonymous open line in Israel takes phone calls from these men. It was established four years ago and operates out of WIZO offices, and is financed by donations only. Shmulik Hershkovitz, the coordinator of the line, says that there is significance to the fact that only men operate it.
"Something in the interaction between 'man and man' makes the conversation more comfortable, there is much suspicion and fear to seek help."
What makes this unique is that often when it comes to domestic violence, talking about the men is considered taboo. WIZO, by creating these much needed hotlines, is perhaps able to prevent any further acts of violence from taking place.
This crucial step in the process to eliminate domestic violence once again shows how WIZO is not just a pioneer in social welfare services but endeavours everywhere we can to work for an improved Israeli society.
