Liberal MPs confronted by UN Women for speaking out about the UN’s failure to condemn Hamas
Two senior Liberal MPs have been confronted by the chair of UN Women Australia over their criticism of the UN body for its silence about Hamas’ murder and rape on October 7.
Two senior Liberal MPs have been confronted by the chair of UN Women Australia over their criticism of the UN body for its almost two-month silence about Hamas’ murder and rape of Israeli women on October 7.
UN Women Australia chairperson Georgina Williams called federal opposition education spokeswoman and Victorian senator Sarah Henderson and Victorian Liberal MP Georgie Crozier to complain about their criticism of the UN body, made at a rally in Melbourne earlier this month.
Ms Henderson told The Australian the phone call was heated and that Ms Williams “berated” her for her criticism of the UN Women’s 57-day silence about the sexual violence committed by Hamas on October 7.
It is understood Ms Williams accused Senator Henderson, among other things, of dividing women by agreeing to speak at the Jewish women’s vigil in Elsternwick on December 4, which protested against the silence of UN Women and other women’s rights groups about Hamas’ sexual violence against Israeli women.
Israel and Jewish groups around the world have condemned as “disgraceful” the UN body’s long silence about Hamas’s murder and rape of Israeli women, when it has been quick to condemn violence against women in other parts of the world. UN Women is the global body dedicated to gender equality and the empowerment of women.
“Rather than berate me for my stand at the Jewish women’s vigil, I invite the chair of UN Women Australia to better represent the interests of all Australian women,’ Senator Henderson said.
“The … silence from UN Women over the atrocities committed by Hamas terrorists against Jewish and Israeli women is not good enough. There is no excuse for this silence from an organisation meant to uphold women’s rights including Palestinian women and girls subjected to the horrors of Hamas.”
Ms Williams also contacted Ms Crozier, a member of the Victorian upper house, to complain about a social media post from the rally in which the MP said: “UN Women and other leading women’s advocacy groups were silent after the 7 October attack on Israel when women were raped, kidnapped and slaughtered. Tonight, we came together to proclaim that there is #noexcuse for silence.”
When asked about the phone call from Ms Williams, Ms Crozier said: “I was pleased to be able to speak with Georgina and put my point of view to her. There have not been enough women speaking out about the atrocities that occurred and women’s groups have been too silent and haven’t spoken in support of (Israeli) women on this.”
Ms Williams said she did not want to discuss the calls to the two Liberals.
“I don’t want to have an argument with anyone, I’m not upset with anyone, I just think the (Jewish) community needs to be supported,” she said.
Ms Williams said she also did not want to comment about “the messaging out of New York” and said the spotlight was now “being put on the victims and there could be no better outcome”.
She declined to say if the controversy had had an impact on donations or organisational support for UN Women Australia, the local arm of UN Women.
The New York-based UN Women only condemned the Hamas massacre and the sexual violence towards Israeli women on December 1, eight weeks after the October 7 massacre that killed 1200 Israelis, many of then women and children.
Detailed evidence has been presented to the UN about large-scale sexual violence perpetrated by Hamas during its attack.
Israel’s Foreign Minister Eli Cohen said the delay in issuing the condemnation was “disgraceful”.
“UN Women’s message is weak and late when it comes after almost two months of silence and ignoring the war crimes, crimes against humanity, and sexual crimes committed by the terrorist organisation, Hamas,” he said.
At the rally in Elsternwick last week around 600 women dressed in white with some carrying signs saying “#MeToo Unless you’re a Jew” called for women’s rights organisations, feminist commentators and all politicians to “unequivocally” condemn the sexual violence committed by Hamas.
Speakers included Kylie Moore-Gilbert, an Australian academic who was wrongfully held prisoner by Iran for more than two years, Jackie Frank, the founding editor of Marie Claire Australia as well as Senator Henderson.
One of the speakers at the rally was 18-year-old Mika, a childhood friend of 19-year-old Naama Levy, who was taken hostage by Hamas and whose photos with her bloody tracksuit pants have been seen around the world.
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