Support helpline for female Jewish victims of sexual violence launched
Jewish women wait on average a shocking 11.5 years before seeking help
Female Jewish victims of sexual violence are now able to seek support from counsellors and experts via a new helpline named after the biblical story of Dina.
The Dina sexual violence support helpline, which can be accessed on 0808 801 0656, is run by the Jewish Women’s Aid.
Jewish survivors of sexual abuse aged over 16 can call the helpline for free information about their rights and any support services available to them.
The helpline can be used for referrals to new services such as counselling or advice about reporting incidents to the police or the criminal justice system.
It was funded in part by Comic Relief, which contributed £80,000 for the service over the next two years.
Research by the Jewish Women’s Aid found sexual abuse to be “massively under-reported” particularly in the community where some encounter a “wall of silence”.
Jewish women wait on average a shocking 11.5 years before seeking help, according to the charity.
More broadly, a quarter of women are affected by domestic abuse in their lifetimes, while 1 in 5 are survivors of sexual violence.
Jewish Women’s Aid CEO Naomi Dickson says the figures show no difference in the scale and severity of the issue across UK communities.
But she added: “Jewish women are reluctant to speak about their experience of sexual violence due to an anxiety and guilt about maligning the community’s image.
“There is also a notion of shalom bayis (peace in the house) which makes it difficult for Jewish women to come forward to speak out about sexual violence. There is a sense of shame and a fear they won’t be believed.
“The more people talk about it, the more we are able to break down the wall of silence.”
Rachel Krys, co-director of End Violence Against Women added: “We’re delighted that Jewish Women’s Aid has set up this service which could be life-saving for Jewish women and girls who’ve experienced sexual violence.
“We know that specialist services run by and for women in the community are essential for survivors of sexual violence.
“With more women and girls than ever talking about their experiences of sexual violence and reaching out for support, this new service is much needed and very welcome.”
The Dina sexual violence support helpline is open from 10am until noon, and from 1pm to 3pm on Mondays and Thursdays and from 1pm to 3pm on Tuesdays.
Thank you for helping to make Jewish News the leading source of news and opinion for the UK Jewish community. Today we're asking for your invaluable help to continue putting our community first in everything we do.
For as little as £5 a month you can help sustain the vital work we do in celebrating and standing up for Jewish life in Britain.
Jewish News holds our community together and keeps us connected. Like a synagogue, it’s where people turn to feel part of something bigger. It also proudly shows the rest of Britain the vibrancy and rich culture of modern Jewish life.
You can make a quick and easy one-off or monthly contribution of £5, £10, £20 or any other sum you’re comfortable with.
100% of your donation will help us continue celebrating our community, in all its dynamic diversity...
Engaging
Being a community platform means so much more than producing a newspaper and website. One of our proudest roles is media partnering with our invaluable charities to amplify the outstanding work they do to help us all.
Celebrating
There’s no shortage of oys in the world but Jewish News takes every opportunity to celebrate the joys too, through projects like Night of Heroes, 40 Under 40 and other compelling countdowns that make the community kvell with pride.
Pioneering
In the first collaboration between media outlets from different faiths, Jewish News worked with British Muslim TV and Church Times to produce a list of young activists leading the way on interfaith understanding.
Campaigning
Royal Mail issued a stamp honouring Holocaust hero Sir Nicholas Winton after a Jewish News campaign attracted more than 100,000 backers. Jewish Newsalso produces special editions of the paper highlighting pressing issues including mental health and Holocaust remembrance.
Easy access
In an age when news is readily accessible, Jewish News provides high-quality content free online and offline, removing any financial barriers to connecting people.
Voice of our community to wider society
The Jewish News team regularly appears on TV, radio and on the pages of the national press to comment on stories about the Jewish community. Easy access to the paper on the streets of London also means Jewish News provides an invaluable window into the community for the country at large.
We hope you agree all this is worth preserving.
