Investing in women is not a niche cause. It is nation-building

In times of war, women absorb the emotional aftershocks. They steady children woken by sirens. They support partners navigating the trauma of combat or reserve duty. They manage displacement, disrupted schooling, financial uncertainty and grief, often while maintaining their own employment.

Even in stable societies, the mental load borne by women is immense. It is unpaid, frequently unacknowledged, and yet, it is foundational to family stability. Since October 7, that invisible burden has intensified.

At Wizo, we have seen mothers become first responders inside and outside their own homes, regulating fear, translating trauma into reassurance and holding together family routines when the external world feels fractured.

Many have stepped further into the workforce while being the emotional anchor for children and partners processing shock and loss.

When we fail to support women, the strain reverberates outward into children’s wellbeing, community resilience and national recovery. That is why Wizo’s work matters more than ever.

Sexual and domestic violence in Israel have increased since October 7. In 2024, 36 women in Israel were murdered by men in incidents of gender-based violence, according to leading experts. These are not isolated tragedies; they are indicators of social strain.

Wizo’s domestic violence shelters have responded to the increase in demand, providing immediate safety to women fleeing abuse. Our trauma services address the psychological toll. And protection is only the beginning.

Our violent men’s hotline, the only helpline of its kind in Israel, works with perpetrators, helping them take responsibility and access treatment. Domestic violence cannot be reduced without addressing those who cause it. Since October 7, the hotline has expanded to respond to the complex reintegration challenges facing men returning to civilian life as parents and partners.

When I think of Wizo’s work, I think about the stories, the people we help. Like Or, raised by a single mother in a home marked by abuse and neglect. At 14, she ran away. Her turning point came when she found the Adi Centre for girls at risk in Be’er Sheva. For the first time, she felt heard and supported. Today, Or is thriving. She lives independently and dreams of studying law. She said having people choose to help her was “the greatest feeling in the world”.

The Adi Centre supports a diverse community – Bedouin girls, immigrants from Ethiopia and Russia, Ukrainian refugees, many arriving burdened by trauma and instability. Through structure, mentorship and long-term care, they find more than shelter. They find stability.

We also invest in women’s leadership through training and mentoring that enables women to step into positions of influence in business and civic life. When women lead, priorities shift and communities strengthen.

Change must also be structural. In 2021, legislation initiated and advanced by Wizo, known as the Wizo Rule, required judges to mandate behavioural and psychological treatment for men subject to restraining orders. Real progress requires legal tools, not just awareness.

International Women’s Day can easily become symbolic. But symbolism without infrastructure changes little. What changes lives are safe homes, access to education and qualified therapists. What makes a difference are leadership training, legislative reform and community centres that stay open long after headlines fade.

This year, Wizo UK is focused on trauma-informed care and practical support for women rebuilding their lives.

Supporting women is not an act of charity. It is a strategy for stability. Supporting women stabilises families. Families stabilise society. And society, at its best, protects the most vulnerable first.

Investing in women is not a niche cause. It is nation-building.

​Maureen Fisher is CEO of Wizo UK