Only recently more NGOs become aware of the phenomenon of trafficking although it exists for several
years already.
The coalition of organizations against trafficking in women that was created by the
sociologist Esther Eylam after the 1997 report, written by Martina Vandenberg from
Global Survival Network for the Israel Women Network (IWN) still exists but, since it
deals only with the issue of trafficking and does not relate to the organized system
of prostitution (pimps and procurers),its work is reduced only to a sporadic help to
the women that are detained until they are expelled to their countries of origin.
Hotline for Migrant Workers and IshaLe`Isha (Woman to Woman) are members of this Coalition.
Isha LeIsha - (Feminist Center in Haifa) is preparing a program of training of officials
that are in contact with trafficked women in northern Israel.
Kol HaIsha (Feminist Center in Jerusalem) - has dedicated last year to promote awareness
in Jerusalem regarding the issue of trafficking in women for prostitution purposes - holding seminars and demonstrations.
Hotline for Migrant Workers continues its activities as a center of legal assistance
for trafficked women in detention. In the past year it has made several successful
and groudbreaking appeals to the courts regarding this issue, some of them being the
basis for proposed laws. It also brings many stories to the media and promotes public
awareness through lectures and seminars.
ELEM (an organization that assists minors in distress) has started last year a program
to help commercially exploited youth to leave prostitution.
Awareness Center is collaborating with the parliamentary committee of MK Zehava Galon
regularly and is requested to give lectures to different Ministries (Social affairs,
Education, Justice) and to different faculties in the Universities as well as continuous
work with NGO`s to promote the Abolitionist philosophy. In order to promote the
Abolitionist philosophy Awareness Center issues articles in Hebrew that are distributed
through Internet to the whole country, and has participated in an educational program
issued by Van Leer Institute to raise awareness of primary schools pupils to the issue
of white slavery.
The situation of prostituted persons in Israel is not bright, Awareness Center, with other
organizations, including "We Are Worthy" (an organization of women in the field), are working on a proposal to Tel Aviv Municipality for a first shelter for local women who wish to leave prostitution.
