- Over 1,000 minors around the country are involved in
prostitution, with their parent's encouragement, the Knesset Labor and
Welfare Committee heard Monday. Dorit Brightman of the ELEM Youth in Distress
non-profit organization told the committee that many of the minors are
forced into prostitution because of the dire economic situation, and some
have even died as a result.
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- The ELEM representatives also told the MKs that two or
three children are known to each local authority to be involved in prostitution.
"In addition, there are numerous youths who offer sex services in
exchange for money and thus there are over 1,000 youths involved in prostitution,"
the representatives said.
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- Committee chairman, MK Shaul Yahalom (National Religious
Party) said that "we must find a solution immediately to this terrible
problem." He said that Labor and Social Affairs Ministry must place
a particular emphasis on the matter and must make sure that there is never
a situation where "a girl is found at night and by morning, [the authorities]
don't know what to do with her."
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- The head of the Be'er Sheva's welfare department, Esther
Amar, said that the State of Israel does not have enough rehabilitation
programs to help youths who have been forced to resort to prostitution.
Director-general of the Labor Ministry, Prof. Dov Goldberger, told the
panel that no budget cuts would be made to rehabilitation programs for
young women at risk.
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