Subscribe to Print Edition | Thu., February 21, 2008 Adar1 15, 5768 | | Israel Time: 13:20 (EST+7) web haaretz.com   Back to Homepage Rosner's Domain Diplomacy Defense Jewish World Opinion National Print Edition Advertising Books Arts & Leisure Business Real Estate Easy Start Travel Week's End Anglo File

Students attend class at an Israeli school. (JINI / Encho Gosh) Last update - 06:13 21/02/2008 Education Ministry report shows increased sexual violence in schools By Or Kashti, Haaretz Correspondent Tags: israel, schools  Incidences of sexual violence in schools increased 26 percent last year, the Ministry of Education's Psychological Counseling Service (Shefi) said Wednesday. Annual incidents of abuse, meanwhile, soared from 186 seven years ago to 404 last year. Shefi's department for combating child abuse is handling 24 percent more cases. Shefi head Shosh Zimerman said sexual abuse among youths "is much more prevalent than people think, because society is not aware of what exactly constitutes sexual abuse. Comments on body parts or showing off pornographic pictures are often seen as normal adolescent behavior." Advertisement The law and the Education Ministry require the school staff to report every incident of sexual abuse to the welfare authorities, police and ministry inspectors. Shefi is frequently called on to find educational and therapeutic ways to help the assault victim, other pupils, parents and even the perpetrator himself. Among other things, the counselors handle small children's aberrant sexual behavior, sexual harassment and serious crimes like rape and sodomy. Out of 602 cases SHEFI handled last year, 166 involved children who were sexually abused by adults (compared to 127 in 2006), 404 involved students abused by other students (compared to 26), 321 were "general" complaints and six were cases of adults abused by minors. Sixty-five percent of the incidents occurred in elementary schools, and 12 percent (about 70) in kindergartens. The lowest number of incidents was reported in high schools. Greater clarity "Aberrant sexual behavior in kindergarten suggests the need for counseling and therapy," says Zimerman. "On the other hand, in junior high and high school there is more clarity regarding sexual harassment or abuse." She says more incidents are being reported in part due to "increased teacher awareness about the situation and work with students to enable them to detect sexual abuse and encourage them to complain." The figures show that more boys than girls were sexually abused by fellow students (343 compared to 287) and that the overwhelming majority of attackers are boys (482 compared to 46). Most assaults took place in schools or kindergartens. A large percentage - 26 percent - of adults molesting children occur inside the family. The victims in about half of these cases - usually girls - are in elementary school. Related articles: Comptroller report: Schools in Haredi, Arab sectors dilapidated Supporting women and children Teen crime rate plummets despite high school strike Ministries stave off school strike by agreeing to pay for security Bookmark to del.icio.us   Land of milk and honey Israeli model Bar Refaeli poses for Sports Illustrated's swimsuit edition. Finding fault Shas MK blames gays for recent earthquakes in the region.   1.   What else do you expect? 04:55  |  Mark Lincoln 21/02/08   2.   sexual violence 10:04  |  RS 21/02/08   3.   Sexual Violence in the Holy Land [sic] 10:27  |  eddie - Haifa 21/02/08   4.   Wake up call! 13:05  |  israel 21/02/08

Today Online Report: U.K. gov't hid reference to Israel on Iraq weapons dossier Responses: 196 Israel fears Europe will break boycott of Hamas Responses: 112 Shmuel Rosner: What the U.S. really wants is a total Gaza invasion Responses: 17 Israel Harel: Israeli Arabs creating state within Israel's borders Responses: 11 Nadav Shragai: The lies used to justify the division of Jerusalem Responses: 6 Rosner's Domain U.S. victims of Palestinian terror await gov't stance on compensation What America wants from an operation in Gaza The only F-word people should be afraid of is fanaticism Are Palestinians like Kosovars? (WTR) Poll: Is it important to have an Israeli-Palestinian agreement by the end of 2008? More Headlines 12:36 Report: Barak warns Syria IDF planning Hezbollah op 13:20 Livni: Palestinian nation has no future under Hamas rule 12:23 Report: U.K. gov't hid reference to Israel on Iraq weapons dossier 10:36 Peace Now: Israel denies Area C Palestinians building permits 11:33 MK Melchior said to have known of plan to breach Gaza border 12:43 Rejoining the Diaspora - Israeli expatriates, a new kind of Jew 12:27 U.S. victims of Palestinian terror await gov't stance on compensation 11:12 ANALYSIS: Threats of unilateral independence rocks sleepy peace talks 11:36 Rights group: Prisons Authority ignores medical needs of inmates 08:50 Haifa U. to punish students for memorial of October 2000 riots Previous Editions Select Day 20 feb 19 feb 18 feb 17 feb 15 feb 14 feb 13 feb 12 feb 11 feb 10 feb 08 feb 07 feb

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