The state did not meet its obligations for equal representation of women in senior positions in the public sector, the High Court of Justice ruled on Monday.
The ruling was on a 2023 petition submitted by the women’s organizations Forum Dvorah, the Israel Women’s Network, and Na’amat.
It called on the court to examine the lack of representation of women in directors-general positions in the government and followed the appointments of 10 men to directors-general roles.
After the petition was filed, another 17 men, along with one woman, were appointed to these roles.
As of July 2024, just two women were serving as director-general of a government office out of 29.
“In opposition to the legislature’s intent, women are hardly represented in the senior management levels of public service,” Justice Noam Sohlberg said in the ruling. “As such, [they] are not partners, practically speaking, in a great deal of decisions made in the country.”
Sohlberg also said guidelines set by the state for ensuring fair hiring practices were not in line with the obligations of the state set by law, especially when it comes to the obligation to “work actively to promote equal representation among state employees,” which applies “at all levels and professions.”
State must set new guidelines
The state must set new guidelines that will uphold the law, he added, also saying that it must pay NIS 10,000 to the petitioners for their expenses.
Justice Chaled Kabub also signed the ruling and added that, hopefully, “the obligation of proper representation for women in public bodies, in senior jobs around the decision-making table” was now “clear to all.”
“This applies to the government in its appointment of directors-general to government ministries in particular and to non-tender positions in public service in general.”
According to the petitioners, segregating women from the decision-making table in government ministries severely harms equality, causing women harm.
The petitioners also said 26% of those in government “position of trust” roles (roles of a specific definition that require trust between the employer and the employee) were women and that many of these women were not in senior positions but in administrative ones such as secretaries.