Court Expands Rights of Sexual Assault Victims

In a precedent-setting case, the Tel Aviv Magistrates' Court has struck down the statute of limitations in certain sexual assault suits. The case involved a woman, represented by NIF grantee Tmura: The Legal Center for the Prevention of Discrimination, who was repeatedly sexually assaulted by her uncle as a minor more than 25 years ago. The Court ruled that she was entitled to sue him for compensation in a civil suit.

The judges took into account the trauma that the woman underwent as a child, as a result of which she still requires psychological treatment today. The court ruled that in general, due to the long-term psychological damage caused, such sexual assault cases should not be subject to the statute of limitations.

Vardit Avidan, a lawyer at Tmura, said, "This is an extremely important decision. It means that women who suffered from sexual abuse when they were young are able to sue for damages. This means that the court has recognized these women's suffering, no matter how long ago they were abused, whether after five or thirty years."