Dear Friends,
Images from the women’s marches last weekend across the US were awe-inspiring; millions took to the streets, demanding equality and calling to rise up to secure women’s rights. I wish I could have been there with you. Friends who participated described the atmosphere as invigorating.
But then I’m reminded that it’s 2017. It is completely unacceptable that we are still fighting for the same rights we thought we had secured decades ago!
Today’s struggles remind us that human rights should not be taken for granted and that women across the world continue to stand up for equality. In Israel, Alice Miller fought so that the Israeli Air Force would offer a pilot training course for women; Orit Katzir paved the way for female pilots in El Al Airlines; the struggle waged by Leah Shakdiel allowed women to serve on municipal religious councils, and because of Simi Nidam, an Israeli court determined that it is illegal to pay women lower wages than men for the same job.
These achievements were not as a result of governmental goodwill, but rather a result the hard work of women who fought for their rights, with the support of ACRI and other human rights organizations. What if they had they given up? What if individuals who immigrated to Israel from Ethiopia, or citizens who are Arabs, Mizrahim, residents of the periphery, and others – as well as the organizations that support them – were to just give up? What if we accepted racism just because it’s becoming socially acceptable again? This short video that we produced describes such a world:
Here in Israel we will not giving up and we will not accept chauvinism or racism. We know that a person should not be discriminated against because she is a woman, or he is Arab, Mizrahi, a member of the LGBTQ community or just an outsider. We will continue to fight, and soon enough, governments will also hear our message.
Yours,
Sharon
Adv. Sharon Abraham-Weiss
Executive Director
The Association for Civil Rights in Israel
