Enjoying the services of a prostitute in Israel may cost you more than money - it may get you time in jail, under a proposed law that would criminalize buying sexual services.
A few people demonstrated outside of Israel's parliament on Sunday to
lobby lawmakers to adopt legislation making the purchase of sexual services from prostitutes punishable up to five months in jail. They would also have to attend a two-day educational program, known as the School for Johns. Similar protests took
place in New York, Washington DC and London. The demonstrations were organized by group called Atzum,
Every country that has put this in place, the Scandinavian countries, England, San Francisco has seen a rapid decrease in the amount of
prostitution both because the criminalization itself sends a message to prospective clients and the publication of their names, the shame proves daunting, especially in a society this small, said Rabbi Levi Lauer, executive director of Atzum.
A woman's body shouldn't be for sale. Women aren't a commodity, demonstrator Rose Prevezer told The Media Line. I believe that this bill ... is the best way possible to reduce violence against women, to reduce the rate of sex trafficking in the
country. In countries where they have instituted it, it has been proved to be a very effective deterrent.
On February 12, Israel's Ministerial Legislative Committee will be weighing a law containing these provisions proposed by MK Orit
Zuaretz, who belongs to the opposition Kadima Party. From there it will begin its journey in the parliament until it becomes law.
If this legislation is passed we will see a radical decrease in the amount of prostitution and consequently an
even more radical decrease in the amount of trafficking of women into Israel, Lauer told The Media Line.
An earlier attempt to pass similar legislation in 2009 was rejected for a variety of reasons.
Update:
Miserable law passes first stages
16th February 2012. See article from
jpost.com
A bill that will make paying for sex services a criminal offense passed its preliminary reading in the Knesset plenum on Wednesday and will be forwarded to one of the
parliamentary committees for further review and adjustments before becoming law.
The legislation was proposed by MK Orit Zuaretz (Kadima), chairwoman of the Subcommittee on Trafficking in Women, and is supported by many Knesset members from across
the political spectrum. Related:
It will impose a sentence of six-months in jail or community service on any person who utilizes the services of a prostitute or pays for any other related sexual services.
On Sunday, the Ministerial
Committee for Legislation gave the bill its initial stamp of approval, and the proposed draft is already being well-received by anti-prostitution groups.
Earlier on Wednesday, Zuaretz held a hearing in her committee to discuss the success of the
bill thus far and to explore next steps if and when the law is finally passed
Update: Public oppose law proposal
23rd February 2012. See
article from jpost.com
A majority of Israelis oppose proposed legislation
which would make paying for sexual services a criminal offense punishable with a prison sentence or community service, according to a Dahaf Institute poll commissioned by the Knesset Channel.
While only 34% of respondents said they supported the
bill, which passed its preliminary reading in the Knesset plenum last week, 59% answered that they oppose the proposed legislation.
