Official Publications

On March 21, 2022, we attended a meeting of the inter-ministerial team to implement the government program to eradicate prostitution, headed by Adv. Dina Dominitz of the Ministry of Justice. Prior to the meeting, we submitted a detailed position paper on the assistance that is not being enforced, such as police abuse and what we really need: stopping enforcement and increasing access to rights, stopping humiliation in TLA committees, deletion of police records, implementing real employment programs especially for trans mothers and women, and fighting poverty. The position paper was written in collaboration with Transiot Israel, Maavarim, HaMichlala, Tnuat Ahoti and Isha L’Isha.

Letter to the Minister of Internal Security Amar Bar-Lev, Deputy Chief and Public Defender Dr. Hagit Larnau, and Chief of the Israel Police, Yigal Ben-Shalom.
Argaman and other organizations explain that police records among Sex Workers are the result of their stigmatization as delinquents and leads to over-policing. The result is a drastic reduction in their employment opportunities, blocking the possibility of Sex Workers to contact authorities when they fall victim to offenses, and therefore increases their exposure to violence. The organizations recommend creating a route for deleting police records.

Thousands of people in Israel make a living from Sex Work, and the coronavirus health crisis has exacerbated the economic hardship of those who depend on this livelihood. The Law for Prohibition of the Consumption of Prostitution came into force without addressing the subsistence needs of most sex workers and survivors of prostitution. Argaman and additional organizations recommend making pensions and housing assistance accessible, establishing a system of assistance victims of sexual abuse, informing sex workers about their rights and involving community grassroots organizations, such as Argaman and Transiot Israel in the development of these programs.

Field report and official statement in which Argaman and Israeli Strippers Union (ISU) describe the consequences in the field of the closure of strip clubs, reviewing the strippers struggle and gathering testimony. The demand is unequivocal: to reopen the strip clubs, stop forcing on the strippers a repressive policy in the guise of “rescue”, and involve strippers in making decisions that affect their fate and livelihood.

The enforcement of the Law for Prohibition of the Consumption of Prostitution in the context of the coronavirus health crisis has been a disaster for Sex Workers. There was an increase in violence against them and a deterioration of their material and mental condition. The government program does not address the needs of Sex Workers, including livelihoods, housing and personal security. No steps have been taken to promote alternative employment, consistent with the legislature’s lack of intent to decrease harm against Sex Workers. Argaman and other civic organizations recommend avoiding law enforcement, deletion of police records for Sex Workers, delegate a budget for assistance and make existing responses accessible.

In a letter to the Committee of Constitution, Law and Justice, Argaman and other organizations demand a review of the Law for Prohibition of the Consumption of Prostitution 5719-2019 and postpone the date of its entry into force for a large variety of reasons: The government program ignores the needs of sex workers and does not give appropriate attention to their well-being; The coronavirus health crisis deepened the economic hardship of weaker sections of the population and limits the chances of finding an alternative livelihood; Persons in need are denied eligibility for assistance and are not recognized for welfare, especially since the welfare system is on the verge of collapse; The relationship between sex workers and the police is unstable and there is alarming police violence against them. The organizations detail their recommendations to the committee.