22 Tamuz, 5777
The Criminal Prohibition of Consumption of Prostitution Services and Community Treatment Bill was approved by the Knesset’s Ministerial Committee on Legislation
TFHT – The Task Force on Human Trafficking and Prostitution, a joint project of ATZUM and Kabiri-Nevo-Keidar: “A Historic Step Towards Changing the Face of Israel Society”
The Ministerial Committee on Legislation approved the proposed Criminal Prohibition of Consumption of Prostitution Services and Community Treatment Bill, 2017, drafted by the Task Force on Human Trafficking and Prostitution and by MKs Shuli Mualem-Refaeli and Zehava Gal-On. The Committee also voted support for parallel measures submitted by MKs Dr. Aliza Lavie (Chair of the Sub-Committee on Sex Trafficking and Prostitution), Aida Toma-Suleiman, and Merav Ben-Ari (Chair of the Committee on Advancing Women’s Status).
Rabbi Levi Lauer, co-founder of the Task Force on Human Trafficking and Prostitution: “Today, the Ministerial Committee voted appropriately to take responsibility for 12,500 prostituted persons and for the image of Israel society by unequivocally saying “No” to sex trafficking and the purchase of prostituted services. We have struggled for a decade to bring Israel in line with many other states that have legislated that women’s bodies are not for consumption. We eagerly now anticipate speedy passage of the bill in the Knesset that we might truly bless, ‘She’he’heyanu’ – we have indeed come to a better time.”
Attorney Ori Keidar, co-founder of the Task Force Against Human Trafficking and Prostitution: “This is an exciting time in which the Knesset is taking a very important step in dealing with the severe social illness of prostitution in Israel. For the first time, the law provides a comprehensive response to all the components of the “industry”, foremost to the consumers who create the demand for prostitution and draw more and more women into the circle of prostitution.”
Attorney Avital Rosenberger-Seri, Director of the Task Force on Human Trafficking and Prostitution: “After a decade of difficult struggle, we are gratified the Israel government chose to convey a message of hope to women in prostitution and to Israel society as a whole. You can eradicate prostitution – you need decide to place responsibility on the consumers. It is possible that a generation will grow in Israel for which the purchase of sex and women will be illegitimate and illegal. We congratulate the Members of Knesset without whose cooperation with TFHT-The Task Force on Human Trafficking and Prostitution this bill would not have passed. ”
The bill drafted by the Task Force on Human Trafficking and Prostitution includes three parts: the prohibition of the criminal consumption of prostitution, the penalty for which is a fine, or imprisonment, according to the gravity of the offense; rehabilitation and assistance for prostituted persons; and the establishment of a national authority to combat prostitution and assist its victims, including a public awareness campaign to strengthen the law’s impact.
