Eliminating Sexual Violence : Advocacy From An Israeli Woman

On the occasion of the 2024 edition of the International Day for the Elimination of Sexual Violence in Conflict commemorated every June 19, the spouse of the Ambassador of Israel to Cameroon, Mrs. Smadar Kalmar, on Friday June 28, 2024 in Yaounde organised a gathering to raise awareness on sexual abuse as a weapon against women during war.  For close to an hour discussions focused on sexual violence, a subject considered sensitive, emotional but important. It was an occasion for the spouse of the ambassador to brandish images of women who are still in captivity in Gaza and the need for them to be released. 
In a welcome address Mrs. Smadar Kalmar said some few days back, the world commemorated the International Day for the Elimination of Sexual Violence in Conflict. Unfortunately, sexual violence against women during regional conflicts has existed since ancient times in history and still exists today in several places where wars are taking place. “For us at the Embassy and in Israel, this is a special day because Israeli women are still being held as hostages in Gaza by a terrorist organisation”, Mrs. Smadar Kalmar underlined. Since the war in Israel on October 7, 2023, some 120 hostages are still kept in Gaza amongst them 60 women. The Ambassador’s wife lamented over the wellbeing of the women. “We do not know if there is sexual abuse towards them. We do not know about them. We want them back. This international day is a day to announce the return of all hostages. Bring them Home Now”, Mrs. Smadar Kalmar insisted. She underlined that it was important to raise awareness on...