Help Us Make Their Voices Heard!

The brutal and barbaric attack against Israel by Hamas terrorists on October 7th, 2023 left the communities of the south of Israel shattered, and inflicted inconceivable pain and trauma on countless innocent lives. Homes were ravaged and burned down with entire families inside, while others were reduced to rubble; families were torn apart as loved ones were murdered, kidnapped or left in critical condition; young people at the Nova party who just want to celebrate life and peace were brutally slaughtered, the women raped and many abducted to Gaza. Numerous young female soldiers met a similar fate. Women and children experienced horrors that even the wildest imagination cannot fathom.  In the immediate aftermath of the Hamas pogrom, the founding head of the Dvora Institute, Dr. Cochav Elkayam-Levy, established a unique, dedicated team of international experts to address the weak international response to crimes committed against women and children: The Civil Commission on October 7th Crimes by Hamas against Women and Children. The Civil Commission is an independent, unaffiliated, non-governmental collaboration of international human rights and women's rights experts created to gather and disseminate authentic information, advocate, provide expert advice, and initiate actions related to the collection of evidence and testimonies on sexual and other crimes committed by Hamas.  The target audience of the Civil Commission includes UN bodies, states willing to raise awareness and condemn crimes against women and children, academic institutions, international research institutes, and organizations focusing on women's rights. The first report of the Civil Commission was published in November, and garnered attention from world leaders, including from the White House. A second report is due shortly, and will present a review of the testimonies collected to date  by the Commission, and will indicate violations of International Law committed by Hamas.