Gal-On's introduction of the bill comes less than a week ahead of International
Women's Day on March 8th and coincides with events taking place Tuesday in the
Knesset to raise awareness to a wide range of women's issues.
"The current law [on prostitution] gives legitimization to the advertising of
sex clubs and prostitution in all variety of media," commented Gal-On, who
heads the Knesset subcommittee on Trafficking in Women. Her bill has the
backing of more than 20 other lawmakers from across the political spectrum.
"Such promotion in newspapers or with pamphlets and business cards are an
inseparable part of the trafficking in women chain."
She continued: "Allowing potential clients to receive information about the sex
industry only increases women's suffering and generates millions of shekels a
year for criminals."
Drafted by the Hotline for Migrant Workers legal adviser Nomi Levenkron, the
legislation is intended to widen the existing scope of punishment for those who
advertise and promote prostitution; increase jail time from six months to three
years for those found guilty of advertising sex services; and up fines meted
out.
If passed, even those who place promotional material on cars, distribute
provocative business cards or print leaflets advertising sex services will be
made liable for prosecution. Newspapers, national and local, could also be
found guilty if they run advertisements for brothels and other sex services.
"These new restrictions have been created in order to protect the public
sentiment on the basis of moral justice and not to eradicate prostitution
completely," said Gal-On. "The law will not ban prostitution but only makes it
criminal to... promote the services."
Gal-On pointed out that a recent meeting of the Subcommittee on Trafficking in
Women not only highlighted the clear link between the growing sex industry in
Israel and advertising, but also noted that despite a 2004 ruling against the
country's three largest newspapers for advertising sex services, such ads were
still regularly published.
"Ten years have passed since the original law banning the advertisement of sex
services was implemented and nothing has changed," finished Gal-On, who
recently proposed additional legislation to ban virtual brothels that utilize
the Internet.
"The public is constantly bombarded with hundreds of provocative advertisements
that boast sex services. It is clear that the current law does not provide a
viable solution for slowing down the prostitution industry and trafficking in
women."
