Tuesday, February 10, 2004

Parents send kids to work as prostitutes

By Zvi Zrahiya
Haaretz - Tue., February 10, 2004 Shvat 18, 5764

More than 1,000 minors work as prostitutes around the country, many encouraged to do so by their parents because of economic distress. This was reported to the Knesset Labor and Social Welfare Committee yesterday by Elem, a non profit organization that aids runaway, homeless and neglected youth in distress.
 
In some cases minors have died as a direct result of working as prostitutes, said Elem's representative, Dorit Breitman. Committee chairman Shaul Yahalom, MK (National Religious Party), said a solution must be found immediately for this terrible problem, adding his ministry should pay special attention to this.
 
Esther Amar, director of Be'er Sheva's social affairs office said the state lacks sufficient homes to take in girls who became prostitutes. "There are very long waiting lists for every rehabilitation facility," she said.

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