This report is the third annual report done by Israeli NGOs on trafficking in women and
prostitution in Israel. This report is the result of continuous collaboration between Machon Toda`a- Awareness Center and The Hotline for Migrant Workers but also data was
collected by Awareness Center from other NGO`s. (see list of NGO`s in page 2 of this report).
Legally speaking, the State of Israel can be considered as an abolitionist country that
signed and ratified the UN Convention of December the 2nd, 1949. Until recently in fact,
the State of Israel was leading a policy of laissez-faire that drives to a kind of reglementarism.
During November and December 2002 two important reports were issued by the decision makers.
During November 2002 the "Inter-ministerial committee to study and combat the trafficking in
women" headed by Super-intendant Avi Davidovitch issued a report that includes many proposals
how to tackle the phenomenon, proposals that if implemented are bound to diminish the phenomenon
to a large extent. During December 2002 the Parliamentary investigation Committee, headed by MK
Zehava Galon from the party Merez has issued an interim report that provides an operative
proposal based on the legislative issue. Also the proposals of this report, if implemented
are bound to bring an end to the laissez-faire era. (Main points of the reports will be
developed in Chapter 5 - Measures taken by National and Local Authorities)
These reports mirror the fact that more and more NGOs are challenging the laissez faire
policy. The abolitionist philosophy, though still largely unknown, has been adopted last
year by some members of Parliament but due to a radical change in the balance among parties
in the newly elected Parliament we have yet to see how they react to the abolitionist agenda.
Though during the last two years a huge progress has been made to adopt the recommendations
of the UN convention regarding trafficking in persons, especially women and children we are
still waiting for many promises to be implemented.
Among the NGOs that are promoting the abolitionist agenda are the Hotline for Migrant
Workers, Isha Le`Isha (a feminist center in Haifa), Kol HaIsha (a feminist Center in
Jerusalem), "We are worthy" - a self help NGO of prostituted and former prostituted women,
ELEM (an NGO handling prostitution of minors), "Tamar - the soul beneath the garments" -
a newly created NGO that has as mission to build a project based on the SAGE project of
Norma Hotaling in San Francisco and Machon Toda'a - Awareness Center.
The Hotline for Migrant Workers is a non-partisan, non-profit organization established
in August 1998, whose purpose is to protect the rights of migrant workers and of victims
of traffcking in women in Israel. The Hotline is an NGO that has a direct contact with
the victims of trafficking in human beings and provides them with legal aid and
representation.
Isha Le`Isha (Feminist center Haifa) is a non-profit organization established back in
the 80`s. It is initiating projects regarding the victims of trafficking in human beings
in the north of Israel.
Kol Ha-Isha is the only grassroots non-profit organization in Jerusalem dedicated to
developing and promoting a feminist model of social change, established in 1994. The
organization is currently promoting the idea that prostitution is in itself a violence
against women and is promoting public awareness in Jerusalem.
ELEM is a non-profit organization established in 1983 and is specialized assisting minors
in distress.
The Association of Gay men, Lesbians, Bisexuals and Transgenders in Israel (GLBT Israel)
is a non-profit organization established in 1977 by GLBT persons , based on voluntary work
and carry out a multitude of programs and activities for the Gay, Lesbian Bi and Transgender
communities.
Anachnu Shavot - We Are Worthy is a non-profit organization established by mainly former
prostitutes . Its mission statement is to assist persons in prostitution to rebuild their
lives out of prostitution.
Tamar - the soul beneath the garments is a non-profit organization established in 2002 by
persons of different backgrounds, including former prostitutes. Its mission statement is to
assist the persons in prostitution following the abolitionist philosophy.
Machon Toda'a - Awareness Center is representing the abolitionist philosophy in Israel and
is creating a network of NGOs to propagate this philosophy in the country. The organization
is the official representative of the International Abolitionist Federation in Israel.
