Women Against Violence

Women Against Violence (WAVO), known in Arabic as Jamʻīyat Nisāʼ Ḍidda al-ʻUnf (جمعية نساء ضد العنف), is a feminist non-governmental organization founded in 1992 in Nazareth, Israel. It was formed by a forum of Palestinian women professionals who came together out of outrage at the lack of protections and support services in Israel for Palestinian women citizens. For more than two decades it has been at the forefront of the movement to champion the rights and status of Palestinian women citizens of Israel, and it is described as the largest feminist association in the Palestinian community inside Israel. The association defines its goals as substantively changing the position of women in Palestinian society, eliminating gender-based violence in the community, deepening popular understanding of feminist ideology, and raising the status of women in the social, political, economic and legal spheres. It pursues change through a range of forums, from raising awareness to policy change, and today divides its work between direct service provision, social change activism, and advocacy. WAVO began its work by establishing the first basic services for Palestinian women in Israel, starting with what would prove to be the first shelter in the Middle East for Arab women and their children, and Israel's first national, 24-hour crisis center hotline in Arabic. A second shelter, for young women and girls, and two halfway houses soon followed, along with government commitment to these services. The organization also works on education and community programs, seeks to integrate Arab women into the labor market and academia, and raises awareness of women's rights in general and Arab women's rights in particular. Its vision is to bring about social change leading to a democratic society based on social justice, one that preserves for all individuals, especially women, the right to a dignified life with equality and equal opportunity. Among its founders is Knesset member Aida Touma-Suleiman, who directed the association for more than twenty years and was succeeded in the position by social worker Naila Awad. The organization publishes reports and position papers, including a shadow report on the ICCPR, submissions to the Human Rights Committee, and critiques of Israel's approach to polygamy within Palestinian communities and of gender representation in school textbooks.

Women Against Violence (WAVO) was formed in 1992 by a forum of Palestinian women professionals who had come together out of outrage at the lack of protections and support services in Israel for Palestinian women citizens. It was established in Nazareth and is described as the largest feminist association in the Palestinian community inside Israel. WAVO started its work with the establishment of the first basic services for Palestinian women in Israel, beginning with what would prove to be the first shelter in the Middle East for Arab women and their children, and Israel's first national, 24-hour crisis center hotline in Arabic. A second shelter, for young women and girls, and two halfway houses soon followed, and with them came government commitment to these services. With the establishment of a comprehensive service base, the association expanded its work to include social change activism and advocacy alongside direct service provision. It pursues change through a number of forums, from raising awareness to policy change, and works to challenge the multiple levels of discrimination which women face both within their own community and as Palestinian citizens within society at large. Among its founders is Knesset member Aida Touma-Suleiman, who directed the association for more than twenty years and was succeeded in the position by social worker Naila Awad. The organization publishes reports and position papers, including a shadow report on the ICCPR, submissions to the Human Rights Committee, and critiques of Israel's approach to polygamy within Palestinian communities and of gender representation in school textbooks.

• 1992

  WAVO is founded in Nazareth by a forum of Palestinian women professionals.

• WAVO establishes the first shelter in the Middle East for Arab women and their children.

• WAVO establishes Israel's first national, 24-hour crisis center hotline in Arabic.

• A second shelter for young women and girls and two halfway houses are established.

• Aida Touma-Suleiman, a founder, directs the association for more than twenty years before being succeeded by social worker Naila Awad.

Feminist NGO at the forefront of the movement to champion the rights and status of Palestinian women citizens of Israel, pursuing change through direct service provision, social change activism, and advocacy.

• Shelter for Arab women and their children

  The first shelter in the Middle East for Arab women and their children.

• 24-hour Arabic crisis hotline

  Israel's first national, 24-hour crisis center hotline in Arabic.

• Shelter for young women and girls

  A second shelter established after the first.

• Halfway houses

  Two halfway houses established alongside the shelters.

• Reports and position papers

  Includes a shadow report on the ICCPR, submissions to the Human Rights Committee, and critiques of polygamy and textbook gender representation.

1. 1Wavo - נשים נגד אלימותwavo.org
2. 2Wavo - נשים נגד אלימות | Abous Uswavo.org
3. 3Jamʻīyat Nisāʼ Ḍidda al-ʻUnfwikidata.org
4. 4نساء ضد العنفar.wikipedia.org