Israel: EU Delegation supports public self-defence and empowerment event for women and teenage girls

April 28, 2017
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The European Union Delegation to the State of Israel and El Halev NGO hosted an outdoor selfdefence and empowerment event for women and teenage girls at Kikar Habima, Tel Aviv on Wednesday 26 April 2017. The free event included a workshop for gaining practical skills of selfdefence empowerment, information and expert demonstration and concluded with women breaking concrete blocks with their bare hands.

The EU has teamed up with El Halev for this event to highlight that violence against women is a phenomenon that needs to be fought on all fronts. The aim of El Halev NGO is to empower women and teenage girls, through internal empowerment and martial arts, as well as other selfdefence tactics, to break through the barriers that prevent the realisation their full potential. The association works on prevention of physical, sexual, emotional and economic violence against women, youth, people with disabilities, and elderly people from all parts of Israeli society.

The EU Ambassador Lars Faaborg-Andersen said: Selfdefence can make women feel safer to walk the streets, girls can feel safer in their schools. Self-protection itself is not the solution to ending gender based violence but it can help in our fight to eliminate the apathy that many people feel about this form of discrimination. We can and must do more.”

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Press release

EU Neighbours – Israel

EU Delegation to Israel – website

Countries covered:

  • Israel