The Knesset Committee on the Status of Women and Gender Equality unanimously approved on Monday, November 26, the second and final readings of a bill that will permit adult victims of sexual assault to agree to reveal their identities without permission from a court.

MK Aida Touma-Sliman (Hadash – Joint List) speaks before a gathering held at the Tel Aviv branch of the Communist Party of Israel. (Photo: Zu Haderech)

Until now, the penal code has prohibited publication of the personal details or identities of individuals who have been, or claim to be, victims of sexual crimes unless they received formal permission to do so from a judge, or a court has authorized such revelation due to special circumstances.

“Every woman has the right to reveal her story when and where she pleases,” said Committee Chairwoman MK Aida Touma-Sliman (Hadash – Joint List). “This is an historic hour for the committee following very hard work by victims who insisted on their rights and who encouraged female Knesset members who believe in the importance of this issue to promote private legislation. We now have reached the moment where the private bills will be merged with the government-sponsored bill that will soon pass in the Knesset plenum.” This bill comes on the heels of International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women.

To protect minors and prevent the possibility that they will be inappropriately pressured in any way, the bill (Amendment No. 135 to the Penal Code), establishes that they will need to declare in court that they agree that their personal information will be revealed.