What’s happening:
The Israeli Foreign Ministry is initiating a worldwide campaign to coincide with the UN International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. The campaign aims to expose the suffering of women who have been subjected to rape and murder by Hamas terrorists.
Why it matters:
This campaign is significant as it seeks to bring international attention to the atrocities committed against Israeli women by Hamas, especially in light of what the Foreign Ministry perceives as global indifference. With the slogan “Believe Israeli Women” and “No Excuse,” the campaign challenges the silence of international women’s rights groups and calls for a universal stand against violence directed at women.
The campaign details:
The Foreign Ministry’s campaign will unfold over 16 days, starting on Friday. It will feature stories of Israeli women victimized by Hamas’ violent acts. Diplomats from Israel around the world will recount these stories in multiple languages, including Dutch, Spanish, Uzbek, Turkish, Greek, and French, to ensure that the voices of the victims are heard across diverse linguistic communities.
Global outreach:
Activities are planned across the globe, with a particular focus on the UN offices in New York and Geneva. The campaign is set to engage social media influencers, content creators, journalists, decision-makers, and academics to criticize the UN and international women’s groups for their lack of response to the violence against Israeli women.
The bigger picture:
The Israeli Foreign Ministry’s campaign not only seeks to shed light on the specific events of October 7, when Israeli women were assaulted by Hamas, but also to stimulate a broader conversation about the cultural epidemic of violence against women. The ministry is urging the UN and other institutions to use their influence and resources to advocate for the victims and to address the issue of violence against women more forcefully.
Ministry’s statement:
“It’s been 47 days since Israeli women were raped, murdered, and kidnapped by Hamas terrorists and many international women’s rights groups are still silent. Speaking up and advocating for women who face violence should be universal,” a diplomat from the ministry emphasized in a video produced for the campaign.
This story was first published on ynetnews.