By Zvi Zrahiya, Haaretz Correspondent
Haaretz - January 19, 2004
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.
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.
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."
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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