Good news now

This week’s launch by Jewish Women’s Aid (JWA) of a pilot programme on sexual harassment is both important and overdue (through no fault of JWA). In 2017, the JC revealed the extent of the issue within communal charities and organisations. The results of our investigation shocked some — but in truth they were not remotely shocking, since our report simply showed that it is as prevalent within our community as it is outside. More shocking was that most organisations had no clear policy on either preventing or dealing with it. It is to JWA’s credit — and the Board of Deputies and Jewish Leadership Council, which have worked with them on the new programme — that our community now has the first faith-based scheme in the UK designed to combat workplace sexual harassment. At the moment participation is limited to a small number of organisations but enrolment should be widened after this year’s pilot. It is refreshing to be able to herald some good news on a bad subject.