Country: Israel

Organization: Hotline for Migrant Workers

Innovation: The majority of trafficking victims remain in the brothels or are detained and deported with no protection or provision for rehabilitation. Courageous women wishing to escape from brothels correctly perceive a lack of options. Those who manage to escape find themselves homeless and penniless with no documentation. They are in need of time, space, and sufficient information to make an educated decision about their next steps. Furthermore, they lack basic rights such as healthcare, work and stay visas, and a safe and coordinated return to home countries. This replicable demonstration project, which will serve as a victim-centered model for the government, breaks new ground in the fight against trafficking in women.

Impact: This project will create systemic change at the national level. Legal action and public policy work will guarantee that the government will adopt this model in the future. This symbolizes an admission of government responsibility and will bring public opinion along with it. It will also force governmental agencies to be more sensitive to the need for rehabilitation and rights protection for all victims of trafficking in Israel- not just prosecution witnesses. Finally, it will give women wishing to leave brothels a place to stay.

Tipping Point: At this point, agencies have focused on the need for law enforcement against traffickers and pimps and the minimal to non-existent recognition on the part of the government to deal with the problem. We have achieved some successes, including impending changes in legislation, in this area. However, protection for women is still virtually non- existent. Reality on the ground and financial resources have prevented organizations, until now from dealing with this problem.

Replication: We are in contact with the International Organization of Migrantion and partner organizations in source countries. We will be happy to share this model with any country who might find it useful.

Sustainability: We anticipate the government will adopt this model and fund it in the long-term.

Position in the Human Trafficking Mosaic of Solutions:

Factor: Low Risk / High Profits for Traffickers

Principle: Ensuring Law for All