Fifth of women and girls supported by JWA in last 6 months experienced sexual violence

Charity said there was 245 children linked to women it supported since April, as it launched a toolkit of materials to raise awareness and support victims of abuse and violence

A women’s charity has revealed that one-fifth of the 301 Jewish women and girls it supported between April and September 2021 had experienced sexual violence.

Jewish Women’s Aid said there were 245 children linked to the women it supported in the same period, while 42 of women and girls helped were aged between 14 and 30.

It has now launched a package of materials to raise awareness and encourage discussion of domestic abuse and sexual violence within the Jewish community.

READ MORE – Naomi Dickson: The community must fix the broken culture on sexual violence

The resources come ahead of a cross-communal Shabbat on 12 to 13 November, when Jewish communities around the country will hold events to discuss domestic abuse.

“We need to do more to make our community safer for women, and much of that task is breaking the taboo around domestic abuse and sexual violence,” said Naomi Dickon, JWA’s chief executive.

“If we talk about it, and the fact it happens in our community just like any other, we help create spaces where harming women, either physically or emotionally, is unacceptable and women feel supported.”