Posters of female neighborhood residents are displayed in the French Hill with their names and occupations on International Women’s’ Day defying a citywide wave of gender segregation in the public sphere imposed by religious pressure.

In view of a citywide wave of gender segregation in the public sphere imposed by religious pressure and near-liquidation of advertisements including photos of women, this year’s International Women’s Day gets special meaning in Jerusalem. In the secular neighborhood of the French Hill a special campaign empowering women, residents of the neighborhood, puts twenty photos of women on display while giving them a name, an occupation and a meaningful identity. The posters also declare “Welcome to the French Hill!”

The project was initiated by residents of the neighborhood themselves in an interest to make the neighborhood more attractive for secular young people. Photos were created voluntarily by a female photography major from Betzalel School of Art and graphic artists from the neighborhood also volunteered their services. Their message is “We are women and we are here to stay!”