In this Hadassah On Call: New Frontiers in Medicine episode, we sit down with Dr. Dvora Bauman, director of the Bat Ami Center for Victims of Sexual Abuse at the Hadassah Medical Organization. Returning as a guest, Dr. Bauman sheds light on the pressing issue of sexual violence stemming from the October 7 Hamas massacre in Israel, discussing its implications and the challenges ahead.
Dr. Bauman underscores the urgent need for more comprehensive and sensitive treatment options for survivors, drawing from her personal experiences and insights into the devastating psychological effects of rape in conflict zones. She stresses that rape is never the victim's fault and calls for society to unite against this heinous crime, particularly in the context of war.
As a member of the team that compiled a comprehensive report on the sadistic sexual crimes perpetrated by Hamas against Israeli women, Dr. Bauman provides a candid account, delving into sometimes graphic details of the atrocities endured during the massacre.
"When 3,000 terrorists are invading your country, they could get everyone, they could get Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, etc. But they didn’t,” Dr. Bauman says. “They were focusing, and they were doing something time-consuming in order to humiliate, to break the spirit of this nation.”
Highlighting the psychological toll of sexual trauma, she discusses the feelings of guilt and shame and the propensity of some victims to engage in self-harm. She says the victims of October 7 continue to grapple with trauma and pain but often find it difficult to articulate their experiences.
In general, the Bat Ami Center aims to help erase sexual violence in society, including against males, which Dr. Bauman says is underreported.
Finally, she says that Hadassah members and the world can help by raising awareness and reducing stigma around sexual abuse in general and in combat zones in particular.
“Sexual violence shouldn’t be part of the war. No more,” says Bauman. “That’s a crime.”
Dr. Bauman has appeared on our podcast before. Listen to her previous appearance:
Sexual abuse and the Bat Ami Center.
Further learning:
- End The Silence - Hear The Truth
- Hadassah Joins Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz and National Leaders to Speak Out Against Gender-Based Violence
- Helping Victims of Sexual Violence at Bat Ami
- Empowering Women and Helping to Heal Victims of Abuse
"Hadassah On Call: New Frontiers in Medicine" is a production of Hadassah, The Women's Zionist Organization of America. Hadassah enhances the health of people around the world through medical education, care and research innovations at the Hadassah Medical Organization. For more information on the latest advances in medicine please head over to hadassah.org.
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The show is hosted by Maayan Hoffman and produced by the team at the Hadassah offices in both New York and Israel.
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