600,000 children witness family violence a year

Some 600,000 children witness family violence a year, according to an AFP report issued Friday.

“Every seventh woman [in Israel] has been beaten, at least once in her life, by her partner,” it added.

The report came following a major march in Tel Aviv Friday in protest against domestic violence in the country.

Israeli women's rights activists have marched in Tel Aviv to protest against the rising family violence which sees some 200,000 women abused by their partners every year.

While silently marching, the protesters carried black coffins decorated with red roses to honor the 24 women who had so far this year been killed by family members, AFP reported on Thursday.

The rally, dubbed “Save Your Souls,” was organized by an Israeli-based women's rights organization that compiled the new figures.

“Emotional violence has no physical signs and is therefore hard to recognize and difficult to treat,” said Gila Oshrat, chairperson of the organization.

“It is a destructive violence, subjugating the woman and sometimes endangering her life and the lives of her children,” Oshrat added.

The event was held a day before the UN's international day for the Elimination of Violence against Women.