Women Against Violence

Women Against Violence was established in 1992 in Nazareth by a group of Palestinian women who were concerned by the lack of services for Palestinian women suffering or threatened by violence. WAV set for itself three main goals: to break the taboo surrounding the problem of gender-based violence in all its forms in Palestinian society; to create services and refuge for women survivors of violence; and to promote the status of women in the Palestinian community. In the past 28 years, WAV has established a number of services including a shelter for women and their children escaping violence; a 24-hour crisis centre for victims of sexual and physical violence; a shelter for young women in distress; and two half-way houses. Through education and a broad range of media they have also worked hard to alter and improve the position of women in Palestinian society.