Only recently more NGOs became aware of the phenomenon of trafficking although
it has been existing 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.
Kol HaIsha (Feminist Center in Jerusalem) - started to work on the issue
through a team that maps the prostitution scene of the city in collaboration
with Machon Toda`a.
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.
Hotline for Migrant Workers continues its activities as a center of
legal assistance for trafficked women in detention. It also brings many
stories to the media and promotes public awareness through lectures and
seminars. (Hot Line for Migrant Workers ,Isha Le`Isha and Adva Center
published in July 2003 a brochure including the testimonies of 106
trafficked women during the years 2001 and 2002 - "Isha Overet Lasocher".
ELEM (an organization that assists minors in distress) has started two
years ago a program to help commercially sexually exploited youth to leave
prostitution. A day care center was opened in 2003 in the area of "Gan
Hachashmal" and a specific hotline for youth in prostitution was established
a few months ago.
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. In October 2002 the center organized the
33rd Conference of the IAF (International Abolitionist Federation) -
"Pornography, Prostitution and War" in the Tel-Aviv Cinematheque.In
October 2003 the center organized with Isha Le Isha and Rape Crisis Centers
two conferences, one in the Tel Aviv Cinematheque on 31/10/2003
"Legalization of Prostitution?" and another in the Haifa Cinematheque
on 5/11/2003 around the film "Liliya 4 ever" of Lucas Moodysson which
was brought to Israel with the assistance of the Embassy of Sweden.
