I Am My Brother's Keeper: A Conference on People with Disabilities
The Hartman Institute, Jerusalem
By Invitation Only
A conference on responsibility for people with disabilities in cooperation with Bizchut – The Israel Human Rights Center for People with Disabilities.
Ms. Shira Ruderman, Rabbi Dr. Benny Lau, and Prof. Yedidia Stern at the conference.
Conference Moderator: Mr. Nahum Ido, Ministry of Welfare and Social Services
2:00–2:15 pm
Arrival and Registration
2:15–2:45 pm
Greetings
- MK Ilan Gilon
- Joseph Silman, Director General, Ministry of Social Affairs
- Ambassador Lars Faaborg-Andersen, EU Ambassador to Israel
- Ms. Shira Ruderman, Executive Director, The Ruderman Family Foundation
- Prof. Yedidia Stern, Vice President of Research, The Israel Democracy Institute
- Mr. Mossi Raz, Chair, Bizchut – Israel Human Rights Center for People with Disabilities
2:45–3:00 pm
Opening Remarks: Mechanisms to Guarantee and Protect the Rights of People with Disabilities in Housing and Institutions
- Mr. Achiya Kamara, Commissioner of the Equal Rights for People with Disabilities, Ministry of Justice
3:00–3:45 pm
"You May Not Ignore Them": The Responsibility to Supervise Institutions that Tend to the Helpless According to Jewish Sources
Lecture and Discussion with Audience Participation
- Rabbi Dr. Benjamin (Benny) Lau, The Israel Democracy Institute
4:15–5:00 pm
Establishing an Ombudsperson for Complaints against Judges: Learning from Experience
- Justice (Ret.) Tova Strasberg–Cohen, Former Ombudswoman
5:00–6:15 pm
A Mechanism to Protect the Rights of People with Disabilities: Functions and Authority
A Panel Discussion with Audience Participation
Moderator: MK Karin Elharar
- Dr. Shlomo Elyashar, Deputy Director General, Rehabilitation Branch, Ministry of Welfare and Social. Services
- Dr. Gadi Lubin, Head of Mental Health Services, Ministry of Health
- Attorney Sharon Primor, Legal Counsel, Bizchut – Israel Human Rights Center for People with Disabilities
- Gideon Shalom, Deputy Director General, Services for People with Developmental and Intellectual Disabilities, Ministry of Social Affairs and Social Services
- Attorney Dan Oren, Director, Consulting and Legislation, Ministry of Justice
- Dr. Aaron Cohen, Chief of Geriatrics Division, Ministry of Health
6:30–7:15 pm
Bark or Bite? The Media's Role as a Watchdog for Human Rights Violations
A Panel Discussion with Audience Participation
- Ran Reznick, Health Correspondent, Haaretz
- Gal Gabai, Journalist
- Rino Tzror, Journalist
7:15–7:30 pm
Closing Remarks
- Mr. Achiya Kamara, Commissioner of the Equal Rights for People with Disabilities, Ministry of Justice
One of the issues discussed at the conference is the initiative to establish an "Ombudsperson" that will serve as an external body that monitors the living conditions and treatment of people with disabilities in the institutions in which they live.
Shira Ruderman, Israel Director of the Ruderman Family Foundation and a partner in IDI's Human Rights and Judaism project, stated that the Ruderman foundation is proud to be part of a such a significant process, which will grant people with disabilities the rights that they deserve, particularly through integration in the community.
IDI Vice President of Research Prof. Yedidia Stern, who heads IDI's Human Rights and Judaism project, said: "We at the Institute are constantly engaged in the issue of rights, but for 20 years it never occurred to us to take the time to engage in the discourse on the rights of people with disabilities. IDI is pleased to have the opportunity to join this effort. Our angle of involvement, through the help of Rabbi Dr. Benny Lau, will be the rights of people with disabilities in Jewish law."
Yossi Silman, the Director General of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Social Services, presented the Ministry's plan for the next three years. "We will integrate 1,000 disabled people into the community and will increase the number of youth movement branches that serve the disabled community," said Silman. He further revealed that one of the recommendations of a committee he heads, which examines the issue of community integration, is to establish an Ombudsman within the Ministry of Social Affairs. "An Ombudsman is necessary," he said, "but within the Ministry and not as an external body."