Treatment and Prevention of Domestic Violence
It is estimated that there are 200,000 abused women and 600,000 children who are exposed to domestic violence in Israel.
Domestic violence often destroys families. However, it doesn’t have to. When there is a possibility that the family can be helped and the abuser rehabilitated, WIZO steps in. This not only saves the family, but prevents the abuse from continuing to the next generation.
WIZO’s Violent Men’s hotline is the only helpline of its kind in Israel to assist violent men in taking responsibility and getting the help they need. WIZO believes strongly that it is possible to reduce domestic violence considerably by treating the perpetrator himself rather than simply focusing on removing the wife and children from the home. A man who is violent and incapable of handling his emotions and frustrations most often lashes out at those closest to him. This impacts on the whole family. The children develop emotional issues, often suffering in school and socially. The family unit is damaged. Without treatment, the violence continues and can even reoccur generationally. Many violent men do not want to be abusive but lack the tools they need to deal with their anger in non-violent ways. The advice hotline, staffed by trained volunteers, provides initial support and encouragement and guides the men towards the next step. The anonymous nature of the hotline allows for men to call without the fear of stigma.
WIZO’s Centres for the Treatment and Prevention of Violence are dedicated to stopping acts of abuse and to helping violent members of the family deal with difficulties in a non-threatening way. The individual and group programmes are run at the centre, eliminating violence whilst maintaining the family unit. Staffing includes professional social workers who specialise in anger management and the treatment of domestic violence as well as dedicated volunteers. The centres specialise in the effects of abuse on children and offer both group and individual counselling for children.
“The house is so much calmer. We all work together to talk through the issues instead of screaming and yelling. It is a group effort but it works.”
WIZO’s Invisible Children programme is a nationwide programme training more of Israel’s child psychologists, early childhood caregivers, teachers, school counsellors, and social workers to look for and identify the signs indicating whether a child is witnessing domestic abuse. This programme allows incidents of children exposed to domestic violence to be identified. WIZO cares for the ‘invisible children’ to ensure that they and their parents receive appropriate and adequate treatment to secure their emotional and physical wellbeing.
The ‘It Bothers Me‘ programme operates in high schools and local WIZO centres. The aim is to increase awareness amongst teenagers of the warning signs of harassment and sexual abuse, teaching young people to listen to their intuition and giving them a greater sense of safety. They are also taught the techniques of Krav Maga (self-defence), providing greater security and confidence.
The ‘Mine and Only Mine’ programme teaches young men and women how to identify and cope with negative influences and aggressive behaviour during the dating phase of a romantic relationship. WIZO centres and programmes have saved hundreds of families from continued violence.