Three-Day Jerusalem Conference to Feature Renowned Speakers in the Field

Assemblyman Dov Hikind (D-Brooklyn) will be one of the keynote speakers at an international conference in Israel, “Shedding Light on the Darkness of Abuse.” The three-day event, organized by Tahel – Crisis Center for Religious Women and Children, a nonprofit organization, will take place from November 30 through December 2, 2015, at the Ramada Hotel in Jerusalem. This is the second such conference of its kind, with over 600 participants attending last year. Hikind, who has long been an advocate for victims of sexual abuse, has been instrumental in raising awareness about it in the Orthodox Jewish community.

“One of the most important issues I have confronted in my political career is dealing with victims of sexual abuse. Since I first got involved, I was shocked and overwhelmed by the enormity of the issue. Listening to the stories and hearing the pain of all these victims has had a profound effect on me. When I first started, people shied away from discussing the issue. I am thankful to have contributed to educational efforts and overall awareness. While much progress has been made and we have come a long way in terms of awareness, there is still a lot of work to be done.”

Assemblyman Dov Hikind will keynote a lecture titled, “The Politician’s Role in Combating Abuse” on Tuesday, December 1. Hikind was also invited to facilitate a group panel on “How to Deal with High Profile Abuse.”

The conference will address social, legal, and educational perspectives regarding the epidemic problem of abuse facing Jewish communities worldwide. Over 1,000 participants are expected to attend. The conference will feature panels and discussions with a range of notable academic, educational, and religious figures, as well as policymakers and professional experts in the field.

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