In its efforts to decrease sexual harassment in the workplace, SHATIL recently conducted a round table meeting with the Minister of Industry, Trade and Labor and senior Ministry staff.  The round table was organized by one of the “Action Groups” that comprise the SHATIL project Equality and Dignity for Women in Israel, and which include representatives of the country's leading women's and economic empowerment organizations.

While Israel has a progressive law against sexual harassment in the workplace, enforcement is severely lacking and sexual harassment remains a serious problem.  At the round table, the Action Group discussed the financial costs of sexual harassment in the workplace and addressed ways to minimize occurrences.

The group recommended that the regulations addressing sexual harassment be placed prominently in the workplace along with a point person to receive grievances, that a summary of the law be included with employees' monthly salary slips and that the law in its entirety be distributed annually.

"This meeting was groundbreaking," said Equality and Dignity for Women in Israel Coordinator Yosepha Tabib-Calif. "We are in negotiations with the Ministry to advance this issue.  They have already agreed that we will conduct workshops in various sectors on the problem."
 
The Action Group also organized a conference with the Israel Bar Association with more than 100 participants.  The Bar Association decided to become more proactive on the issue and agreed to act as an industry example on the issue.

Launched in 2009, Equality and Dignity for Women in Israel aims to combat discrimination in the workplace and to remove barriers to women's equality and dignity.