Sara Netanyahu joins campaign to end violence in daycares

(JNS) — Sara Netanyahu, the wife of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, met on Wednesday with representatives of the nonprofit association Mateh Hama’avak Lema’an Hayeladim (“The Taskforce for Children”), whose goal is to eradicate violence against children in daycare centers and kindergartens.

Three representatives of the organization shared personal stories of the abuse their children suffered and how their families have coped with the effects.

“We are embarking on a long journey to prevent abuse in kindergartens from birth to age 6. The importance of the cameras is that they are living testimony and a deterrent factor,” said Netanyahu, who extended her support for efforts to have video equipment installed in classrooms.

“They will make the traumatic questioning of children, who cannot always express what happened, unnecessary. Children are helpless and are not always capable of expressing themselves verbally, nor are they always believed. It is necessary to have proof and cameras are the first and most essential tool,” she added.

“In violence of this kind, the ramifications of the injury are great. It affects livelihood, the home and the family. In most cases, the overall suffering is neither seen nor treated,” Netanyahu, an educational psychologist who works part-time for the Jerusalem Municipality, said.

Mateh Hama’avak Lema’an Hayeladim director Alona Daniel thanked Netanyahu for her “important support.”

“Amending the cameras law is a very important step in eradicating the phenomenon of violence and we, together with thousands of parents, commend and thank her for assisting us in reaching the goal,” said Daniel.