Major groups combatting domestic and sexual violence against women sign letter condemning antisemitism

She continued: “The recent attacks on Jewish spaces have left many questioning their safety and sense of belonging in this country. What this campaign has shown is that there are allies across every faith, background, and community who are prepared to stand up and be counted.”

The letter begins by noting the terror attacks in Heaton Park and Golders Green, together with the number of arson attacks on Jewish spaces.

“We recognise that the Jewish community is experiencing heightened fear in their schools, synagogues, workplaces and public spaces,” it says.

The letter continues: “Antisemitism is not an abstract issue; it has profound emotional, psychological and physical consequences for those targeted by it. It isolates communities, fuels hatred, and undermines the safety and belonging that every person deserves.

“As leaders in the VAWG sector, we recognise that for women and children experiencing domestic abuse, these harms can be especially acute. Survivors who are already living with abuse and trauma should never have to navigate fear because of their Jewish identity as well.

“Jewish women and children must be able to seek support and move through public life without intimidation, hostility or threat.”

Elsewhere in the letter, it states that “violence and discrimination are interconnected”, and that “safety cannot be selective”.

“A world free from violence against women and girls must also be a world where Jewish people, and all communities targeted by racism and hatred, are able to live openly, safely and without fear,” it says.

Ciara Bergman, CEO of Rape Crisis England & Wales, said: “Our organisations share a vision for a world in which women can live their lives free from violence, and survivors can access support and recovery services when the time is right.”

Ciara Bergman, CEO of Rape Crisis England & Wales (photo: JWA)[Missing Credit]

“This vision will never be realised in a society which treats some communities as less worthy or in need of support than others, or in which dedicated and amazing women who provide those services are themselves unable to go about their daily lives, or work.”

And Susie McDonald MBE, CEO of Tender Education & Arts, said: “Tender stands against antisemitism and in allyship with JWA. We do not tolerate abuse or violence of any kind, and we condemn the attacks on Jewish people and communities.”

Another signatory, Huda Jawad of the Faith and VAWG coalition, said that “the rise in antisemitic attacks on our Jewish siblings and community has not gone unnoticed”.

She continued: “One of the oldest forms of racism and hatred in Europe cannot be normalised, nor left to be weaponised by racist and regressive forces in our society.”

And Ghadah Alnasseri, executive director of Imkaan, a UK-based black feminist organisation, said that “our solidarity goes out to Jewish communities who feel unsafe and fearful, where communities have endured a frightening escalation of antisemitic attacks”.

Susie McDonald, CEO of Tender Education & Arts (photo: JWA)[Missing Credit]

The letter is notable against the backdrop of major criticism from the Jewish community in the last few years towards women’s organisations, who have largely declined to address the rape and sexual torture used by Hamas against women on October 7 and those who were held hostage.

JWA is the UK’s only specialist service for Jewish women and children affected by domestic abuse and sexual violence, offering support, outreach, education, and prevention initiatives.

Across the UK, one in four women experience domestic abuse and one in five face sexual assault.

Jewish women are known to remain in abusive relationships significantly longer than non-Jewish women, and often delay seeking support until a crisis point, with cultural and religious factors thought to play a role in this fact.

To find out more about JWA or access their services, click here.