We consider that trafficking in women cannot be addressed at as a solitary problem but
as a part of a variety of social problems and that therefore a multi-disciplinary approach
is necessary. One of the important measures to be taken in order to get results is to
fight against all forms of criminality surrounding the trafficking in women.
It is necessary to reinforce the struggle against pimping including the closure of brothels
and any form of organized prostitution, to decriminalize prostitutes de facto and not only
de jure as is currently the case.
The policy of the State of Israel concerning the issue of Trafficking and prostitution is
changing but for now only the decision-makers level is involved. The changed policy should
also penetrate to lower levels and reach the local officials. We therefore consider that
Israel has already shown her wish to take responsibility in the case of the victims of
trafficking .The state of Israel has admitted that these victims should be paid indemnities
for allowing the violation of their human rights within the Israeli territory. Until now
indemnities were paid to a very limited number of victims and the amount was far from
being proportionate to their suffering and to the risk they took in giving testimony.
According to the recommendations of the two committees (Inter-ministerial and Parliamentary)
the indemnities for the victims should be taken from the confiscated belongings of the
Traffickers. These recommendations though are only in the status of recommendations and
their implementation needs to be evaluated during the next year.
According to the recommendations of the committees (Inter-ministerial and Parliamentary)
victims of trafficking who have testified against their perpetrators should be allowed to
get a resident permit in Israel especially in cases of minors or threatened victims. The
process to get a permit is very problematic and takes too much time without any guarantee
that the permit will be handed to the victim.
Another recommendation of the two committees is to close brothels. Again the implementation
of this important recommendation needs to be evaluated during the next year.
A shelter that is supposed to give a safe house for the victims until their testimony
is done was promised to be available during Janualry, then March 2003. Unfortunately we have
to say that the promises have not been kept. Victims who are ready to testify and awaiting
the trial are housed in hotels where there is absolutely no protection and they are prey to
old and new perpetrators who have no problem to rent rooms in the same hotels.
Another important issue that was not dealt in this report for lack of evidence but should
be taken into consideration is interpretation of the new law by the courts. While closing
this report it came to our attention that the question of how judges should interpret the
article that deals with the trafficking in women for prostitution purposes in the penal
law will be dealt shortly in the Supreme Court following an appeal of the state represented
by Adv. Nava Ben-Or, Vice- state Prosecutor. The Supreme Court should decide if the
interpretation of the new law concerning trafficking in women should follow the narrow
interpretation given by the Regional Court, considering the human being as a merchandise,
which , according to the prosecutor Nava Ben-Or hurts the purpose of the law against the
organized crime of trafficking in women or not.
This appeal shows that awareness campaigns and trainings regarding this phenomenon should
not be restricted only to the Police and to prosecutors but also to judges and in fact
to the entire society. Quoting Rapak Shmuel Boker might put the whole issue in a capsule
" Israel is not outstanding in the midst of western countries in the absorption of women
into the local sex industry. The phenomenon is nationwide and exclusive then ever. If once
the phenomenon of prostitution was limited to street corners during the evening and night
hours , today advertisments in the newspapers offer escort services and sex services 24
hours a day. Not as in the past nowadays it is a social phenomenon - a group of friends
may hire a room in a Hotel for the purpose of spending time with escort girls without shame".
(Article " The oldest profession" in Marot Mishtara Mars 2003)
