Israel Women's Network

The Israel Women's Network (IWN) is a non-partisan feminist civil society organization established in Jerusalem in 1984. It works to improve the status of women in Israel through public advocacy, legislative initiatives, legal representation, research, education, and programs aimed at strengthening women's economic and political participation. The organization is not a commercial brand in the conventional sense; its public identity is associated with policy expertise, women's-rights advocacy, and efforts to secure institutional and legal change. IWN developed out of the four-day 1984 Jerusalem conference "Woman as Jew, Jew as Woman: An Urgent Inquiry," convened by the Jewish-American Congress and chaired by feminist author Betty Friedan. Participants identified legislative and social barriers affecting women in Israel and the Jewish-American diaspora. The resulting organization adopted a deliberately non-partisan approach, engaging with political leaders across the spectrum and organizing public meetings throughout Israel to document women's experiences and build awareness of issues that had received limited public attention. Early concerns included women's health, equal opportunity and pay, workplace protections, media representation, women's participation in government, and women's status in rabbinical courts and family law. The network became known for combining national-level policy work with grassroots activity. Its representatives met with members of the Knesset, helped formulate legislation, monitored implementation of equality laws, and brought test cases before Israeli courts. Among the issues associated with its advocacy are domestic violence, sexual harassment, discrimination against pregnant workers, sex trafficking, women's representation in public institutions, and access to traditionally male-dominated military roles. IWN also established or supported initiatives focused on women's leadership, economic empowerment for marginalized women, and assistance for girls and young women at risk. Several of the organization's interventions had lasting institutional effects. IWN supported the creation of an official Knesset Committee for the Advancement of Women and contributed to legislative developments concerning domestic violence and sexual harassment. It assisted Leah Shakdiel in her successful legal challenge concerning service on a religious council and represented Lieutenant Alice Miller in litigation that helped open the Israel Defense Forces' pilot-training pathway to women. The organization also publicized evidence of trafficking and forced prostitution in Israel, supported legal protections for pregnant employees, and pursued stronger enforcement of protective labor legislation. IWN's work extends beyond Israeli domestic law. Since 2006 it has held consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council, enabling it to participate in international civil-society processes and monitor Israel's compliance with women's-rights commitments. The organization has also contributed to debates on maternity leave, retirement policy, corporate and public-sector representation, and the enforcement of equality protections. Its present profile is that of a long-standing Israeli women's-rights organization combining legal advocacy, public education, policy monitoring, and support for women and girls.

The Israel Women's Network was formed in 1984 in the aftermath of a Jerusalem conference on the position of Jewish women. The conference generated a set of proposed legislative and social reforms and brought together participants concerned with the status of women in Israel and the wider Jewish diaspora. IWN was subsequently organized as a non-partisan advocacy body. Alice Shalvi, one of its founders, served as chairperson, while the organization built support through public meetings and discussions across Israel. During its formative years, IWN documented barriers involving employment, health, political representation, family law, rabbinical courts, the media, and violence against women. Its method combined public consciousness-raising with direct engagement in policymaking. Meetings with Knesset members became an important part of its work, and the network developed a reputation for helping translate feminist demands into legislation and public institutions. It supported the establishment of the Knesset's Committee for the Advancement of Women and contributed to legal changes addressing domestic violence and sexual harassment. IWN's cultural and religious-rights activities also attracted attention. In 1987 it organized an international conference of women writers in Israel. That same year, it supported Leah Shakdiel's effort to serve on a religious council, ultimately helping establish an important precedent for women's participation in such bodies. In 1988, IWN worked with Hadassah and the American Jewish Committee on an international conference concerning the empowerment of Jewish women. A women's prayer service held during the event at the Western Wall became a catalyst for the later formation of Women of the Wall, an organization advocating expanded rights for women at the site. The organization's legislative record expanded in the 1990s. A domestic-violence law associated with IWN's advocacy enabled courts to issue immediate protective orders, including orders that could remain in effect for an extended period. IWN also brought the issue of sex trafficking to government attention. Its 1997 report on trafficking and forced prostitution described the movement of women from the former Soviet Union into Israel and their exploitation in prostitution. The campaign helped produce an inter-organizational coalition, subsequent anti-trafficking legislation, and a dedicated parliamentary forum. IWN's legal department played a central role in the development of Israel's sexual-harassment framework. Advocacy in the late 1990s supported a broad law covering workplaces, educational institutions, and the military, with both civil and criminal consequences and duties imposed on employers to prevent and address harassment. The network later represented women dismissed during pregnancy and helped formulate an amendment to the Equal Opportunities in Employment Law prohibiting pregnancy discrimination. In a 2006 case involving a pregnant employee identified in source material as Ababitan, IWN obtained an unusually significant compensation award. The network's equality work also reached the military. In 1994 it petitioned the High Court on behalf of Lieutenant Alice Miller after she was prevented from taking preliminary examinations for pilot training. The 1995 ruling required the Israel Defense Forces to permit women access to the relevant pathway. Women subsequently graduated from flight training as combat navigators and pilots, marking a major change in military opportunity. Since 2006, IWN has held consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council. This status supports its ability to participate in international policy processes and scrutinize Israel's implementation of women's-rights commitments. Other areas of continuing work include paid maternity leave, enforcement of protective labor laws, women's retirement policy, representation on corporate boards and public authorities, economic empowerment, leadership development, and support for girls and young women at risk. The organization is headquartered in Ramat Gan and remains focused on systemic gender equality in Israel.

• 2006

  United Nations consultative status

  [1]Israel Women's Networken.wikipedia.org

  IWN obtained consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council.

• 2003

  Pregnancy-discrimination advocacy

  [1]Israel Women's Networken.wikipedia.org

  IWN and volunteer lawyers represented thirteen women dismissed during pregnancy and helped develop an amendment strengthening employment protections.

• 1998

  Sexual-harassment legislation advanced

  [1]Israel Women's Networken.wikipedia.org

  IWN's legal department helped formulate a comprehensive sexual-harassment law covering workplaces, the military, and educational institutions.

• 1997

  Trafficking report published

  [1]Israel Women's Networken.wikipedia.org

  IWN published research documenting trafficking and forced prostitution involving women brought to Israel from the former Soviet Union.

• 1995

  Women admitted to IDF pilot-training pathway

  [1]Israel Women's Networken.wikipedia.org

  Following IWN's litigation on behalf of Alice Miller, the High Court required the IDF to open pilot-training opportunities to women.

• 1991

  Domestic-violence legal reform

  [1]Israel Women's Networken.wikipedia.org

  A law developed through IWN advocacy enabled courts to issue immediate protective orders for families facing domestic violence.

• 1988

  Jewish women's empowerment conference

  [1]Israel Women's Networken.wikipedia.org

  IWN collaborated with Hadassah and the American Jewish Committee on a conference that included a women's prayer service at the Western Wall and helped inspire Women of the Wall.

• 1987

  Women's writers conference and religious-council advocacy

  [1]Israel Women's Networken.wikipedia.org

  IWN hosted an international conference of women writers and supported Leah Shakdiel's successful challenge concerning women's service on a religious council.

• 1984

  Organization founded

  [1]Israel Women's Networken.wikipedia.org

  IWN was established in Jerusalem after the Jewish-American Congress conference "Woman as Jew, Jew as Woman: An Urgent Inquiry," chaired by Betty Friedan.

A non-partisan Israeli feminist advocacy organization focused on long-term structural change through legislation, litigation, public education, policy monitoring, and community-based programs.

• Professional services

  Legal advocacy and representation

  IWN provides or supports legal representation for women facing discrimination, sexual harassment, pregnancy-related dismissal, unequal pay, and violations of protective labor rights. Its legal work includes individual cases, strategic litigation, legislative drafting, and petitions intended to establish broader legal precedents.

• Civil society advocacy

  Policy research and advocacy

  The organization conducts public-policy work on gender equality, violence against women, trafficking, political representation, employment, family law, and women's participation in public institutions. Its research and advocacy are designed to influence the Knesset, government agencies, courts, and public opinion.

• Community programs

  Women's leadership and economic empowerment programs

  IWN's grassroots activities include initiatives intended to increase women's leadership and public participation and to improve the economic position of marginalized women. The organization also supports girls and young women considered at risk.

• 2003Pregnancy discrimination litigation and reform

  Israel

  IWN represented thirteen women who had been dismissed during pregnancy and supported an amendment to employment-equality legislation.

  Outcome. The Knesset passed an amendment prohibiting discrimination against pregnant employees; IWN continued litigating individual cases, including a successful 2006 claim.

  Source
• 1997Anti-trafficking advocacy

  Israel

  IWN brought trafficking and forced prostitution to the attention of Israeli policymakers through research documenting the exploitation of women brought into Israel from the former Soviet Union.

  Outcome. The campaign contributed to the formation of an anti-trafficking coalition, anti-trafficking legislation, and a Knesset committee addressing trafficking in women.

  Source
• 1994Alice Miller pilot-training access case

  Israel

  IWN petitioned the High Court after Lieutenant Alice Miller was barred from taking preliminary examinations for IDF pilot training.

  Outcome. The 1995 ruling opened the relevant pilot-training pathway to women.

  Source

• 1998

  Expansion of legal advocacy against sexual harassmentStrategy

  Background

  Sexual harassment affected workplaces, educational institutions, and military settings, while existing protections required strengthening.

  Action taken

  IWN's legal department helped formulate a broad legal framework imposing prevention and reporting duties and providing civil and criminal remedies.

  Aftermath

  The resulting law became a central part of Israel's legal protections against sexual harassment.

  Source

• 1984

  Adoption of a non-partisan structural-change modelStrategy

  Background

  The founding conference identified legal, political, economic, and social barriers affecting women in Israel.

  Action taken

  IWN established a non-partisan organization combining public education, legislative advocacy, litigation, and grassroots work.

  Aftermath

  The approach positioned the network as a long-term policy and legal advocate rather than a single-issue campaign group.

  Source

1. 1Israel Women's Networken.wikipedia.org
2. 2Israel Women's Network official websiteiwn.org.il