The Association of Rape Crisis Centers in Israel

The Association of Rape Crisis Centers in Israel (ARCCI) is the national umbrella organization for nine regional rape crisis and sexual-assault support centers operating across Israel. Established in 1990, it coordinates a countrywide network that provides immediate assistance, emotional support, counseling, referrals, legal guidance, and advocacy for women and men affected by sexual violence, as well as for relatives and other people supporting survivors. The association’s work is delivered through the regional centers and through nationally coordinated services. These include the 1202 emergency line for women, the 1203 line for men, and the Kolmila service, which provides assistance through online chat and WhatsApp. The centers’ emergency services operate around the clock, are free of charge, and are included in Israel’s national emergency-center system. Together, the centers handle more than 50,000 inquiries annually, according to the organization’s described service activity. Support is designed to cover both immediate crisis response and longer-term recovery. Services include confidential listening and crisis intervention, specialized support groups, referrals to treatment and rehabilitation programs, help navigating legal and law-enforcement systems, and assistance in pursuing compensation through Israel’s National Insurance framework. Some regional centers also provide services adapted to particular linguistic, cultural, religious, or geographic communities. The network’s development included dedicated support for religious and ultra-Orthodox men and Russian-language services in the Negev. ARCCI also operates as an advocacy and policy organization. It promotes legislative and regulatory changes concerning survivors’ rights, participates in Knesset committees and government forums, contributes to legal proceedings and petitions, and works with police, prosecutors, courts, and other institutions to improve the treatment of people reporting sexual offenses. Its broader prevention work includes public education, professional training, research, data collection, development of tools to prevent sexual abuse and harassment, and efforts to shape media and public discussion. The network’s origins predate the umbrella association. Israel’s first rape crisis center was established in Tel Aviv in 1977 by members of the feminist movement after a widely discussed case involving a university student who died by suicide following rape and an unsupportive institutional response. The center was founded around the principle that survivors should not face violence, shame, and official processes alone. Additional centers subsequently opened in Jerusalem, Haifa, Beersheba, and Herzliya, with early funding coming from private donations and the New Israel Fund. Following the October 7 attacks, ARCCI collected testimony and information concerning alleged sexual violence at several sites and issued a report titled Silent Cry. The report argued that sexual violence was used as an intentional component of the attacks rather than occurring only incidentally, and discussed reported abuse at the Nova music festival, in kibbutzim, at Israel Defense Forces bases, and against hostages held in Gaza. The report was presented to the Knesset and the United Nations and published in six languages. ARCCI therefore combines direct survivor services with national coordination, institutional reform, prevention, and documentation of sexual violence in Israel and in conflict-related contexts.

The institutional roots of ARCCI lie in Israel’s first rape crisis center, established in Tel Aviv in 1977 by activists associated with the feminist movement. The center emerged after the rape and subsequent suicide of a student at Tel Aviv University, whose experience with the police and medical system highlighted the absence of compassionate, survivor-oriented support. The founders sought to create a place where people subjected to sexual violence could receive a listening ear and practical assistance rather than isolation, shame, or further institutional harm. The center’s guiding idea was that survivors should be reminded that they were not alone. During the following years, additional centers were created in Jerusalem, Haifa, Beersheba, and Herzliya. Early operations relied on volunteers, private donations, and support from the New Israel Fund. These local organizations gradually developed a broader range of services, including telephone crisis response, counseling, support groups, referrals, education, and cooperation with legal and social-service institutions. In 1988, the Maslan center for victims of sexual assault and violence in the Negev was established by Liza Nikolaychuk, a psychologist who had immigrated to Israel from Kyiv. Maslan became notable for operating a Russian-language helpline, helping extend access to people who might otherwise face linguistic or cultural barriers. In 2010, the center received Israel’s President’s Volunteer Medal, an annual recognition for exceptional volunteer activity. The national umbrella organization was founded in 1990, bringing nine regional assistance centers into a coordinated association. This structure enabled the movement to combine local, survivor-facing work with national advocacy. The association has since promoted changes to laws and regulations, participated in Knesset committees and public bodies, supported strategic legal proceedings, trained police and justice-system personnel, and worked to improve institutional responses to sexual offenses. It has also coordinated prevention programs, research, data collection, public communication, and national projects conducted by the regional centers. The organization’s advocacy has included efforts concerning limitation periods for sexual offenses within families. A 1996 amendment extended the period during which certain victims could bring a complaint, subject to specified age and time conditions. In 2003, further advocacy by the rape crisis centers contributed to another extension, allowing eligible victims to complain to police until age 38 under the applicable framework. The network has also adapted its services to underserved communities. In 2004, a helpline for religious and ultra-Orthodox men who had experienced sexual assault was established in Jerusalem. The initiative followed recognition that a substantial share of male callers to the Tel Aviv center came from religious or ultra-Orthodox backgrounds and might feel more comfortable speaking with appropriately trained volunteers from those communities. The association’s support model now includes free 24-hour emergency telephone lines, online chat, WhatsApp assistance, legal support, specialized groups, treatment referrals, and help seeking compensation through National Insurance. The 1202 line serves women, 1203 serves men, and Kolmila provides digital contact options. The nine-center network collectively responds to more than 50,000 inquiries per year and also conducts prevention and education work in local communities. After the October 7 attacks, ARCCI became involved in documenting reports of sexual violence connected with the attacks and the captivity of hostages. Its Silent Cry report stated that the evidence it reviewed indicated sexual violence was an intentional operational element and described alleged incidents at the Nova festival, kibbutzim, military bases, and among hostages held in Gaza. The report was submitted to the Knesset and the United Nations and released in English, French, Arabic, Italian, Spanish, and German. This work extended ARCCI’s established role from direct assistance and domestic policy advocacy into documentation and international communication concerning conflict-related sexual violence.

• 2010

  Maslan receives the President’s Volunteer Medal

  [1]Association of Rape Crisis Centers in Israelen.wikipedia.org

  Maslan received Israel’s President’s Volunteer Medal for exceptional volunteer activity.

• 2004

  Religious and ultra-Orthodox men’s helpline established

  [1]Association of Rape Crisis Centers in Israelen.wikipedia.org

  A Jerusalem service was created for religious and ultra-Orthodox men who had experienced sexual assault, with culturally and religiously appropriate volunteer support.

• 2003

  Further limitation-period extension

  [1]Association of Rape Crisis Centers in Israelen.wikipedia.org

  Further advocacy by the rape crisis centers contributed to an extension allowing eligible victims to complain to police until age 38 under the applicable rules.

• 1996

  Limitation period for certain family sexual offenses extended

  [1]Association of Rape Crisis Centers in Israelen.wikipedia.org

  A Penal Law amendment extended the applicable complaint period for certain sexual offenses within the family, subject to specified age and elapsed-time conditions.

• 1990

  National umbrella association founded

  [1]Association of Rape Crisis Centers in Israelen.wikipedia.org

  Nine local sexual-assault assistance centers were united under a national umbrella organization.

• 1988

  Maslan established in the Negev

  [1]Association of Rape Crisis Centers in Israelen.wikipedia.org

  Maslan was founded in the Negev and became the first center in the network described as operating a Russian-language helpline.

• 1977

  First Israeli rape crisis center established

  [1]Association of Rape Crisis Centers in Israelen.wikipedia.org

  A feminist initiative established the first rape crisis center in Tel Aviv, creating a survivor-focused source of listening, crisis support, and practical assistance.

• Silent Cry report issued

  [1]Association of Rape Crisis Centers in Israelen.wikipedia.org

  Following the October 7 attacks, ARCCI published Silent Cry on reported sexual violence connected with the attacks and presented it to the Knesset and the United Nations.

A national, survivor-centered civil-society network combining confidential crisis support with prevention, legal advocacy, institutional training, research, and public-policy work.

• Emergency support line

  1202

  A free, around-the-clock telephone assistance line for women affected by rape, sexual assault, or other forms of sexual violence. It provides immediate listening and crisis intervention and can connect callers with regional counseling, legal support, treatment referrals, and other services.

• Emergency support line

  1203

  A free national telephone assistance line for men who have experienced sexual assault or sexual violence. The service is part of the association’s effort to provide accessible, confidential support across gender and community groups.

• Digital support service

  Kolmila

  An online assistance channel using chat and WhatsApp to give survivors and people supporting them another way to contact the rape crisis network. It complements telephone services for people who prefer text-based communication or cannot safely make a call.

• Survivor support network · 1990

  Regional rape crisis center network

  The association coordinates nine centers operating throughout Israel. Together they provide crisis response, counseling, support groups, referrals, legal assistance, prevention programs, professional training, and community-based intervention for survivors and their immediate environment.

1. 1Association of Rape Crisis Centers in Israelen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Official website of the Association of Rape Crisis Centers in Israel1202.org.il