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. They are the official
visitors that are allowed to enter the compound in Hadera only once a week.
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.
We Are Worthy - Anachnu Shavot. - Following is the description of the NGOs
activities stated by the Founder of We Are Worthy for this report:"We Are Worthy
is the first self help group started 12 years ago by a "Lady of the Evening" for
the purpose of helping people rebuild their lives with no difference between men
women or children, race religion or creed. We Are Worthy and part of the Rape
Crisis Center in Israel formed at 1997 the Israeli Coalition against the
Trafficking in Women. We Are Worthy believes in the International Convention and
supplementary Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish the Trafficking in persons
especially Women and Children. We are in the process of opening an open house,
outreach program and sanctuary where the women will be given psychological, social,
legal, economic and medical help based on the self help group principle"
Awareness Center - Machoon Toda`a 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. In
October 2002 the center organized the 33rd Conference of the IAF (International
Abolitionist Federation) - "Pornography, Prostitution and War" in the Tel-Aviv Cinematheque.
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)
and "TAMAR - The soul beneath the garments", are working on a proposal to Tel Aviv
Municipality for a first shelter for local prostituted persons who wish to leave prostitution.
