Campaign for Democracy
NIF’s
social media campaign: “We Will not Remain Silent” is reaching out to new
target audiences, especially students and young adults in support of human
rights and democracy. Established in mid-2010, the campaign has already drawn
5,000 members, close to 1 million views and over 25,000 talkbacks. It is
proving successful as a means to mobilize thousands of activists for
demonstrations, such as the rally in Tel Aviv on the anniversary of Rabin's
assassination, the International Human Rights Day march in Tel Aviv, and the
"Interrogate Me Too!" rally.
Children's Rights
A successful campaign by NIF grantees, including Hotline for
Migrant Workers, resulted in the government deciding not to expel some 800
children of foreign migrants and their families for the time being. NIF
Grantees continue to orchestrate public pressure to let 400 Hebrew-speaking
children, who are under the threat of deportation, stay legally in Israel.
Defending Democracy
Over the past year, NIF and the Association
for Civil Rights in Israel (ACRI) has been leading lobbying, legal and public
advocacy efforts to combat anti-democratic legislation and policies. Thanks to
steady and professional advocacy work led by SHATIL’s Centre for Policy Change
and NIF grantees we are gaining some successes.
In July, a proposed
parliamentary enquiry into human rights organizations was defeated. Yet, we
already know of an additional 25 bills that will enquire significant resources
to combat effectively. NIF and its grantees will continue to lead the struggle
against those bills, through public campaigning, lobby work and litigation.
Protecting Women’s Rights
The International Coalition for Aguna
Rights, an NIF grantee, has stepped up its campaign to protect Jewish women
from recalcitrant men who refuse to provide their wives with a get (writ of
divorce) as required by the Rabbinical Courts that control Israeli family law
for religious and secular Jewish women alike. The Coalition works to ensure the
rights of women by promoting prenuptial agreements as a preventive measure to
the current situation which leaves thousands of women trapped in bad or abusive
marriages.
