Strengthening Responses to LGBTQ+ Domestic Violence

On January 11, Anna Talisman, MSW, Head of the LGBTQ+ Program at Project Kesher Israel (PKI) and Senior Social Worker at Clalit, delivered a professional lecture at the Or Nur Municipal Center in Tel Aviv–Jaffa on domestic violence within LGBTQ+ communities in the context of migration.

The session focused on barriers to accessing services, with particular attention to Ukrainian- and Russian-speaking LGBTQ+ immigrants who face compounded vulnerability due to their migration, minority status, stress, language barriers, and prior trauma. Key risk factors discussed included reduced social support, legal and linguistic obstacles, and limited cultural adaptation of existing services.

The discussion identified systemic gaps, including the lack of Ukrainian- and Russian-language professionals and materials, and explored opportunities for future collaboration to improve accessibility and culturally responsive care. The lecture emphasized the importance of professional training and institutional sensitivity in strengthening services for marginalized populations.