From providing specific legal aid to engaging with activist groups, Itach-Maaki has identified many issues that require broad and comprehensive policy changes.
Over the years, the Association has been active in promoting changes in policy at national level. As part of this, the NGO petitions the High Court of Justice against various governmental agencies, submits proposals for legislation and for the formulation of a feminist policy on various issues, together with relevant governmental agencies.
Outstanding examples of the Association’s achievements in policy and legislation in recent years:
Formulation of a comprehensive plan of action for the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1325 together with 30 civil society organizations and the advancement of a government decision on the subject.
UN Resolution 1325 promotes diverse representation of women in decision-making positions, protection of women from violence, implementation of gender analyses and the prevention of conflict
Inspired by several countries around the world that have promoted comprehensive plans of action to implement these principles, the Association, together with dozens of other women’s organizations, drafted a comprehensive action program. Two years later, the program was launched at a festive convention and was presented to the Government, and to Knesset members and ambassadors from all over the world.
The program is available in Hebrew, English and Arabic
In December 2014, following intensive work to advance the overall plan of action, the Israeli Government decided that the State would formulate a Government Plan of Action. According to the Government’s decision, the future plan will be based on examples of similar plans worldwide and on the overall plan of action drafted by the civil society.
Publication of the Kesher Report on Domestic Violence Against Bedouin Women in the Negev
In 2013, PHR-Israel published a groundbreaking report that for the first time provided reliable statistics on the extent of domestic violence against Bedouin women in the Negev. The report is the result of a qualitative study carried out in 2010, based on a representative sample of 33 out of 2,000 Bedouin women who have applied to the Association since 2006. According to the report, 86% of all Bedouin women surveyed suffered some form of violence. The report points out a series of failures by various government ministries in dealing with the phenomenon, including non-enforcement of the criminal offense of polygamy, as one of the aspects that increase the violence.
Report of the conspiracy of silence in Hebrew
Report of the conspiracy of silence in English
High Court of Justice revocation, following a petition against the National Insurance Institute, of a law prohibiting single mothers entitled to income support benefits from using/owning a car
In 2005, Itach-Ma’aki petitioned the High Court of Justice on behalf of 5 single mothers against the National Insurance Institute policy and the Income Support Law, which denied income support due to the use and/or ownership of a car. Following numerous hearings, in 2012, in an acclaimed final ruling by Supreme Court President, Justice Beinish, the High Court of Justice ruled that the law should be revoked because it restricted the right to minimum dignity of those living in poverty in Israel and that women who are eligible for income support should be permitted to own/use a car.