Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women

Pre-session working group

Forty-eighth session

17 January – 4 February 2011

Responses to the list of issues and questions with regard to the consideration of the fourth and fifth periodic reports

Israel***

Contents

Paragraphs Page

Replies to the issues raised in the list of issues (CEDAW/C/ISR/Q/5)1-4093

General1-193

Legislative and institutional framework20-646

National machinery65-6812

Stereotypes69-8813

Violence against women89-11917

Trafficking and prostitution120-19421

Participation in decision-making and representation at the international level195-22332

Nationality224-23936

Education.240-25239

Employment.253-28941

Health290-32448

Rural women and disadvantaged groups of women325-39053

Marriage and family relations.391-40863

Optional Protocol40965

Annexes

Annex 166-70

Annex 271-75

Annex 376-80

Annex 481-86

Replies to theissues raised in the list ofissues (CEDAW/C/ISR/Q/5)

General

Reply to the issues raised in paragraph 1 of the list of issues

1.Prior to commencing the actual writing, the previous report, session, concluding observations and general comments issued by the Committee since the last report was submitted, are studied. In addition to letters that are sent out to all the relevant Ministries and Governmental bodies, letters are also sent out to the relevant and the leading NGOs, inviting them to submit comments prior to the compilation of the report, both through direct application, and a general invitation to submit remarks posted on the Ministry of Justice web site. Their contributions are given substantial consideration. In addition to this invitation to submit comments, data and information are also actively sought on the relevant NGOs' websites, such information may include legal action taken by these NGOs and also opinions and reports on various issues. In the compilation of the fifth periodic report, direct applications were sent to 26 NGOs, for example:

The Association of Rape Crisis Centers in Israel.

Women'sInternational Zionist Organization (WIZO).

Toda'a Institution for Research the World Phenomena of Prostitution and Trafficking in Women.

My Sister (Ah'oti) Movement for Women in Israel.

Emunah – National Religious Women Organization.

NA`AMAT- Movement of Working Women and Volunteers.

Women Industrialists Forum in the Manufacturers Association of Israel.

Amnesty International – Israel.

Kayan – Feminist Organization for Promotion of Arab Women.

Isha L'Isha—Haifa Feminist Center.

The Association for Civil Rights in Israel.

El'nuhood – the Association for the promotion of the Bedouin Women Education in the Negev.

The Association for Promotion of Women Health in Israel.

2.After their compilation and prior to presenting the reports to the Committee, the reports are presented to high-level officials, including the Director General of the Ministry of Justice, the Attorney General and its Deputies, the State's Attorney, legal advisors of the relevant Government Ministries and more.

Reply to the issues raised in paragraph 2 of the list of issues

3.The International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women is implemented by the Government throughout the State of Israel. According to the Israeli legal system, international conventions do not apply directly, but through national legislation. Such is the case with the Convention which is implemented through a wide range of legal instruments, such as basic laws, laws, orders and regulations, municipal bylaws, and court rulings.

4.The applicability of the Convention to the West Bank or to the Gaza Strip has been the subject of considerable debate in recent years. In its Fourth and Fifth Periodic Reports, Israel did not refer to the implementation of the Convention in these areas for several reasons, ranging from legal considerations to the practical reality.

5.Critical to assessing and interpreting Israel’s obligations pursuant to the Convention, is the changing reality and the recent dramatic developments on the ground since Israel’s last appearance before the Committee in 2005. These include Israel's disengagement initiative in August 2005, involving the full withdrawal of all Israeli forces, the dismantling of its military administration and the evacuation of over 8,500 civilians from the Gaza Strip, and the rise of a Hamas-led terrorist administration, committed to violence and to the destruction of Israel. In these circumstances Israel can clearly not be said to have effective control in the Gaza Strip, in the sense envisaged by the Hague Regulations.

6.It is against this background that Israel is called-on to consider the relationship between different legal spheres, primarily the Law of Armed Conflict and Warfare and Human Rights Law. This relationship remains a subject of serious academic and practical debate. For its part, Israel recognizes that there is a profound connection between human rights and the Law of Armed Conflict, and that there may well be a convergence between these two bodies-of-law in some respects. However, in the current state of international law and state-practice worldwide, it is Israel's view that these two systems-of-law, which are codified in separate instruments, nevertheless remain distinct and apply in different circumstances.

7.Furthermore, Israel has never made a specific declaration in which it reserved the right to extend the applicability of the Convention with respect to the West Bank or the Gaza Strip. Clearly, in line with basic principles of interpretation of treaty law, and in the absence of such a voluntarily-made declaration, the Convention, which is a territorially bound Convention, does not apply, nor was it intended to apply, to areas outside its national territory.

8.If we examine the different rights mentioned in the Convention, we would come to the conclusion that the Convention cannot be in fact applied by Israel in the Gaza Strip, since the Israeli Government has no effective control in that area.

Reply to the issues raised in paragraph 3 of the list of issues

9.Following the United Nations' Security Council resolution No. 1325 in the year 2000, and in order express the importance of the value of equality, including gender equality in Israel, on July 20, 2005, the Government approved Amendment No. 4 to the Equal Rights for Women Law 5711- 1951, which added Section 6C1 Titled "Equal representation in a public committee and a team for shaping national policy". According to Section 6C1(b), in a public committee and a team which were appointed by the Government, the Prime Minister, a Minister, Deputy Minister or by a General Director of a Government Ministry, an appropriate representation shall be granted for women from all population groups.

10.According to Section 6C1(a) the definition of "Team" is a public committee or another body that was established for shaping national policy in any subject, including foreign affairs and security issues, or for prevention, management, or providing a solution for a political or an international conflict, including management of negotiations, and among others for the signing of an interim agreement or a peace treaty.

11.Section 6C1(c) of the Law requires that every appointing authority shall report to the Authority for the Advancement of the Status of Women (hereinafter: "the Authority"), immediately after such an appointment and prior to the beginning of the team's work.

12.According to Section 6C1(d), if the Authority is of the opinion that the appointed team or committee does not provide equal representation for women, it will detail its position on the matter to the appointing body and inform the Knesset Committee for Advancement of the Status of Women.

Israel and resolution 1325

13.Israel has recognized the importance of Resolution 1325 in various domestic and international fora. Domestically, in the Knesset, a joint meeting of the Knesset Foreign Relations and Security Committee, together with the Committee for the Advancement of the Status of Women, was held on 10 November 2010, to discuss the implementation of this Resolution. This meeting, commemorating the 10 year anniversary of the of the resolution, was held with the participation of high level Israeli politicians, including Defense Minister Barak, Head of Opposition Tsipi Livni, members of Knesset, and dozens of others. Among those present was the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, of the United Nations, Robert Serry, who congratulated the Israeli Knesset for being one of the first countries to create legislation in order to ensure that women would be adequately represented in public committees and teams named by the Government: "This legislative act should be a role model for other countries and I draw much encouragement from it."

14.Internationally, at the United Nations, on 26 October 2010, when the Security Council commemorated a decade of the resolution, Israel's Deputy Head of Mission lauded the importance of this resolution, describing it as "a milestone on the long road to the protection of women in conflict." The Israeli delegate emphasized that "In the spirit of the resolution, Israel has amended its Women’s Equal Rights Law to mandate the inclusion of women in any group appointed to peace-building negotiations or working towards conflict resolution. Israel also seeks to assist other countries in their implementation of resolution 1325. Through its international cooperation agency, MASHAV, my Government organizes programmes in women’s leadership and capacity-building for women’s non-governmental organizations. We believe that the skills learned in these programmes can make a real difference on the ground in post-conflict recovery."

Reply to the issues raised in paragraph 4 of the list of issues

15.The reservations entered by Israel to the Convention are related to the very fabric of the Israeli society, comprised of many religions, each with varying degrees of autonomy with regards to certain religious practices.

16.These reservations are being examined from time to time by the relevant authorities. To date, intensive Inter-Governmental discussions are taking place regarding a partial withdraw from the reservation to article 16 to the Convention.

Reply to the issues raised in paragraph 5 of the list of issues

17.The Central Bureau of Statistics makes a distinction between statistics which are relevant to individuals and other statistic information (for example: statistics which refer to businesses etc.) Since the establishment of the State of Israel, the Central Bureau of Statistics has always published statistical information regarding individuals with reference to gender. The amendment which added Section 7A to the Statistics Ordinance [new version] 5732-1972 (hereinafter: "the Statistics Ordinance") upgrades this practice to a binding legal norm.

18.Since the above-mentioned amendment and the legislation of Section 7A, there has not been even a single case in which the National Statistician determined that there is a justification to publish statistical information without reference to gender.

19.According to the Bureau, theoretically, publishing statistical data without reference to gender is possible in regard to individuals, only if the statistical analysis is carried out on an administrative data file which in itself does not include data regarding gender.

Legislative and institutional framework

Reply to the issues raised in paragraph 6 of the list of issues

Equality

20.The principle of equality is a fundamental principle in the Israeli legal system as apparent both in legislation and adjudication. The Basic Law: Human Dignity and Liberty protects basic guarantees of personal liberty within the framework of Israel's Jewish and democratic character. The goal of the Basic Law is "to defend Human Dignity and Liberty, in order to establish in a Basic Law the values of the State of Israel as a Jewish and democratic State."

21.The Basic Law stipulates, inter alia, the following: There shall be no violation of the life, body or dignity of any person as such; There shall be no violation of the property of a person; All persons are entitled to protection of their life, body and dignity; There shall be no deprivation or restriction of the liberty of a person by imprisonment, arrest, extradition or otherwise (unless as provided by law); There shall be no violation of rights under this Basic Law except by a law befitting the values of the State of Israel, enacted for a proper purpose, and to an extent no greater than is required. Furthermore, many laws emphasize the principle of equality, as detailed extensively in Israel's initial and periodic reports.

22.Just as the Israeli legislature crafts and adopts both new laws and administrative measures to ensure that government agencies adhere to the principle of equality and do not engage in any discriminatory act or practice, the country’s independent judiciary serves to interpret, guide, and enforce these measures.

23.This judicial effort is guided by the Supreme Court, which plays a pivotal role in the promotion of the principle of equality through the development of jurisprudence dealing with contentious and highly charged political and security-related issues, as detailed in the periodic reports.

Consensual-based Constitution

24.The process of preparing a consensual-based constitution is a long term and ongoing process and currently there is no timeline for its completion or adoption. The Knesset Members are constantly working to advance this process and in February 2006, the Knesset held a special festive session regarding this process and voted on the continuation of this important work.

25.The current draft of the consensual-based constitution includes several options for deliberation. The draft includes a section concerning Equality and Prohibited Discrimination (Chapter II, Section 6). In the leading version of the draft there is also a reference regarding prohibited discrimination based, inter alia, on gender or sexual orientation. The draft of the consensual-based constitution may be found on the Knesset Constitution, Law and Justice Committee's website both in Hebrew and English.

Reply to the issues raised in paragraph 7 of the list of issues

26.The Gender Implications of Legislation Law (Legislative Amendments) 5767-2007, which entered into force on 25 January 2008, requires the Authority for the Advancement of the Status of Women (hereinafter "the Authority") to submit an opinion regarding gender implications both in regard to bills and proposed regulations. As of August 2010, 147 such opinions were submitted to the Ministers' Committee for Legislation and Law Enforcement and to the Knesset Committees.

27.Note that even prior to the entry into force of the Law, the Authority prepared and issued gender implications opinions, under Section 5(6) to the Authority for the Advancement of the Status of Women Law 5758-1998, which states that the Authority shall act to promote bills in the field of its activities. Between 2006-2007, 230 such opinions were submitted according to Section 5)6( of the Law.

28.These opinions are submitted to the Ministers' Committee for Legislation and Law Enforcement in order to form a Governmental position prior to the legislature's deliberation. Theposition of the Authority on the matter is carefully considered and given serious weight at the final decision. Following are three opinions issued by the Authority regarding legislation amendments and bill proposals (unofficial translation):

Corporation's Bill Proposal for Amendment (Adequate Representation for Woman in Publicly Traded Corporations) 5770–2010

29.According to the power and obligation of the Authority for the Advancement of the Status of Women, according to the Women' Equal Rights Law 5711-1951, and the Authority of Advancement of the Status of Women Law 5758-1998, a gender implications opinion is hereby being presented.

30.This bill is aimed at promoting and facilitating the right and obligation for adequate representation for woman in publicly traded companies' boards. In order to narrow the gap between the general obligations embedded in legislation, and the actual low numbers of woman represented in publicly traded companies, massive and specific legislation work was gradually carried out in Israel in recent years. To date, existing legislation encompasses civil service positions, corporations, local councils, and other public bodies in a variety of issues. The next required step is applying this change for publicly traded companies' boards.

31.The proposed amendment provides a good chance for better use of the potential of women's quality contribution, which are 51 per cent of the population. By doing so the value of equality, which is a basic value of a democratic regime, will be realized, and the whole society and country will benefit from this amendment.

32.Such an obligation for adequate representation does not only promote gender equality, but also sends a clear message for the public and the entire world, regarding the importance of this topic and places it on the international agenda. Therefore, the Authority supports this legislation amendment.

Financing of Political Parties Bill Proposal 5770-2010

33.According to the power and obligation of the Authority for the Advancement of the Status of Women, according to the Women' Equal Rights Law 5711-1951, and the Authority of Advancement of the Status of Women Law 5758-1998, a gender implications opinion is hereby being presented.

34.This bill seeks to promote the representation of women in political parties running for the Knesset through a financial incentive. This proposal is based on an on-going reality of unequal representation occurring for many years in the Israeli Knesset. One of the reasons for this underrepresentation is that women are not equally represented on the parties' candidates' lists. Although the principle of equality is encored in the Declaration of Independence and in many state laws, it is still not implemented properly.

35.In several other countries, a system for obligated representation was introduced together with timetables for their achievement. This way this goal was achieved, among others, in Japan, Norway and Britain.

36.Note that financial incentive for parties in which women are equally represented, conveys a clear message to the public regarding the importance of this issue, and on the other hand, does not compel such representation, so that the parties enjoy absolute independence.

37.This amendment provides a better chance for maximizing the potential of women contribution and for the opportunity of promoting gender equality which is the basis of the democratic regime. Therefore, the Authority for the Advancement of the Status of Women supports this legislation amendment.

Legal Enforcement of Visitation Rights Bill 5770–2010

38.According to the power and obligation of the Authority for the Advancement of the Status of Women, according to the Women' Equal Rights Law 5711-1951, and the Authority of Advancement of the Status of Women Law 5758-1998, a gender implications opinion is hereby being presented.

39.This proposal regulates the proceedings associated with child visitation rights determined in case of a divorce. Two leading Public Committees referred to the matter of visitation rights in their report, the Shnit Committee that examined legal aspects of parental responsibility in matters of divorce and the Rotlevi Committee that examined fundamental principles concerning children and the law. Moreover, the Convention on the Rights of the Child, which was ratified by Israel in 1991, determines that both parents of a child are responsible for childrearing and this rule should guide the justice system in determining and enforcing child visitation rights.

40.This bill was drafted according to the above-mentioned instruments and with the vision of the best interests of the child and for the child, since it is known how traumatic divorce is for all those concerned and especially for children. Many researches show that the best way to ease the children's distress is full and regular involvement of both parents in the children's' lives.

41.This bill anchors the duty of both parents to implement their parental responsibility, and allows the courts to impose sanctions against parents who violate their duties. Consequently, parental responsibility values, parental rights and duties are being respected and better enforced. This bill provides protection for the helpless and those who find themselves in a weakened position due to divorce circumstances and contributes to the equality between the genders. Therefore, the Authority for the Advancement of the Status of Women supports this bill.

Training and awareness-raising

42.The Institute of Legal Training for Attorneys and Legal Advisers in the Ministry of Justice continues to hold lectures, seminars and courses intended to raise the awareness of attorneys and legal advisors of issues such as trafficking in persons, treatment of victims of sexual offences, domestic violence etc. The various seminars and courses focus, inter alia, on creating a humane and efficient contact with a victim of sexual offence, and Police work in regard of trafficking in persons etc. In addition, each year the Institute offers a wide range of courses and seminars on issues such as: gender, society and justice, the prohibition of sexual harassment at the workplace (a course which includes seven three-hour sessions), discipline and integrity within the civil service, human rights in international law, social rights etc. In 2009, the institute also held a special course on the treatment of female victims of sexual assault.

43At the beginning of 2007, a special seminar was held for all the lawyers in the Legal Aid Department concerning innovations in the Anti Trafficking Law 5767– 2006.. In November 2007, another training course took place for all the Department's lawyers concerning the salient aspects of the new Anti Trafficking Law and the recommendations of the Inter-Ministerial team for developing an action plan for identification of victims of trafficking and slavery. Additional seminars regarding trafficking in persons are held regularly every year, in recent years these seminars were conducted in February 2008, October 2009 and March 2010.

44.The Institute of Advanced Judicial Studies holds seminars for judges in Israel and forms part of the Supreme Court of Israel. The institute is directed by judges and is independent in its nature. The Director of the Institute is a former Supreme Court judge and the president of the I.O.J.T (International Organization for Judiciary Training).

45.The Institute for Advanced Judicial Studies holds approximately 50 annual seminars. In 2010, some of these seminars dealt with sex crimes, a seminar for judges residing in Family Matters Court, The international law and its impact regarding Israel internal law etc. The Institute is scheduled to hold a seminar regarding justice and equality in December 2010, which will refer to gender issues among others. In addition, in recent years the Institute held seminars regarding trafficking in women, abuse by family members, domestic violence and more.

Reply to the issues raised in paragraph 8 of the list of issues

The Israeli Ombudsman

46.In Israel, the State Comptroller also serves as Ombudsman. The Office of the Ombudsman, which is part of the State Comptroller's office, investigates complaints against Government Ministries, local authorities, state enterprises and institutions, and government corporations, as well as their employees. The Ombudsman investigates complaints that involve an act - including delay in acting - that appears to be contrary to law, or without lawful authority, or contrary to proper administration, or involves an overly rigid attitude or flagrant injustice.

47.There are some 60 lawyers in the Office of the Ombudsman's five branches and reception offices which are situated throughout Israel. The employees of the reception offices are multi-lingual, and they receive complaints orally in several languages, provide applicants with necessary information and assist them in resolving their problems with the authorities.

48.Any person can submit a complaint to the Ombudsman, whether he or she is a man or a woman, a citizen, a resident, a tourist or any other person who feels that an act of a public body, which is subject to audit, directly wronged him or withheld a benefit from him/her. The complaint is submitted free of charge. A person may submit a complaint about an act that wronged another person provided that this person agrees that the complainant submit the complaint in his/her name. Members of the Israeli Parliament - the Knesset, may also complain about an act that has wronged another person.

49.By law, the Ombudsman may investigate a complaint in any manner he/she sees fit. He/she may hear any person if he/she deems it beneficial and he/she may demand any person or body to submit to him/her any information or documents that are likely to assist in the investigation of a complaint.

Determining and handling justified complaints

50.In order to determine if a complaint is justified or not, in some cases a written response to the complainant in order to receive additional supporting documents may suffice. In other cases the Ombudsman's employees may meet with the complainant and the relevant employees of the body complained against, or conduct an on-site visit.

51.If the Ombudsman finds that a complaint is justified, he/she notifies the complainant and the body complained against of his/her decision, stating his/her reasons. The Ombudsman may instruct the body to rectify the deficiency revealed by the investigation and the ways and time to do so. This body must notify the Ombudsman of the steps it took to rectify the deficiencies. In virtually every case, the body complies with the Ombudsman recommendations, even though it is not obliged by law to do so.

Data regarding complaints filed during 2008 – 2010

52.In 2008, 10,571 complaints were received by the Ombudsman, which included 11,144 issues and in 2009, 12,639 complaints, which included 13,766 issues. As of 1 October 2010, approximately 11,000 complaints were received by the Ombudsman, and according to the Office of Ombudsman estimations, by the end of the year the number will amount to approximately 15,000 complaints. Note that in recent years the rate of justified complaints stood at approximately 30 per cent of the total number of complaints filed.

Data regarding complaints filed by women

53.About one third of the complaints each year are filed by women. There are no clear differences in the issues which are included in these complaints, when compared to complaints filed by men. Both men and women complaints concern mainly public service issues, health services, education and society, local authority services and other matters which relate to taxes etc. However there are several issues that rise more frequently in women’s complaints, such as: employment discrimination, complaints regarding parenting such as children allowances, birth allowance, alimony payments, kindergartens tuition and single parents rights. In addition, a small number of complaints are sometimes received regarding domestic violence.

Reply to the issues raised in paragraph 9 of the list of issues

Demolition of structures due to planning and zoning violations in Jerusalem

54.Since 1967, the percentage of the Jewish population of the city has decreased, while the percentage of the Arab population has increased from 26.6 per cent to 31.7 per cent in 2000. Specifically, the growth rate of the Arab population in Jerusalem and the surrounding areas has increased since 1967. This increase has led to a significant increase in the construction of neighborhoods that serve this community. The Municipality of Jerusalem approved outline plans for construction of housing for the Arab population that will serve the needs of the population until 2020.

55.During recent years, several measures have been taken in order to adjust the outline plans relevant to the eastern neighborhoods ofJerusalem, so asto properly address the needs of the population. Thus, currently, there is a new outline plan, pending approval, which includes the expansion of some of the eastern neighborhoods ofJerusalem, and grants additional construction rights to the local population. In the course of this expansion, emphasis will be granted for providing public establishments and open public areas.

56.Further, currently there are additional outline plans, in various stages of preparation and authorization, which were initiated by established agents on behalf of the population in the eastern neighborhoods ofJerusalem. Among these, are plans initiated by the population in Dir Al-Amud, Ali-Muntar and Ara-Al-Sahra. These plans aim to address the needs of the residents.

57.The Municipality of Jerusalem initiated approximately 60 plans that will enable additional construction rights, while taking into consideration the needs of the population for providing public establishments and open public areas, in the neighborhoods of Beit-Hanina and Shuafat. The plans are currently in various stages of preparation and authorization.

58.The District Planning Committee established a simple procedure to prove an interest in property in unregistered lands. This procedure alleviates the preparation of outline plans in areas in the eastern neighborhoods ofJerusalemwhere the land is unregistered. Additionally, the Committee discussed numerous plans that were presented by land owners in the eastern neighborhoods ofJerusalem. These plans were examined in light of the policy of the Committee, and in many cases have been authorized, thereby granting additional construction rights. Approximately 50 per cent of the plans that are presented to the Committee relate to lands in the eastern neighborhoods ofJerusalem, and scores of resources are dedicated to examining and facilitating the plans in accordance with the planning policy.

59.From the above-mentioned it is evident, that the District Planning Committee operates, alongside the Municipality of Jerusalem, in order to address the planning needs of the eastern neighborhoods ofJerusalem. In doing so, consideration is always given to planning policies that will ensure a reasonable quality of life, preserve open public areas as well as sites having cultural and historical value.

60.In order to facilitate proper planning procedures, illegal construction is not tolerated. Such illegal construction harms the local population, given the fact that it does not take into consideration planning policies that will ensure a reasonable quality of life, and public needs.

61.Additionally, it should be mentioned that the Mayor of Jerusalem has appointed an Advisor for Religious Communities, whose main function is to aid the communities in every field of service provided by the municipality (for example, building permits, sanitation and transportation).

62.Among other steps taken to strengthen the ties with the religious communities, the Mayor visited several churches in the city and learned about their activities. The Mayor was informed of different areas in which the communities require the municipalities' assistance. Amongst the problems that were discussed were housing permits and transportation. The relevant departments were instructed to resolve those issues as fast as possible.

63.All demolitions are conducted in accordance with due process guarantees and following a fair hearing, which is subject to judicial review and the right to appeal, and all demolitions are decided upon without distinction on the basis of race or ethnic origin. Those affected by a demolition order are entitled by law to appeal to the Supreme Court.

64.During the years 2004-2009, the Municipality of Jerusalem has demolished 693 buildings and building additions, 482 of them in the eastern neighborhoods of Jerusalem. During 2009, fewer demolitions took place. In 2009, the Jerusalem municipal officials demolished 122 structures constructed without municipal permits both in the eastern and western neighborhoods of Jerusalem. 65 structures were demolished in the eastern neighborhoods of Jerusalem and additional 57 structures were demolished in the western neighborhoods of Jerusalem. The residents of these illegal structures were not compensated for the demolition, since no such requirement regarding illegal construction exists according to the law, unless it is proven post factum, that the demolished structure was not illegal. For further information please see above the reply to the issues raised in paragraph 2 of the list of issues.

National machinery

Reply to the issues raised in paragraph 10 of the list of issues

65.In 2009, a woman was appointed as Deputy Minister at the Prime Minister's office. This Deputy Minister is the first to be in charge of Advancement of Youth, Students and Woman, thus promoting the level in charge of women Status in Israel.

Human resources

66.At the human resources field, the Authority's manpower was increased by two additional designated positions for minority populations. This allocation is intended for the promotion of Arab, Bedouin, Druze and Circassian woman by facilitating and promoting their achievements within society. This goal is being promoted, among other means, by granting scholarships for higher education and professional training.

Budget

67.Recently in was decided to substantially increase the budget of the Authority for the Advancement of the Status of Women. In 2011, the annual budget will be doubled to 3,337,000 NIS (U.S. $901,891) compared to 1,749,000 NIS (U.S. $ 472,702) in 2010. Furthermore, by 2011 a separate budget of 500,000 NIS (U.S. $ 135,135) will be allocated by a new regulation, in favor of minority populations.

Legislation

68.Israel has advanced legislation in the field of women's rights and the Authority is obligated to monitor the implementation of these laws, promote policy and activities for advancement of women status (Section 4 to the Authority for the Advancement of the Status of Women Law 5758-1998) and to promote the enforcement of equality between the genders (Section 1 to the Authority for the Advancement of the Status of Women Law). Thus, every amendment and new legislation in the field of women's rights adds a new monitoring mandate for the Authority. For example, the 2008 Amendment to the Statistics Ordinance requires public bodies that collect and publish segregated data, to publish gender-segregated data. The Authority monitors the implementation of this and other relevant laws. Hereinafter is a list of activities that the Authority promoted in recent years:

April 2010 - Creating a list of woman who are qualified to serve as directors in government corporations and other public bodies, including from the Arab population. This directory allows the Authority to assist with locating women for senior positions. The creation of this list is also advertized in the Arabic media to encourage and promote Arab woman to apply for senior positions and to increase their representation in public positions. Within three months, the list contained 1,500 names of women from various occupations. This list assists the Authority and appointing bodies to locate women for influential positions.

March 2010 – Government resolution No. 1563 dated 28 March 2010, determines that government corporations shall appoint advisors for the status of women. TheAuthority is assigned to train the women appointed for these positions.

October 2008 - The Civil Service Commissioner appointed a Committee to examine the matter of “family supportive work place”. The Committee's chairperson is the Director of the Authority. The Committee presented its recommendations and conclusions according to which, adoption of family supportive values in the workplace, will help the integration and promotion of women in the labour market.

July 2008 – An Amendment to theLocal Authorities (Advisor on the Status of Women) Law 5760-2000 (hereinafter "theLocal Authorities (Advisor on the Status of Women) Law"), imposed the Authority with the responsibility for the professional training of woman advisors in local authorities.

March 2007 – Government resolution No. 1362 dated 11 March 2007, determines that equal gender representation in government corporations' boards shall be accomplished within two years of the Resolution's date. As a result, the percentage of women-directors in government corporation's boards increased from 33 per cent to 42 per cent in October 2010.

Stereotypes

Reply to the issues raised in paragraph 11 of the list of issues

The role of mass media in the publication of human rights issues

69.Human rights awareness within the Israeli public is quite high. The language of rights has permeated into the daily life in Israel. Israel's main national television channels often broadcast interviews, news articles and television programmes related to human rights issues. Some articles contain information for the public and others bring personal human rights stories to the screen. All channels deal with all human rights issues, including: people with disabilities, children at risk, women's status, the protection of women, trafficking in persons, and more. These issues are also covered and dealt with regularly by local television channels. In addition, both national and local television channels regularly advertize information regarding help centres relevant to human rights issues.

70.Israel's main radio stations also deal with human rights issues through the presentation of interviews and radio pieces related to the subject. The main radio stations regularly broadcast advertisements regarding fighting domestic and sexual violence, against trafficking in persons, and advertisements regarding other aspects of human rights. The radio stations also provide important information regarding help centres for victims of human rights abuses along with other important information. These issues are also covered and dealt with by local radio stations.

71.Israel's main newspapers and main Internet news sites regularly address women status issues and human rights issues and publicize news stories and articles regarding the matter. Additional information regarding different help centres for victims of breaches of human rights can be found on some of them.

Women and the media

72.The Israel Broadcasting Authority (IBA) invests extensive efforts in encouraging equality between men and women and addresses stereotypes and the traditional roles and responsibilities of women and men in society and family. The IBA transmits various programmes both through television and radio on the subjects relating to gender equality, including promotion of women status in society, the fight against violence towards women and domestic violence, trafficking in persons, health and employment issues relating to women etc. These programmes are intended to provide information, raise public awareness, educate both men and women, overcome gender stereotypes and advance equality between the genders.

73."Radio Network A" broadcasts a variety of radio programmes which regularly refer to gender issues. For example, the Youth and Students" programme, which deals regularly with human rights, recently broadcasted discussions concerning violence against women, women in the IDF, programmes regarding women's rights, equality in the workplace, education for prevention of sexual harassment etc. Further examples are the programmes "Good health" and "A doctor on Call" which deal, inter alia, with issues of women's health and provide advice regarding this matter. The programme "From A to Z" is intended for new mothers and fathers, and provides information and advice. The programme "Dialog" deals, among others, with women status issues in the Israeli society. It should be noted that issues such as trafficking in women and foreign workers rights are also discussed regularly in these programmes.

74."Radio Network B" consistently includes in its news broadcasts and special radio programmes issues concerning women rights and human rights in general. The network has two weekly hours, which deal with issues concerning the society and the community, including violence against women and children, advancement of women status in the society etc. The programme "Justice and Conversation" deals regularly with legal issues and allocates considerable air time for human rights issues including information regarding courts verdicts in cases concerning violence against women and children and women rights.

75.The IBA Department of Broadcasts for New Immigrants and Abroad airs its broadcasts in a large number of languages, including: Amharic, Russian, English, French, Spanish, Ladino, Yiddish, and others. The station provides a large variety of programmes in all of these languages regarding gender issues, such as: "The golden years" (Russian) - elderly women telling about their lives in Israel, problems they face and the solutions they are provided with etc.; "On the women side" (Russian) – hosts women from various professions and statuses which tell about their lives and professions; "Law and order" (Amharic) – a programme which provides information regarding prohibited discrimination against Ethiopian women and various interviews (Amharic) – interviews with leading women who provide information in their area of expertise (such as higher education, violence against women etc.).

76.The "Voice of Israel in Arabic", a radio station, also provides programmes and information regarding gender issues. The station covers news items regarding advancement of women status, women rights and human rights in general. The music and culture programme "An artist from my country" regularly hosts women artists, in the field of music, and the programme "Literature pages" hosts women from a variety of cultural fields such as singing, acting, writing etc. In 2010 alone 93 women were interviewed on this programme. In the frame of the programme "Stations", successful Arab women are interviewed regarding their occupation and personal lives. The programme "Golden words" regularly hosts successful Arab women in the field of economics and finance and they are interviewed about their occupation, inter alia, to set an example as leading women.

77.All of the radio stations mentioned above also provide special coverage and programmes of the International Woman's day.

78.Channel 1 (TV), of the IBA, regularly produces and broadcasts documentary programmes on different issues concerning human rights in general including women's rights. In 2010, the channel broadcasted a foreign film regarding a Russian journalist who investigated corruption in the Russian regime. In October 2010, the film "4 stories from the Negev" by four Bedouin directors was aired. The movie relates to human rights issues and, inter alia, to the story of a Bedouin girl who committed suicide due to a refusal to allow her to attend school. The channels news broadcasts regularly deals with promotion of women status and discrimination against women by news stories and debates, such as: news article on the discrimination of women in Iran (August 2010), women in politics (January 2010), women in the Israeli Defense Force (March 2010), working ultra-orthodox women (May 2010) etc. The channel provides equal opportunity to women in interviews and the editors are making every effort that women will be present in panels held. The news editors are instructed to bring issues relating to discrimination against women and of racial discrimination, and to give wide coverage to stories of violence against women.

Human rights education

79.The Ministry of Education attaches great importance to human rights education and to raising awareness to human rights in general. The Ministry has on its website a special page titled "Pupil's Rights" that presents the Convention on the Rights of the Child, the Optional Protocol on the involvement of children in armed conflict and the Optional Protocol on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography. The Convention on the Rights of the Child is published on the Ministry's website in over 55 languages, in addition to child-friendly versions published in 11 languages. In addition the Ministry has on its website other human rights treaties such as the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and others.

80.Educational programmes concerning human rights issues are routinely conducted throughout the country. Israel has developed special programmes such as an annual "Human Rights Day." Each year, "Human Rights Day" is dedicated to a different aspect of human rights, and a relevant curriculum and teaching material is developed in both Arabic and Hebrew. In 2007, for example, emphasis was placed on the right to enjoy the highest attainable standard of health. In 2009, the chosen topic was "From Vision to Reality," which focused on the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the challenges in implementing human rights in Israel and in other countries around the world. In 2010, the chosen topic was freedom of speech, which focused on achieving self-realization through freedom of speech, the various kinds of expression, freedom of speech as an essential part of a democratic regime, limitations imposed on freedom of speech, and the challenges in its implementation in Israel and in other countries around the world.

81.The Ministry of Education routinely operates Gender Equality programmes of 10 to 14 two-hour sessions within the education system. In 2008 a special module was incorporated in these programmes, which includes 2 sessions regarding issues such as: empowerment of girls, trafficking in women, human dignity and gender equality, gender and politics and active citizenship. In 2008, over 4,000 pupils and 250 teachers from all over the country participated in these programmes. These sessions also include activities with the pupils' parents.

82.The Gender Equality in Education Department in the Ministry of Education routinely operates workshops and seminars for pupils and staff. In 2009, the Department operated a programme titled "Gender and Human Dignity" by conducting weekly 20 hours seminars, one-day seminars, conferences, and training with a total budget of 184,000 NIS (U.S. $47,750). In 2010, the total budget for this programme increased to 203,000 NIS (U.S. $55,000). The Department also operated a programme titled "Prevention of Trafficking in Women and Prostitution" for pupils and teachers, that included development of lessons plans, conducting conferences and workshops etc., with a total budget of 206,000 (U.S $55,700).

83.Since 2005, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in cooperation with several NGOs and the office of the United Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, has sponsored the simulation programme "Israel Model United Nations" (IMUN), with the participation of numerous Jerusalem based high-schools from all parts of the city and all segments of society. The project strives to expose participants to the United Nations' activities, instilling awareness of the major challenges confronting the global arena, whilst inculcating a spirit of tolerance and inter-cultural dialogue. Forming part of the well-established Model United Nations programme that operates extensively throughout the world, the programme goes some way towards improving the image of the United Nations in Israel. With several new initiatives to expand Model United Nations activities to Israeli institutes of higher learning in 2009/10, the IMUN programme holds the promise of becoming an important facet of educational dialogue in Israel.

84.In 2006, theAdministration for Society and Youth in the Ministry of Education published the booklet "In the Path of Rights," which focuses on teaching human rights to pupils of all ages. The booklet contains important information regarding the Convention on the Rights of the Child, and activities and educational programmes regarding the various rights, tolerance, accepting the other etc. During some of the educational programmes described in the booklet, the pupils learn about Human Rights, especially the Convention on the Rights of the Child and relevant articles of this Convention are read followed by an explanation and discussion to be held in the classroom.

85.The Administration for Society and Youth has in recent years created several educational programmes regarding democracy, tolerance and co-existence, and human rights education, which are intended, inter alia, to provide knowledge and tools in these fields and combat all forms of discrimination. The following are some of the main programmes:

International humanitarian law

86. This programme, intended for pupils in the 7th to 12th grades, exposes the pupils to the importance of International Humanitarian Law, the ways in which this law is formulated and the methods of enforcement. The programme provides the pupils with a wide perspective and tools to understand current events in the international arena, emphasizes the importance of humanitarian acts, and encourages the individual to be involved and show support for others. The programme was developed in cooperation with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and is currently being run in a number of schools.

The right to respect and the obligation to respect others

87.This programme is intended for various educational frameworks and consists of three parts. The first part raises issues of personal respect and dignity, and in particular addresses the right of an individual to respect and the duty to respect others. Part two deals with issues of social and group behavior aimed at ensuring the right to respect and preserving the dignity of members of the group. Part three deals with rights in the public sphere and as part of a group - a person's right to respect and dignity, to privacy, to enjoy a good reputation, and to avoid being humiliated.

88.Additional programmes were indicated in Israel’s fifth periodic report.

Violence against women

Reply to the issues raised in paragraph 12 of the list of issues

89.Israel's comprehensive strategy to fight against and prevent violence against women consists, among others, of the main elements presented below:

A national domestic violence investigative system

90.Owing to their special characteristics, domestic violence offences require special treatment. For example, an effective response to offences of this kind may require an immediate reaction to prevent possible abuse, risk assessments throughout the treatment, full utilization of police procedures including prohibition to carry weapons, collaboration between all treatment bodies, and awareness of the difficulty in collecting evidence.

91.Due to these unique characteristics, a special task force of 220 investigators specializing in the treatment of domestic violence and sex offences was formed, and has been operating since 1998 in every police station around the country. This task force consists of specially trained investigators specializing in domestic violence cases. Fifty other investigators handle these cases in smaller police stations in addition to their usual workload. Police stations located in the Arab population were allocated with Arabic speaking investigators. In addition, as of 2009 there were 14 Russian-speaking and three Amharic-speaking investigators. In every police station there are at least two investigators who are specially trained for dealing with domestic violence cases as well as sex offences and in police stations where the extent of such complaints is very low, investigators are trained for this function in addition to their ordinary functions.

92.This special task force goes through intensive training including, two one-week courses regarding sexual offences and domestic violence.The training introduces police guidelines on the issue and includes focused studies on the specific aspects of domestic violence, providing theoretical and practical information as to the social, legislative and judicial aspects of the phenomenon. For example, the participants take part in lectures and discussions regarding risk assessment, prevention of access to weapons, certain aspects of legislation, treatment of battering men, special characteristics of child-witness of domestic violence, models for collaboration with different welfare bodies, protection orders and their violations. In addition, the participants take part in a workshop aimed at encouraging victims of violence to come forward, during which they visit a shelter for battered women and watch a special film/theatre play on this issue. All persons who currently work as domestic violence investigators took part in this training, and were subsequently approved to treat cases of domestic violence. Beginning in 2004, 12 training and enrichment programme sessions are given annually to investigators of sexual offences in all the police districts.

93.Furthermore, the Police designated six district offence victims' officers in charge of contact with victims of crimes (VOC) in each district. These officers conduct professional supervision regarding the implementation of the law and regulations in their respective districts, provide assistance and conduct training programmes to field units such as patrol units, and create models for cooperation with non-police units such as treatment elements. In addition, the Israeli police districts also appointed district officers in charge of domestic violence issues. This appointment was made in order to provide professional, efficient and immediate treatment in the field of domestic violence and sex offences and also due to demands and needs rising from police field units.

94.The Crime Victims' Rights Law 5761-2001 (hereinafter"the Crime Victims' Rights Law"), which entered into force in 2005, requires providing relevant information to a victim of crime at every stage of the criminal procedure. As required, the Police established a new computerized system designated for this purpose. The system gathers the necessary information from other systems including Police systems, the Israeli Prisons Service and the State Attorney's Office. Victims of crime may receive the information by calling a designated phone number or by text or voice messages initiated by the computerized system. The information is also accessible through the internet. The system became operational in May 2005.

95.In 2007, a manned phone service centre was established in order to assist persons who find it hard to receive information via voice messages or through the Internet. In addition, the Police issued procedure No. 03.300.219 titled "Police Treatment of Crime Victims", as well as signs and informative materials in all relevant languages related to the criminal procedure and to crime victims'rights, were distributed to all police units. According to this procedure, in general, women complainants will be interviewed by a female sex-crime investigator, another female investigator, or in the instance of the absence of either, a male sex-crime investigator. The complainant shall be informed of her right to be interviewed by a female investigator and every effort will be made to accommodate her choice. Every effort will be made throughout the handling of the complaint to keep to one investigator to handle the investigation, who will also be in contact with the complainant and provide her with information. The investigator will stick to only relevant points pertaining to the investigation with due respect to her privacy and dignity.

96.The Police operates a computerized threat assessment system that assists in evaluating and assessing the threat posed by suspects in domestic violence cases. The system receives information from various sources, and by combining these sources and evaluating certain parameters, the system performs a risk assessment and assembles a profile of each suspect. The Police have also created specialized risk assessment squads in several police stations. These teams include a social worker, a clinical criminologist, and a police officer. The squads help to assess the threat posed by suspects, and initiate enforcement and treatment procedures.

97.The use of the computerized assessment system and the risk assessment of a suspect in cases of domestic violence is conducted immediately at the beginning of any domestic violence investigation, and afterwards at the beginning of each step of the investigation. This way, police investigators can better manage their actions regarding the suspect and can also better protect the victim.

98.Additionally, in several police stations, social workers are employed to provide instant assistance when a domestic violence complaint is being filed. The social workers make an initial assessment of the problem at hand, and also ascertain the willingness of the victim and/or the suspect, to receive treatment in help centres. As of October 2010, the project which has been operating for 10 years, operates at 14 police stations around the country.

99.In 2009, 6,338 domestic violence cases were opened in these 14 stations. 3,915 men and women were directed to these social workers, who conversed with 2,018 of them, as well as held therapeutic interventions with 1,134 men and women. Distress buttons are issued to women at high risk, once they have received a court order for their protection.

Cooperation with the IDF

100.As of September 2003, a special unit was established in the IDF- the Police Investigative Unit, which accepts reports on incidents of domestic violence where the suspect is likely to carry an IDF weapon, as a soldier/civilian army employee. This unit operates 24 hours and a computerized system was constructed. Monthly reports are exchanged between the police and the IDF as to the status of outstanding reports, as well as the list of weapon holders. The Police provides annual reports to the IDF as to IDF weapon carriers' with pending domestic violence cases.

Hotline

101.Currently there is one national hotline for battered women and children. The line is operated by the Ministry of Social Affairs and Social Services in association with Women's International Zionist Organization (WIZO). The service is available in Hebrew, English, Arabic, Russian and Amharic. In 2009, the national hotline received 3,773 calls, the majority of them (about 75 per cent) regarding domestic violence against women. Details on additional local hotlines are available on the Ministry of Social Affairs and Social Services website and websites of various NGOs.

Centres for the treatment and prevention of domestic violence

102.The number of centres for the treatment and prevention of domestic violence is consistently rising. In 2010, 83 centres and units for the prevention of domestic violence and treatment of domestic violence victims were operating in Israel, compared to 60 in 2005. 17 of those centres were designated for the Arab population, one for the Bedouin population and two for the Jewish ultra-orthodox population. The centres treat victims of domestic violence through group therapy and personal empowerment within the community. In 2010, of 10,000 persons received treatment in these centres, 67 per cent were women (6,750).

103.The Arab centres were also active is conducting seminars and courses for raising awareness to sexual abuse in the community, and to encourage victims to approach the centres and seek aid. This was accompanied by workshops in schools, lecturing to schoolteachers, doctors, nurses, police officers and the general population.

Family counselling units in the family courts

104.These units operate in Family Matters Courts and are designed to provide assistance to families who arrive to these courts, to effectively deal with court litigation, and to assist the judges to reach a decision that does not have a long-term negative impact on the relationship of both sides.

105.Currently there are six Arab social workers (of a total of 49 social workers) in 5 of the 14 assistance units in Family Matters Courts. Assistance to the Arab population is provided in other Family Matters Courts with no exceptions, and if required a translator is used.

106.Due to the complex nature of the cases that arise at the Family matters Courts, the importance of the family integrity and in order to prevent long-term negative impact on the family relationship; the social workers try to use mediation as one of the tools for assistance. In 2010, the 14 units assisted a total of 7,300 families including approximately 1,000 Arab families and 1,500 cases of domestic violence.

Rape crisis centres

107.There are 11 rape crisis centres throughout the country working to provide emotional support, practical advice, and additional support for victims including the maintenance of hotlines, and the provision of educational services. All centres are staffed by volunteers and are contacted by an average of 9,000 individuals annually. Two crisis centres are designated especially for the Arab population (but all centres receive Arab women) and an additional centre is designated especially for the ultra-orthodox population.

Multidisciplinary centres

108.Israel has also developed a unique model of multidisciplinary centres that provide interrelated services to women who have suffered abuse and violence. These centres combine psychosocial and psychological treatment with medical and legal services. Until 2007, there were such three centres in Israel, and in 2008 three additional centres were opened, designed to treat 600 persons simultaneously. As of October 2008, 428 victims were treated in these centres, compared to 280 in 2007

109.Regarding financial assistance to women who choose to leave shelters for battered women please see below the reply to the issues raised in paragraph 14 of the list of issues.

Marital rape

110.According to Section 345 of the Penal Law 5737-1977, marital rape is considered as rape and therefore it is a crime punishable by up to 16 years imprisonment and under aggravated circumstances up to 20 years.

Reply to the issues raised in paragraph 13 of the list of issues

111.Please see above the reply to the issues raised in paragraph 2 of the list of issues.

Reply to the issues raised in paragraph 14 of the list of issues

112.The Ministry of Social Affairs and Social Services (hereinafter "the Ministry") operates a committee that provides financial assistance to battered women who wish to leave the shelters and start their independent lives. In 2008, the Ministry issued a tender for supervision of the allocation of this financial assistance. The NGO "Bat Melech" which operates a network of social services for victims of domestic violence was elected in the tender, and was chosen to appoint professionals in the field of domestic violence to examine the financial assistance requests and decide on the recipients, together and under the supervision of the National Supervisor for the Welfare of the Individual and the Family in the Ministry.

113.In 2009, the total allocation for this assistance was 1,000,000 NIS (U.S. 272,000$). The assistance is provided to battered women with children who choose to leave the shelters and require money for basic necessities, such as paying rent, buying basic equipment and more. The average assistance is in the amount of 10,000 NIS (U.S. 2,700$) per family.

114.Palestinian women do not have access to this committee; however, there is a small number of exceptional cases of Palestinian women who are admitted to shelters for battered women in Israel (mainly women who stay illegally in Israel and suffer from domestic violence). These women usually stay longer periods in the shelters due to the fact that they cannot return to their families. These women are assisted by the Ministry and receive financial assistance when necessary.

Reply to the issues raised in paragraph 15 of the list of issues

115.Murder in the name of what is called "family honour" is treated as severely as any other criminal activity. One of the major difficulties in the prevention of such crimes is the conspiracy of silence that surrounds these acts and no prior knowledge that will activate Police and welfare intervention.

116.In cases in which the Police have prior knowledge regarding domestic violence or regarding threats of murder within the family, the Police immediately intervenes by investigating the relevant suspects, providing assistance to threatened and intimidated women, engaging the welfare and social services and referring the women to shelters. However, in order to penetrate this wall of silence, there has to be condemnation within Arab society and advancement in impartiality and education.

117.To facilitate a change in the current situation it is essential to promote awareness within the Arab population. In order to achieve such transformation, the spiritual leaders of the Arab population must raise their voice against such acts and against domestic violence as a whole. These acts of condemnation exist but they are not enough. For example, a few weeks ago, a female-school principal was murdered. Following this event, the Druze spiritual leader implored all Druze women that suffer from domestic violence to come forward and file a complaint. In another case, the mayor of Rahat participated in a public demonstration against domestic violence.

118.The Police, as well as the Israeli legal system, regard any murder as such, and investigate it vigorously, regardless of the murderer’s motives. Israeli law does not recognize any mitigating circumstances in such cases, and prosecutes, indicts and punishes the perpetrators in all severity.

119.For further information please see above the reply to the issues raised in paragraph 2 of the list of issues.

Trafficking and prostitution

Reply to the issues raised in paragraph 16 of the list of issues

Trafficking for prostitution

120.In 2009, the Police conducted nine criminal investigations concerning trafficking in persons for the purpose of engaging them in prostitution, all were trafficked in previous years, rather than 2008-2009. In the course of these cases, 13 persons were arrested. In addition, the Police opened 269 cases of managing a property for the purpose of engaging persons in prostitution, 82 pandering cases, and 16 cases of advertisement of prostitution services. In addition, six victims of trafficking in persons for prostitution were referred by the Police to "Maagan" shelter in 2009. The following two tables present Police data on criminal investigations and arrests for trafficking in persons for prostitution and related offences:

Criminal investigations

Offence	2008	2009	Increase/decrease in %
Pandering for the purpose of prostitution	64	82	+28.1%
Inducement to engage in prostitution	6	10	+66.6%
Managing a property for the purpose of engaging in prostitution	177	269	+60%
Abduction for causing bodily harm or sexual offence	17	20	+17.6%
Advertisement of prostitution services	9	16	+77.7%
Trafficking in persons for the purpose of engaging them in prostitution	10	9	+11%
Total	283	396	+40%

Arrests

Offence	2008	2009	Increase/decrease in %
Pandering for the purpose of prostitution	6	14	+133.3%
Inducement to engage in prostitution	10	11	+10%
Managing a property for the purpose of engaging in prostitution	61	83	+36%
Trafficking in persons for the purpose of engaging them in prostitution	9	13	+44.4%
Total	86*	121**	+40.7%

* Of which 12 were arrested until such time as proceedings had been completed.

** Of which 14 were arrested until such time as proceedings had been completed.

The State Attorney's Office

121.During 2009, 14 persons were convicted of trafficking for the purpose of prostitution, and/or related offences. Six indictments were filed in 2009 for these offences, in addition to six ongoing cases pending before the courts. One appeal was submitted to the Supreme Court by a defendant convicted of trafficking in persons for prostitution and related offences, and sentenced to 24 months imprisonment. This appeal is pending before the Supreme Court.

122.Furthermore, during 2009 the Supreme Court dismissed nine appeals submitted by defendants against the severity of their sentence. Several defendants appealed the conviction itself. The sentences appealed varied from six months to 13 years imprisonment, as well as additional compensation to victims, depending on the severity of the offences. In one case the Supreme Court reduced a sentence from seven to six years imprisonment and in another case the sentence was reduced from 10 to 7 months imprisonment.

123.During 2009, the Supreme Court also accepted an appeal submitted by the State in a case of trafficking related offences, requesting the imposition of compensation to the victim in addition to the imprisonment sentence imposed by the lower court.

General trends

124.The number of trafficking cases handled by the Tel Aviv District Attorney's Office has decreased significantly, from 100 active cases in 2007 to less than 20 during 2009. This decrease proceeds from a decrease in the number of trafficking for prostitution victims due to determined enforcement. In this regard, note that all of these cases refer to trafficking which took place in former years.

125.The Police and State Attorney's Office give priority to the prosecution of trafficking for the purpose of prostitution. The Courts have espoused broad principles of interpretation which allow the conviction of all links in the chain of trafficking from the first link abroad, to the transporter, the broker, and the purchaser. While sentencing is not uniform, it is increasingly severe, including cases where traffickers were sentenced to periods of incarceration of 8.5 and five years. The State Attorney's Office vigorously espouses a broad interpretation of these crimes and initiates appeals when lower court interpretation falls short of these principles and when sentences do not reflect the gravity of the crimes. The Supreme Court has accepted the State Attorney's position and interprets the offence broadly while meting out substantial sentences though it does not always accept the State's appeals.

126.Emphasis is also given to the issue of compensations to victims of trafficking, as well as insisting upon the defendants depositing the compensation sums due as a precondition to plea bargains. These plea bargains are conducted according to the provisions of the Crime Victims' Rights Law and only after due consideration is given to the position of the victim.

Trafficking for labour

127.In 2009, a significant number of investigations were conducted in an attempt to ensure the prosecution of core trafficking crimes such as slavery and forced labour. In addition, emphasis was also placed upon other grave crimes such as fraud, exploitation and the withholding of passports, as the determined enforcement of these crimes creates a climate which is unfriendly to trafficking. Regulatory offences were also invoked and administrative steps were taken, which together, are calculated to deter individuals from committing crimes against foreign workers.

Grave criminal offences

128.Since July 2009, the Police' "Saar Unit" has opened 61 investigations of cases involving forced labour, 28 investigations of cases involving the withholding of passports, and eight investigations of cases involving the exploitation of vulnerable populations.

Forced labour

129.Four investigations of forced labour are in advanced stages of review in the Central and Jerusalem District State Attorney's Office. Several more cases are currently under review by the "Saar Unit" of the Police. Another case was transferred in June 2009 to the Police's prosecuting unit – the "Lahav Unit", and a draft indictment was prepared.

130.Forced labour, exploitation of vulnerable populations, and withholding a passport – In 2009, indictments were filed in 32 cases of forced labour, exploitation of vulnerable populations, and withholding a passport (an additional 55 indictments were prepared and are in hearing proceedings).

131.Fraud and deceit – in general, cases of fraud and deceit involve foreign workers being promised working visas conditional upon payment of large sums of money to criminal elements, before and after their arrival in Israel. In 2009, indictments were filed in 28 cases of fraud (an additional 36 indictments were prepared and are in hearing proceedings), and another 42 indictments were filed for fraud against the State and indirect fraud of a foreign worker (an additional 28 indictments were prepared and are in hearing proceedings).

Protection for victims of trafficking

All forms of trafficking

132.The Witness Protection Law established a Witness Protection Authority (hereinafter "the Authority") which will be responsible for developing programmes to protect witnesses who satisfy the relevant criteria. The Authority protects the witnesses and their families prior to, during and after the trial. According to Section 2 of the Law, the Authority is responsible, inter alia, for developing professional knowledge and doctrine for the protection of threatened witnesses, setting criteria for assessing the threats and developing tools to protect the witnesses based on those assessments.

133.The Witness Protection Authority is currently in its initial stage of operation, and only a single witness has been referred to it. As soon as the Authority is fully functional, victims of trafficking for prostitution who meet the above-mentioned criteria will be referred to the Authority. Witnesses who do not meet the criteria for this heightened protection will be protected by the Police or the Israeli Prisons Service (IPS).

Crime Victims' Rights Law

134. This Law affords a right to protection to victims of crime during criminal proceedings. This includes protection, as needed, from the suspect, defendant or sentenced criminal and their agents or those close to them and protection in the courtroom, as far as possible, from unnecessary contact with any of the above (Section 6 of the Law).

The "Maagan" shelter

135.The "Maagan" shelter for victims of trafficking was created for all victims of trafficking for prostitution, regardless of their willingness to testify against their traffickers. Of the six women referred to the shelter in 2009, four women were referred for a reflection period and two have already agreed to testify. Of those, two were not required to testify, two testified and two had testified in the past.

136.Victims residing in the "Maagan" shelter, whether or not they testify, are protected by guards securing the shelter, and the shelter also maintains direct contact with the local police station, in cases of need.

Trafficking for Labour

137.Migrant workers who have been the victims of criminal offences, whose complaints are investigated by the "Saar" department of the "Lahav Unit" of the Police, are given a temporary stay of removal. They are released from detention, transferred to the shelters for trafficked victims, and are allowed to work during their stay, until the conclusion of their testimony against the offender. They are also eligible to receive visas for rehabilitation purposes from the Ministry of Interior upon the conclusion of the criminal proceedings.

The "Atlas" Shelter

138.All of the 50 male victims of slavery and forced labour were referred to the "Atlas" shelter for male victims of trafficking due to their testimony against their employer. Of the female victims of trafficking for slavery and forced labour, ten were referred to the "Maagan" shelter so as to protect them until their testimony.

Compensation for the victims

139.The State Attorney's Office is making every effort to ensure that defendants pay the amount of compensation required to the victims, before presenting a plea bargain to the court. The State Attorney's Office has issued guidelines on this matter, since after such compensation was deposited in the court's fund; problems arose in transferring the compensation to the victims, especially if they had already left Israel.

140.These problems are solved in the following manner: If the victim is still in Israel, he/she may withdraw the money from the Courts Administration System. As for victims who have left Israel and returned to their country of origin, since 2006 they sign a power of attorney which allows the Legal Aid Branch in the Ministry of Justice to trace them abroad and transfer them the money. Victims who left Israel before 2006 are assisted by the "Isha L'Isha" (Woman to woman) NGO. Recently, the General Administrator has taken upon himself the task of transferring compensation money to trafficking victims who have left Israel.

National plans

141.Regarding the National Plan on the Battle against Trafficking in Persons for the Purpose of Prostitution, please see annex 1.

142.Regarding the National Plan on the Battle against Slavery and Trafficking in Persons for the Purposes of Slavery or Forced Labor, please see annex 2.

143.Regarding the Status of Implementation of the National Plan on the Battle against Trafficking in Persons for the Purpose of Prostitution, please see annex 3.

144.Regarding the Status of Implementation of the National Plan on the Battle against Slavery and Trafficking in Persons for the Purposes of Slavery or Forced Labor, please see annex 4.

Reply to the issues raised in paragraph 17 of the list of issues

145.In recent years this issue was heartily debated on several levels:

A private Bill entitled: the Prohibition of the Use of Paid Sexual Services Law, calling for criminalization of all clients of the sex industry was drafted. According to the bill (not yet tabled), a client will be liable to six months imprisonment, or an educational programme upon his/her first arrest for this offence. In the following aggravating circumstances, the penalty is raised to five years imprisonment – the use of a minor, victim of trafficking or a person addicted to certain substances, or if the client is a public official. In 2008-2010, the National Coordinator convened a series of meetings including NGOs, government representatives and academics. The Committee decided to delay the final decision to allow for mapping out of the world of prostitution and intensive public information campaigns on this subject.

An amendment to the section of the Penal Law which prohibits advertizing prostitution services is being drafted. This amendment will broaden the scope of the prohibition and is calculated to decrease demand.

The Inter-ministerial Plan for the Rehabilitation and Treatment of Women and Girls Engaged in Prostitution in order to Assist Them in Breaking the Vicious Cycle of Prostitution

146.-The implementation of this plan continued throughout 2009, as it became an annual permanent budgeted activity. The 2009 budget for the plan was NIS 7,429,817 (U.S $ 2 Million).The implementation of this plan, which was approved by the Prime Minister in 2007, began during 2008 and continued during 2009. The plan is directed at reducing and preventing prostitution among Israeli society as well as rehabilitating and assisting women who survived prostitution. The plan further aims to break the cycle of exploitation and social exclusion of these women, to assist them in regaining self esteem, and re-establishing trust and control over their lives. In addition, the plan provides emergency and continuous treatment to women who engage in prostitution

National level

147.A national steering committee for outlining the various means of treatment and inter-ministerial cooperation is composed by members of the Ministries of Social Affairs and Social Services, Health, Education, and the Prime Minister Office. In addition, local steering committees operate for the treatment of prostitution in Tel-Aviv, Haifa and Eilat. A research formation regarding the plan was created, and a tender is about to be published.

Tel-Aviv District (centr e )

148. In Tel-Aviv, the operation of an emergency-apartment, a hotline, a mobile health clinic, a day treatment centre, a night treatment centre, and a hostel, continued during 2009. In addition, a brochure which surveys the academic writing regarding services for women who engage in prostitution was published.

149.In 2009, approximately 600 calls were placed with the hotline, of which 86 per cent were follow-up calls placed by previously-treated women. 120 women have contacted the hotline, of which 49 were referred for further treatment, including: eight who were referred to drug rehabilitation centres, ten who were referred for legal assistance, seven who were referred to the day treatment centre, six who were referred to the emergency apartment, six who were referred for weekly sessions with the hotline coordinator, and twelve who were referred to other forms of treatment.

150.The Ministry of Social Affairs and Social Services continued to operate patrols to approach women engaged in prostitution. In 2009, 341 encounters occurred with 200 different women, of which 33 per cent were known and treated at the emergency apartment. Of these women, 97 received further treatment, including: 66 who remained in contact with the hotline, eleven who were referred to a drug rehabilitation centre, fourteen who were referred to the emergency apartment, five who were referred to the day treatment centre, and one who was referred to the hostel.

151.During 2009, approximately 200 women stayed in the emergency apartment, of which 46 were referred to drug rehabilitation centres and three were referred to methadone or subutex centres. Out of the women referred to rehabilitation centres, sixteen completed their rehabilitation and were referred for further treatment at the hostel (thirteen women), the day treatment centre (one woman) and other treatment frameworks (two women). At the end of 2009, five women who began their rehabilitation in the emergency apartment were still residing in the hostel.

152.In 2009, 61 women were treated in the day treatment centre, of which 41 left the centre during the year. Seven women completed the six-month day track, and began to work while being integrated into the night track. At the end of 2009, thirteen women were treated in the day treatment centre. In 2009, 49 women were treated in the hostel, of which 34 left the hostel during the year. At the end of 2009, fourteen women were residing in the hostel.

Haifa District (north)

153. In the city of Haifa, the operation of an emergency apartment, a day treatment centre, a night treatment centre, and a mobile health clinic, continued during 2009. In addition, a hostel for the rehabilitation of women who engage in prostitution is currently being established.

154.The mobile health clinic operates three times a week, and to date, approximately 130 women have received medical care at the clinic. During 2009, the clinic performed approximately 1,260 acts of medical assistance in areas where women engage in prostitution.

155.The emergency apartment houses, on average, 11 women every night. The women stay in the apartment for both short and long-term periods. There are also women who arrive at the apartment during the afternoon but do not stay for the night. All of the women who have resided in the emergency apartment have succeeded in breaking out of the cycle of prostitution.

156.The day treatment centre operates five times a week. Every day, eleven women arrive at the centre, and an additional nine women arrive at least once a week.

Southern District

157. As the plan is to be implemented in Be'er-Sheva, a social worker for the treatment of women who engage in prostitution was hired in 2009.

Reinforcement of ongoing programmes

158.- The programmes for locating young girls who engage in prostitution, the rehabilitation of women prisoners who engaged in prostitution, and the recovery of women who engaged in prostitution while living on the streets, were reinforced.

Reply to the issues raised in paragraph 18 of the list of issues

159.Shelter, health services and other benefits for victims of trafficking including trafficking for prostitution, are provided regardless of their willingness to testify against their traffickers. Of the six women referred to the shelter in 2009, four women were referred for a reflection period and two have already agreed to testify. Of those, two were not required to testify, two testified and two had testified in the past.

Reply to the issues raised in paragraph 19 of the list of issues

160.The Labour Laws Enforcement Division in the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Labor (ITL), is investing great efforts in promoting awareness regarding labour laws among employers and employees, in order to prevent illegal labour abuse.

161.During 2009 up to the middle of November the Enforcement Division in the Ministry of ITL imposed approximately 1,662 administrative fines on employers of foreign workers for violating the Foreign Workers Law 5751-1991, with a total sum of approximately 14,605,958 NIS (U.S $3,844,000). Up to October 2009, 849 indictments were filed regarding violation of the Foreign Workers Law by employers. In addition, the Department imposed approximately 196 fines on employers of foreign workers for violating the Minimum Wage Law 5747-1987, with a total sum of approximately 1,923,000 NIS (U.S. $506,000).

Actions against recruitment agencies

162.The Ministry of ITL is investigating complaints of abuses concerning recruitment of foreign workers and cancelling the permits given to private recruitment agencies found to have carried out violations of the relevant laws and procedures, particularly in the field of recruitment of foreign workers in the nursing field.

163.During 2007, approximately 50 licensed recruitment agencies holding special permits to recruit foreign workers were inspected and investigated by the Ministry of ITL. In 42 cases, both the licenses and permits of the agencies were revoked. In four cases, the permits given to the agencies to recruit foreign workers were revoked for a set period. In four cases the permits given to the agencies to recruit foreign workers were revoked indefinitely and one permit was granted on probation. The revocations were based on the following grounds: unlawful collection of fees from foreign workers, recruitment of workers in collaboration with a non-licensed agency, false social worker reports, unlawful transfer of foreign workers and bringing a foreign worker to Israel contrary to the terms of the permit. Seven agencies appealed the revocation of their licenses/permits to the Labor Court; their appeals were denied.

164.During 2008 and up to 15 October 2009, 47 permits to recruit foreign workers in the nursing field were completely revoked. In eight cases the permits were temporarily revoked, and in six cases the permits were granted on probation. In 27 cases, licenses and permits were denied. In addition, investigations and administrative hearings lead to the closure of recruitment agencies in cases in which managers of abusive agencies which received closure orders, continued to recruit illegally under the auspices of another licensed recruitment agency. The above decisions required intensive investigatory preparations carried out with the cooperation of NGOs, the Ministry of Interior and the Police. Many appeals against such cancellation of permits and closure orders were rejected by the National Labor Court in a series of 2008-9 rulings that emphasized the importance of close supervision of foreign worker recruitment agencies.

165.During 2009 alone, licenses and special permits to recruit foreign workers were revoked from 18 agencies; three agencies which applied for special permits to recruit foreign workers were refused; two permits were revoked for a fixed period of time, and the permits of four other agencies were rendered conditional.

166.The Police is handling all populations with special attention to areas and employment fields in which foreign workers are employed, while focusing on several main offences, including: exploitation, fraud, withholding of passports, sexual abuse, abduction for purposes of trafficking and excessive and illegal commission fees. According to the relevant sources it is impossible to define a specific population from certain country of origin as a population at the greatest risk for abuse. Yet, the risk for abuse will be higher as far as the worker's debt is bigger, his/her education is lower and his/her communication possibilities are limited.

167.An Ombudswoman for the Complaints of Foreign Workers remains active in the Ministry of ITL. Her mandate is to safeguard the rights of foreign workers employed in Israel and to handle complaints from foreign workers, employers, citizens, NGOs, and the public. The ombudswoman has the authority to recommend that the Enforcement Division carry out a criminal investigation, as well as to recommend the initiation of administrative proceedings. In addition, the ombudswoman may allow foreign workers in the construction field to change employers after less than the requisite three months. The Ombudswoman also assists foreign workers in the construction field who request to regularize their status in Israel and register for work with a new employer in cases in which they lost their legal status in the country after not registering for legal employment for an extended period. Such workers must meet the Ombudswoman, who explains their obligations to register for legal permitted employment only, provides them a leaflet in their language regarding their rights, and gives the Ombudswoman follow-up on complaints she has handled, to ensure that workers are indeed paid the sums found due to them. The Ombudswoman works in cooperation with the Enforcement Department in the Foreign Workers' Department, the Ministry of Interior and the Payments Department in the Ministry of ITL, to review the complaints and oversee adherence with her decisions.

168.In 2009, the Ombudswoman received 138 new complaints, of which 105 were handled. In addition, two complaints filed in 2007 and 123 complaints filed in 2008, were handled. This year, most of the complaints were filed by representatives of the foreign workers, such as NGOs and lawyers, and not by the workers themselves. Still, there was no significant change in the number of complaints.

169.She also serves a central coordinating function in reviewing complaints and deciding if there are violations of regulatory laws or crimes of slavery, forced labour or trafficking. She then refers the complaints to the proper authority (the Ministry of ITL or the Ministry of Interior) if a regulatory violation is involved and to the Police if a crime of trafficking, slavery or forced labour is involved. In addition, she provides a forum for NGOs to apprise the Government of new trends and problems.

Temporary visa

170.Migrant workers, who have been the victims of criminal offences, whose complaints are investigated by the "Saar" department of the "Lahav Unit" of the Police, are given a temporary stay of removal. They are released from detention, transferred to the shelters for trafficked victims, and are allowed to work during their stay, until the conclusion of their testimony against the offender. They are also eligible to receive visas for rehabilitation purposes from the Ministry of Interior upon the conclusion of the criminal proceedings.

171.Employers may be prosecuted for violations of the labour laws in Israel, including the Foreign Workers Law 5751-1991 (the "Foreign Workers Law), which was revised in 2000 to ensure the protection of foreign workers' rights.

172.The Foreign Workers Law and its Regulations impose additional obligations on employers of foreign workers, including the obligation to provide the worker with a detailed employment contract in his/her language (Section 1C), the obligation to provide the employee with decent lodging (Section 1E), and the obligation to provide the employee with private medical insurance for his/her employment period (Section 1D). A violation of the above provisions, including illegal deductions from a worker's salary, is a criminal offence punishable by substantial administrative or criminal fines. The Law was amended in July 2009 (Amendment No. 11) to include Section 1N1 according to which, not-paying a peremptory fine imposed as a result of violating the Foreign Workers Law or the second addendum of the Labor Court Law 5729-1969 (the "Labor Court Law"), is a ground for cancellation of or refusal to issue a permit to employ foreign workers by the fined employer.

173.Amendment No. 14 of 2004, to the Employment Service Law criminalizes the collection of illegal excessive recruitment fees from foreign workers, and renders this crime punishable by up to six months' imprisonment and/or attended by a fine of up to 200,000 NIS (U.S. $54,054). The Amendment also applies a temporary order (in force until July 1, 2011) amending the Prohibition on Money Laundering Law 5760-2000, making the collection of exorbitant fees an origin offence.

174.The Employment Service (Recruitment Fees) Regulations 5766-2006 (the "Employment Service (Recruitment Fees) Regulations") cap the permitted recruitment fees of Israeli recruitment agencies at 3,135 NIS, (U.S. $847.3) or 88 per cent of the monthly minimum wage, minus any sum already paid by the worker to a foreign recruitment agency. The agency may, however, be legitimately reimbursed by the foreign worker for the cost of airfare from the source country to Israel. The Regulations also detail the terms under which it is permitted to collect the fee, for example, a detailed contract must be in effect between the agency and the worker. Additionally, the Regulations outline the circumstances under which a recruitment agency shall reimburse payments collected from a foreign worker.

175.The Employment Service (Provision of Information) Regulations 5766-2006, require a recruitment agency to provide foreign workers with all relevant information relating to their rights and obligations as foreign workers in Israel, for example, the identity of his/her employer, the term of employment permit of the employer, a description of the job, information as to the permitted recruitment fees etc.

176.As of 1 September 2010, private Israeli foreign workers recruitment agencies are not allowed to charge any fees from a foreign worker who is seeking employment.

The Population, Immigration and Border Crossings Authority (PIBA)

177.On April 13, 2008, the Government approved resolution No. 3434, which established the new Population, Immigration and Border Crossings Authority (henceforth: "PIBA"). The PIBA replaced certain functions previously falling under the authorities of the Immigration Administration, and all issues related to foreign and Palestinian workers were transferred to the PIBA in January 2009. Thus, the PIBA operates as an independent body within the Ministry of Interior, which has joint authorities regarding population, immigration and border issues, which authorities previously belonged to the Immigration Administration and other Ministries.

Membership in the Histadrut (the General Federation of Laborers in Israel)

178.On 24 November 2009, the management of the Histadrut decided to submit a motion to the organization's board of representatives, according to which, the Histadrut's constitution would be amended in order to allow for foreign workers to become members with equal rights in the Histadrut. Previously, such membership was limited to workers who were Israeli citizens or residents. The amendment of the organization's constitution will allow any foreign worker with full and equal membership, and every foreign worker who chooses to join the Histadrut,entitlement to full rights, including the right of association, the right to vote and be elected, and to other benefits provided by the organization. The amendment will not only impact the individual foreign worker's rights, but also the ability of the Histadrut to officially represent foreign workers and to promote their protection and improve their rights.

Enforcement of foreign workers rights

179.Between January and November 2009, the Labor Laws Enforcement Division in the Ministry of ITL investigated more than 850 employers for allegedly violating the Minimum Wage Law 5747-1987 (the "Minimum Wage Law") and investigations against 500 of these employers were opened in 2009. In addition, 44 indictments were filed against employers, and 413 administrative fines were imposed in a total sum of approximately 3 Million NIS (U.S. $810,811). The number of investigations has decreased in recent years due to better and enhanced enforcement, which has resulted in a lower number of complaints. For purposes of comparison, the numbers of investigations opened against employers of foreign workers in previous years were: 2004, 9,834; 2005, 4,170; 2006, 3, 743 and 2007, 3,111.

180.During 2009, the Enforcement Division of the Foreign Workers Department in the Ministry of ITL imposed approximately 2,052 administrative fines on employers of foreign workers for violating the Foreign Workers Law, with a total sum of approximately 29,182,500 NIS (U.S. $7,887,162) being imposed according to the following distribution: 272 administrative fines were paid in the total sum of 2,395,000 NIS (U.S. $647,297); 1,063 administrative fines are currently outstanding in the total sum of 14,422,500 NIS (U.S. $3,897,973); 286 administrative fines are currently the subject of legal proceedings in a total sum of 6,310,000 NIS (U.S. $1,705,405); 328 administrative fines are currently in the process of collection in the total sum of 4,605,000 NIS (U.S. $1,244,595); and 94 administrative fines were annulled, in the total value of 1,340,000 NIS (U.S. $362,162).

Number of administrative hearings and decisions by sectors, 2009

Field	Hearings	Decisions taken	Permits cancelled	Number of hearing in which restrictions were imposed	Number of hearing in which no restrictions /cancellation were imposed	Ongoing hearings
Nursing	100	53	27	16	10	46
Agriculture	11	4	2	-	2	7
Industry & Restaurants	12	8	5	-	3	4
Construction	1	1	1	-	-	-
Total	124	66	35	16	15	57

Source: The Ministry of Industry, Trade and Labor, November 2009

181.During2009, 934 criminal indictments were filed against employers and manpower agencies forviolations of labour laws relating to employment of foreign workers (up until October 2009), the Department imposed approximately 196 fines on employers of foreign workers for violating the Minimum Wage Law, with a total sum of approximately 1,923,000 NIS (U.S. $506,053)) having been received and 171 judgments having been handed down. The total sum of the criminal fines imposedby the labour courts was 7,788,280 NIS (U.S. $2,104,941) in all cases.

182.In addition, in 2009, 15 disabled employers had their permits to employ nursing foreign workers revoked, and in four cases, relevant conditions or limitations were imposed on existing permits. For example, on 6 September 2009, the appeal of an agricultural cooperative society which was convicted of abusing foreign workers and required to pay the maximum fine set by law, was dismissed. In this case, two foreign workers employed by the appellants were found to be residing in inhuman conditions. The Be'er-Sheva Labor Court imposed the maximum fine of 939,600 NIS (U.S. $253,946) on the employing company, as well as an additional fine of 261,000 NIS (U.S. $70,541) on each of the directors of the company, which would be substituted with one year imprisonment if not paid on time. The National Labor Court affirmed the Be'er-Sheva Labor Court's decision, and emphasized that the fines imposed in such cases of abuse and objectification of foreign workers must be high, as part of the public interest and the necessity to deter such violations of the laws regarding the employment of foreign workers (Cr.A. 13/07 Nir-Am Cohen Vegetables Agricultural Cooperative Society et. al. v. The Ministry of Industry, Trade and Labor (6.9.09)).

183.On 6 August 2007, the Jerusalem District Court ruled that a violation of an employment permit by an employer, who employed a foreign worker in giving massages instead of in the agricultural field, is in itself administrative proof which can constitute a basis for the cancellation of the employment permit. Here the employer was also indicted of having sexual relations with a foreign worker whose consent was a result of exploitation of the relationship of authority by the employer (Ad.P. 350/07 Shlomo Mutsafi et. al. v. The Ministry of Industry, Trade and Labor (6.8.07)). The decision to cancel the employer's permits to employ foreign workers as a result of the above-mentioned charges was upheld by the Supreme Court (Ad.P.A. 7216/07 Shlomo Mutsafi et. al. v. The Ministry of Industry, Trade and Labor (24.12.07)).

184.The Israeli labour laws, including extension orders and collective agreements, apply to foreign workers as they do to regular Israeli workers. For example, in November 2005, the Be'er-Sheva Labor Court found that the provisions of a collective agreement granting certain benefits only to hotel employees whose identity cards registered them as Eilat residents, constituted discrimination against foreign employees in those hotels, and required that the benefits be paid to the foreign employees as well (La.C. 6042/04 Ahmad Montilo v. Isrotel Ltd. et. al. (29.6.05)).

185.In addition, in February 2006, the Tel-Aviv Regional Labor Court stated that foreign workers who were employed in Israel illegally, are also entitled to enjoy labour rights prescribed by law, including severance pay, in cases in which they are deported from Israel as a result of their illegal status (La.C. 4814/05 Arnel Marco et. al. v. Pnina Rozenblum (21.2.06)).

186.Accordingly, the claims of illegal foreign workers who are detained, with respect to salary and benefits owing, are routinely referred by the Tribunals for Detention Review to labour inspectors who contact the employers for the purpose of receiving the payments on behalf of the worker prior to his/her deportation. In 2008, 1,723,777 NIS (U.S. $465,886) was collected on behalf of detained foreign workers in this manner. In addition, foreign workers who have left the country are allowed to enter temporarily, as necessary, in order to testify in civil suits which they filed against their former employers.

187.The Police handle all populations and sectors, with special attention paid to areas and fields of employment in which foreign workers are employed, while focusing on several main offences, including: exploitation, fraud, withholding of passports, sexual abuse, abduction for purposes of trafficking and excessive and illegal commission fees.

Dissemination of information regarding rights among foreign workers

188.A special workers' handbook regarding the rights of foreign workers in the construction field was issued by the Ministry of ITL in English, Russian, Romanian, Turkish, Thai and Chinese. The handbook instructs the workers to contact the Ombudswoman in any case in which the rights discussed therein have been breached.

189.Private recruitment agencies who have recruited foreign workers in the field of construction are required to distribute the handbook to each foreign worker they have recruited, and the directors of the agencies must provide the Foreign Workers Department in the Ministry of ITL with an affidavit stating that they accept personal responsibility for the distribution of this handbook to each worker.

190Furthermore, as discussed above, the Employment Service (Provisions of Information) Regulations require recruitment agencies to provide foreign workers with all information relating to their rights and obligations as foreign workers in Israel (e.g. permitted fees' rates, etc.).

191.In addition, a brochure discussing the general labour rights of foreign workers in Israel has been published on the website of the Ministry of ITL in English, Hebrew, Chinese, Thai, Russian, Romanian and Turkish. This brochure is also distributed by the Ministry of Interior to each foreign worker who arrives at Ben Gurion Airport.

192.An additional method of disseminating information has been implemented by the Israeli Embassy in Thailand. In cooperation with the Ministry of ITL and the Thai Labor Ministry, a brochure has been released discussing the rights of foreign workers in Israel. The booklet, which is in Thai, contains information regarding the labour and social security rights of workers and includes other information, such as relevant phone numbers, medical treatment facilities and basic Hebrew. The booklet is attached to the passport of each worker who receives a visa to Israel.

The Knesset's Special Committee on Foreign Workers

193.. The Knesset's Special Committee on Foreign Workers regularly holds sessions regarding issues and complaints relating to the situation of foreign workers in Israel. The committee has dealt intensively with many issues concerning foreign workers in Israel between the years 2008-2010 and has requested updates upon the work of the new PIBA in these matters. The following is a partial list of the subjects the committee has dealt with: enforcement of foreign workers' rights, complaints regarding enforcement in the agricultural field, examination of reforms enacted in the nursing care field, safety and hygiene in factories, deportation of illegal foreign workers, human resources requirements in the construction field, a proposal for voluntary departure of foreign workers from African states who completed their legal stay in Israel, on-site training in the construction field, employers-employee relations in the nursing field etc.

Bilateral agreements with countries of origin

194. During 2009-2010, the Government continued to take steps towards the finalization of bilateral agreements with countries of origin of foreign workers, under the supervision of the International Organization of Migration (IOM), with respect to the recruitment of foreign workers to Israel. Every effort is made in order to sign additional bilateral agreement with countries regarding the recruitment of foreign workers for work in Israel.

Participation in decision-making and representation at the international level

Reply to the issues raised in paragraph 20 of the list of issues

Women in the Government

195.Currently there are 22 women of the 120 Knesset Members (18.3 per cent). Two women serve as Government Ministers, KM Sofa Landver serves as the Minister of Immigrant Absorption and KM Limor Livnat serves as the Minister of Culture and Sport, and three women serves as Deputy Minister – KM Gila Gamliel serves as the Deputy Minister for the Advancement of Young People, Students and Women, KM Orit Noked serves as Deputy Minister of Industry, Trade, and Labor and KM Lea Ness serves as Deputy Minister of Senior Citizens Affairs. In addition, two women reside as Chairperson of Permanent Knesset Committees – KM Tzipi Hotobeli as the chairperson of the Committee on the Status of Women and KM Shelly Yecimovich as the chairperson of the Ethics Committee, and Orit Zuaretz serves as the Head of the Subcommittee on Trafficking in Women.

196.As of October 2010, out of 255 possible appointments, there were only five women actively employed as mayors or heads of local councils/authorities. Local authorities employ 3,250 publicly elected persons in total, of which only 376 (11.5 per cent) are women.

Wo men in the Civil Service

197.In January 2009, there were 53,069 employees in the Civil Service, of which 65 per cent were women. The rate of women employees holding first and second academic degrees is higher than men. However, the rate of men employees holding a Ph.D. degree is higher than women.

198.In addition, 46 per cent of the top four ranking positions, and 41 per cent of the top three ranking positions were held by women. Women also comprised 60 per cent of the employees in ranks 5-7 and 72 per cent of ranks eight and below.

Women in the Foreign Service

Political branch

199.- In 2010, in the political branch of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, there were 4 women serving as ambassadors out of a total of 38 ambassadors (11 per cent). In addition there were 21 women serving as Envoys (20 per cent), 23 women serving as envoys-consultants (19 per cent) and 28 women serving as consultants (39 per cent). Also in 2010, 17 women served as first secretary (50 per cent), 6 women served as second secretary (27 per cent) and 23 women served as political interns (40 per cent).

Non-administrative branch

200. In 2010, there was 1 woman serving as ambassador out of a total of 11 ambassadors employed in this branch (10 per cent). In addition there were 14 women serving as envoys (44 per cent), 27 women serving as envoys-consultants (45 per cent) and 49 women serving as consultants (64 per cent). Also in 2010, 92 women served as first secretary (60 per cent), 23 women served as second secretary (77 per cent) and 8 women served as political interns (31 per cent). Of the total 88 heads of missions, 11 were women (12 per cent).

Women in local authorities

201.As of October 2010, there were no Arab women in local councils/authorities. This may be explained as the result of various socio-cultural factors, such as the impact of religion and local tradition on certain minority communities, which can restrict women from considering running into or being elected to these positions.

202.The Local Authorities (Advisor on the Status of Women) Law mandates that every local council must actively promote the status of women. To that end, each council must appoint an Advisor on the Status of Women who is to report directly to the mayor and/or head of the local council on pertinent matters. As a direct subordinate to the head of the local council, the Advisor is dedicated to ensuring ongoing communication between the head of the council and the local women’s council, where such a women’s council exists) and to initiating policies for the advancement of the status of women within the local authority. As an additional safeguard, this Law further empowers the Minister of Interior to order that local councils follow the Law’s directives, and in the event that local councils should fail to comply, to personally appoint an Advisor on the Status of Women on the councils’ behalf. As of July 2010, 225 of the 255 local authorities had appointed such an advisor.

Legislation

203.During 2010 the following legislation amendments were submitted:

Funding of political Parties (Encouragement of Equal Gender Representation Amendment), Law 5770 – 2010

204. This amendment suggests increasing the funding of a political party that 35 per cent of its Knesset members are women, with a sum that equals 5 Million NIS (U.S. $ 1,351,351) divided with total women Knesset members who are entitled to this additional sum. The goal of this bill is to provide incentive for parties that will encourage women representation with an aim to seek adequaterepresentation of both genders in the Knesset.

Local Authorities (Elections) (Adequate Representation for Women in Election for Local Authorities Amendment) Law 5770 – 2010.

205.This amendment proposes not to accept a candidate-list for local elections unless in every three names on the list there is at least one woman. Integration of women in politics is highly important for the promotion of equality between the genders, and it also serves as a means in which the community as a whole may participate in politics and especially in local politics, which influence the lives of the entire population and women in particular.

206.Both of the above amendment proposals are in very early stage and have not yet been approved.

Activities

207.In October 2010, the Authority for the Advancement of the Status of Women, in cooperation of leading NGOs, including "Wepower-Advancement of women leadership in Israel" (hereinafter"Wepower") held a conference for Women Leadership in the city of Netanya. The conference dealt with promotion of women leadership it local politics and was attended by 250 women from all over the country. In March 2010, the Authority held a conference for women in Herzliya on “Influential Women in Law and Security”.

208.In December 2009, the Authority held a conference entitled “Women Leading Equality in Local Authorities”. The conference took place at the President's residence in Jerusalem, and was held in cooperation with the Wepower. The conference was attended by the Deputy Minister for the Promotion of Youth, Students and Women, the Knesset Chairperson and other Knesset members and leading figures. The aim of this conference was to raise awareness to the issue of women participation in Israel's political life. Also in December 2009, the Authority held a conference for influential Bedouin women. Fifty politically active women participated in this conference with the aim of promoting Bedouin women activities in all fields including the political field.

209.The Authority is scheduled to publish a tender for hiring a body that will develop manage and operate a training programme for women in local authorities throughout Israel regarding "women leadership" and "women economic empowerment". The purpose is to integrate women in influential positional in the Israeli society and to encourage women to participate in the political life.

210.According to Government Resolutions Nos. 412 and 413 aimed at development of the Druze, Circassians and Bedouin populations, the Authority operates courses for the Bedouin and Druze women in the relevant local authorities in the fields of women leadership and empowerment.

Reply to the issues raised in paragraph 21 of the list of issues

211.In order to further enhance the status of women, the Authority for the Advancement of the Status of Women has engaged in activities aimed at deepening the knowledge and commitment of council women with regards to the status of women in their localities. These plans have long-term benefits in addition to the short-term ones. These activities were meant to assist in preparing a cadre of women to run for office in the local elections held in November 2008, and in providing them with knowledge and skills, personal and institutional empowerment, and the opportunity for widespread networking that they needed to run effective campaigns.

212.The Authority also sponsors ongoing courses and workshops for persons advising mayors and heads of local councils. In these courses, the Authority emphasizes personal skills, inculcates values relating to gender equality and provides the participants with further academic and practical skills. As part of this course, for example, the participants are required to analyze the municipal budgets from a gender perspective and are provided with expert guidance and mentoring to enable them to do so. In cooperation with the Advisor on the Status of Women in the Civil Service, the Authority has actively promoted the interests of supervisors for the status of women in Governmental Ministries. This support has included workshops, conferences, preparation and distribution of informational materials and more.

213.In regard to government corporations, on 28 March 2010, the Government resolved to entrust the Government Corporation Authority, to handle the nomination of supervisors for advancement the status of women in government corporations, subsidiary corporations and mixed corporations as defined by law (Government Resolution No. 1563). According to this resolution, the corporations are required to train these supervisors for their position according to the guidelines of the Government Corporation Authority and in consultation with the Authority for the Advancement of the Status of Women. The Government Corporations Authority is required to notify the Authority for the Advancement of the Status of Women on the nomination of these supervisors.

Special temporary measures

214.The percentage of women-directors in government corporations' boards increased from 33.5 per cent in 2007, to 42 per cent in October 2010. On March 11, 2007, the Government resolved to obligate Ministers to appoint women to directorates of Government Corporations until they achieve a 50 per cent representation of women within two years from the date of the Government Resolution (Government Resolution No. 1362). As a result, women representation on boards of government corporations has increased, and in October 2010, 42 per cent of all directors in government corporations were women (compared to 33.5 per cent in February 2007).

The judiciary

215.The Judiciary is one of the professional arenas in which women have closed the gap as will be illustrated in the following figures. The number of female judges continues to climb in conjunction with the rising number of judges in general. As of the end of November 2010, there were 314 female judges out of a total of 613 judges, (51.2 per cent of the judiciary in Israel compared to 49.8 per cent in 2008). The number of female justices on the Supreme Court remained the same - five out of 13 (38.5 per cent) - including the President of the Supreme Court, Justice Dorit Beinisch. In addition, 67 women reside as District Courts Judges (of approximately 90 Judges), 150 women reside as Magistrate Courts Judges, 29 women reside as Family Matters Courts' Judges, there are also 11 female Judges in the Youth Courts, 13 female Judges in Traffic Courts, and 36 female Judges in District Labor Courts.

Arab women in local authorities

216.Please see above the reply to the issues raised in paragraph 20 of the list of issues.

Promoting the representation of Arab women, in elected and appointed bodies in all areas of public life

217.Government Resolutions Nos. 412 and 413 of August 2006, are aimed at development of the Druze, Circassian and Bedouin populations. Accordingly, the Authority operates various courses for the Bedouin, Druze and Circassian women in the relevant local authorities in the fields of women leadership and empowerment.

218.During 2010, (until September) more than 30 courses on various subjects were opened in the Northern municipalities. And during 2009, 55 such courses were operated for women of minority populations in the localities of Abtin, Bueina Nugidat, Bir-Almaxsur, Bait-Djan, Bosmat-Tivon, Julees, Dmaida, Zarzir, Husina, Sagour and many others.

219.In addition, in accordance with Resolutions Nos. 412 and 413, the Authority for the Advancement of the Status of Women grants scholarships for female students from the Bedouin population in the north, as well as for female students from the Druze and Circassian populations. In 2008/9, 200 scholarships were granted and the Authority recently published an announcement inviting Bedouin, Druze and Circassian women to submit applications for the upcoming year (2010/11).

220.The advertisements and campaigns done by the Authority are conducted in several languages, including Arabic, with the aim of reaching Arab women and raising awareness among Arab women and the Arab population as a whole.The Authority conducts seminars and empowerment conferences for women, in cooperation with various NGOs and the civil society. Please see above the reply to the issues raised in paragraph 20 of the list of issues.

221.The Authority monitors and follows appointments to teams, committees, councils and other public bodies, which are obligated by law to gender equality and sends notification letters to all the appointing bodies with the reminder of their legal obligation and their duty to inform the Authority on any new body that is established.

222.In the first half of 2010, the Authority sent 215 such reminders and requests for appointing bodies. In cases of under–representation, the Authority sends additional notifications and submits reports to the Knesset regarding its activities.

Data regarding women representation within the Civil Service

223.In 2007, the number of Arabs and Druze who were accepted for employment in the Civil Service was 392 (8.7 per cento f the new employees that year), of which 156 were women (5.5 per cent). In 2008, the number of Arabs and Druze who were accepted for employment in the Civil Service was 578 employees (11.6 per cent), of which 282 were women (9.26 per cent). In 2009 these figures stood 457 new Arabs and Druze employees (9.3 per cent), of which 182 were women (6.4 per cent). In 2009, 39.8 per cent of all recently accepted Arab, Druze and Circassian employees were women, in comparison to 34.2 per cent in 2003, 35.3 per cent in 2007, and 36.8 per cent in 2008.

Nationality

Reply to the issues raised in paragraph 22 of the list of issues

The Citizenship and Entry into Israel Law (Temporary Provision), 5763-2003 hereinafter: the "The Citizenship and Entry into Israel Law (Temporary Provision)")

224.Since the outbreak of the armed conflict between Israel and the Palestinians towards the end of the year 2000, which led, inter alia, to the commission of dozens of suicide bombings inside Israel, there has been a growing involvement in assistance provided to terrorist organizations on the part of Palestinians originally from the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. Such individuals carry Israeli identity cards pursuant to procedures of family unification with Israeli citizens or residents, allowing their free movement between the West Bank and the Gaza Strip and into Israel.

225.In order to prevent the potential danger posed by former residents of these areas during the current armed conflict, the Government decided in May 2002 to temporarily suspend granting them legal status in Israel, through the process of family unification. The decision was adopted following the horrendous wave of terrorist attacks in March of 2002, when 135 Israelis were killed and a further 721 were injured.

226.In addition, between September 2000 and the end of 2006, 38 of the 172 terrorist attacks committed in Israel were committed by such individuals. Those injured in these 38 terrorist attacks constitute 86 per cent of the total number of those injured by terrorist attacks. For example, in 2007, a twenty year old woman, whose mother is an Israeli-Arab from Kfar Qasem and whose father is Palestinian, was caught – merely twelve minutes before exploding herself in a restaurant in Israel - using a bomb which was stored during the previous night in the home of a relative in Kfar Qasem. This situation is the result of the genuine difficulties in obtaining information concerning residents of the West Bank.

227.Israel, as any other State, has the right to control entry into its territory, and more so, during times of armed conflict, when persons requesting to enter may potentially be involved in acts of violence against its citizens. It should be emphasized that while the value of family life is indeed sacred, there is no necessity for it to be realized in Israel, and it may be fully realized in the West Bank.

228.On 31 July 2003, the Knesset enacted the Citizenship and Entry into Israel Law (Temporary Provision), 5763-2003, which limits the possibility of granting residents of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip Israeli citizenship pursuant to the Citizenship Law 5712 -1952, including by means of family unification; and the possibility of granting such residents residence permits into Israel pursuant to the Entry into Israel Law, 5712 -1952. The Law was amended in 2005 and 2007 in order to expand the humanitarian relief it initially provided. The amendments also expanded the applicability of the Law to citizens of enemy states (namely, Iran; Syria; Lebanon; and Iraq). Later, an amended version was extended until 31 July 2008, and re-extended twice until 31 July 2010. On 21 July 2010 the Law was extended again and it is currently valid until 31 January 2011. The Law enables entry to Israel for the purposes of medical treatment, employment, or on other temporary grounds, for an overall period of up to six months.

229.In addition, the Minister of Interior may authorize a request for family unification for those who are married to an Israeli spouse, and are residents of the West Bank, for men over the age of 35 and women over the age of 25.

230.The Law further authorizes the Minister of Interior to grant residence permits to children under the age of 14, of whom one of the parents is legally residing in Israel. With regard to children who are minors over the age of 14, the Law stipulates that the Minister of Interior has the authority to grant temporary permits under certain conditions.

231.The Law further allows the Minister of Interior, due to special humanitarian reasons and according to a recommendation of a professional committee appointed for this purpose, to grant temporary residence permits for a resident of the West Bank or a citizen of Iran, Iraq, Syria or Lebanon, who has a family member legally residing in Israel, and to approve a request for a stay permit of a resident of the West Bank who has a family member legally residing in Israel.

232.Such a decision made by the Minister of Interior is to be reasoned and be provided in writing, within six months from the day that the professional committee received all the necessary documents. According to the Law, the fact that the family member (e.g.-spouse, parent or child) of the person requesting the permit, legally residing in Israel, is his/her spouse or that the couple have shared children – will not be considered as a stand-alone special humanitarian reason. If the person requesting the permit is a Syrian resident and his/her spouse is a member of the Druze community who lives in the Golan Heights, which is under Israeli jurisdiction, then the Minister of Interior may consider it a special humanitarian reason.

233.The Law stipulates that a request can be denied in cases where the Minister of Interior or certain security functionaries assert that the person, or a family member of first degree, poses a security threat. In cases where a person or a family member has been known to act for the benefit of the State of Israel, the Law enables the Minister of Interior and certain security functionaries to grant permits to a resident of the area. The Law does not change the status of persons who already received their status prior to the day the Law came into effect. However, the status of such persons shall remain static.

234.The Law's constitutionality was scrutinized and upheld by the Supreme Court in H.C.J. 7052/03, 7102/03 Adalah – The Legal Center for Arab Minority Rights in Israel et. al. v. The Minister of Interior (14.5.06). The High Court of Justice, residing in an extended panel of eleven judges, rejected the petitions against the legality of the Law, by a ruling of six judges, with five dissenting.

235.On 17 December2007, the Minister of Interior announced the formation of the professional committee according to the Law, and proclaimed its members.

236.Additional petitions against the constitutionality of the Law are pending before the High Court of Justice. (H.C.J. 466/07, 544/07, 830/07, 5030/07 MK Zehava Galon et. al. v. The Minister of Interior et. al.). On July 31, 2008, the State submitted its arguments in these cases and on April 13, 2010, the State submitted a supplementary notification to the Court.

237.In its supplementary notification, the State clarified that since August 2005, the Ministry of Interior has authorized the provision of staying permits in Israel to 4,118 Palestinians (more than 1,000 individuals per year) based on requests for family unification and under the exceptions recognized by the Law. The State noted that in addition to these figures, the professional humanitarian committee received over 600 requests, 282 of which were dealt with and 33 of which were transferred to the Minister of Interior with positive recommendations which were adopted by the Minister, thus resulting in the provision of staying permits in Israel for the applicants.

238.The State further noted that since September 2005, 632 requests for status in Israel on the basis of family unification were rejected. An analysis of the requests that were rejected reveals that the rejections were based on the following grounds: the applicant was a terrorist (four cases), the applicant was an operative of a terrorist organization (149 cases), the applicant was linked to operatives of terrorist organizations (63 cases), the applicant aided a terrorist organization (22 cases) and the applicant had contact with family members who are operatives of terrorist organizations (394 cases).

239.In its response to the Court, the State further indicated that according to official data, in 2006, 42 terrorist attacks which were in the stage of final preparation or implementation stages were foiled by Israel's security forces; in 2007, 43 such attacks were foiled; in 2008, 63 such attacks were foiled; in 2009 - 40 such attacks were foiled by the Israeli security forces and in 2010 - 11 such attacks have thus far been foiled, eight of which originated from the Gaza strip.

Education

Reply to the issues raised in paragraph 23 of the list of issues

Measures to reduce the dropout rates of Israeli Arab girls

240.In 2009-2010, in the Hebrew education system, the dropout rate of female minors in the 9th to 11th grades stood around 2.3 per cent-3.4 per cent, and in the 12th grade the rate of female pupils who dropped out was just 0.8 per cent. In the Arab education system, although the dropout rates of Arab female minors exceeded those of Jewish female minors, Arab male minors dropped out at a greater rate than did their female counterparts. The following table presents data on dropout rates, according to grade, gender and population group.

Pupils in grades 7-12- Dropout rates by population group, and gender, 2006-2010

	Hebrew education	Arab education
2006-2007	2007-2008	2009-2010	2006-2007	2007-2008	2009-2010
Grand total	520,189	519,615	519,002	154,967	160,729	171,578
Grade 7	Total	86,331	86,924	88,432	30,298	30,729	32,924
Thereof: % dropped out of educational system	0.5	0.8	1.2	1.3	1.1	1.8
% of Boys	0.8	1.3	1.8	1.4	1.2	2.0
% of Girls	0.3	0.4	0.6	1.3	1.0	1.6
Grade 8	Total	87,745	85,591	87,191	30,518	30,487	33,758
Thereof: % dropped out of educational system	2.2	2.7	5.5	3.9	4.1	4.6
% of Boys	2.8	3.8	6.4	4.9	5.1	5.9
% of Girls	1.5	1.6	4.6	2.8	3.0	3.3
Grade 9	Total	87,573	89,257	86,898	27,767	29,508	30,083
Thereof: % dropped out of educational system	3.0	3.2	5.3	11.7	12.3	15.7
% of Boys	4.4	4.8	7.1	15.8	17.0	19.7
% of Girls	1.4	1.7	3.4	7.3	7.4	11.5
Grade 10	Total	87,359	87,425	86,710	24,381	25,273	26,828
Thereof: % dropped out of educational system	3.4	3.7	3.8	6.6	6.6	7.0
% of Boys	4.7	5.3	5.2	9.7	10.3	10.0
% of Girls	1.9	1.9	2.3	3.5	3.0	3.9
Grade 11	Total	88,160	86,636	88,235	22,729	22,866	25,250
Thereof: % dropped out of educational system	5.3	6.3	6.9	5.3	6.3	6.4
% of Boys	7.9	9.5	10.5	7.5	9.3	8.9
% of Girls	2.7	2.9	3.1	3.3	3.5	4.1
Grade 12	Total	83,021	83,782	81,536	19,274	21,866	22,735
Thereof: % dropped out of educational system	1.7	1.7	2.1	1.9	1.7	1.3
% of Boys	2.5	2.6	3.4	2.4	2.2	1.6
% of Girls	0.8	0.7	0.8	1.4	1.3	1.0

Source: Central Bureau of Statistics, Statistical Abstract of Israel , 2010

241.In the 2009-10 school year, the dropout rate of high school pupils (7th-12th grades) was 4.5 per cent (30,196 out of total 665,714 pupils). That year the total dropout rate in the Hebrew education system stood at 21,524 Pupils (4.1 per cent - of which 5.8 per cent were boys and 2.5 per cent were girls) and in the Arab education system at 8,672 pupils (5.9 per cent - of which 7.8 per cent were boys and 4.0 per cent were girls)

242.In 2007, the Compulsory Education Law, 5709-1949 (hereinafter “the "Compulsory Education Law"), was amended in order to broaden its scope and extend compulsory education to youth between the ages of fifteen and seventeen (inclusive) - the 11th - 12th grades. Prior to the Amendment, education in the 11th - 12th grades was free, but not compulsory. With the aim of protecting youth during this vulnerable stage in life from negative influences, and in order to prepare them and provide better tools to them for their successful integration as productive adults in society in the future, the Government decided to make the 11th and 12th grades compulsory. Another desired effect of the Law, is a decrease in dropout rates and removal of pupils, by requiring the provision of solutions within the education system for all pupils falling within this age group.This Amendment shall enter into force in a gradual manner, and by the year 2011, it is expected to be fully implemented.

243.The Ministry of Education operates an internal unit of attendance officers who regularly visit schools in order to prevent pupils from dropping out of school. The Ministry of Education has a special department aimed at maintaining school attendance that works to prevent pupils from dropping out. This department works in accordance with the Section 4 to the Compulsory Education Law and as a part of the Ministry of Education's policy. Currently, there are 498 attendance officers, of which 369 operate in Jewish localities (including 37 in the Ultra-Orthodox population), 96 in Arab localities, 17 in Bedouin localities and 16 in Druze localities.

Measures to increase the number of Israeli Arab women at institutions of higher education

244.For the last three decades and up until recently, the rate of women studying for their first degree in higher education institutions had steadily increased. The rate of women studying for a first degree in all of the higher education institutions had peaked in 1990 with 58 per cent, and set on 55 per cent in recent years. The rate of women studying for a first degree in colleges that teach engineering and technology professions is relatively equal to men – 49 per cent in 2009/10 academic year, and their rate in teachers' training institutions is the highest – 79 per cent in 2009/10 academic year.

245.An impressive increase is also evident in the rate of women studying for advanced degrees (second and third degrees). In the 2009/10 academic year, the rate of women studying for their second degree stood at 57.7 per cent. The rate of women studying for Ph.D. degree in 2009/10 stood at 52.8 per cent and the rate of women receiving their Ph.D. degree that year was approximately 51 per cent.

246.The rate of Arab students among the total students studying for their first degree is still relatively low, although slowly increasing. In 2009/10, that rate stood at 11 per cent of the total first-degree students. The increase is due to the opening of higher education institutions in peripheral areas, which increased the accessibility of higher education to the Arab population. It is important to note the substantial increase in the rate of Arab women studying in universities, in 2009/10 this rate stood at 62 per cent of the Arab students (compared to 40 per cent in the early 1990' and to 54 per cent among the Jewish population). This important development is also linked to the opening of higher education institutions in peripheral areas, which allowed the Arab women to study in places close to their residential areas and by that staying close to their families and their social circles.

247.In recent years in increase in Arab students studying for a second degree is also evident (this increase is attributed to the increased participation in first degree studies in recent years). In 2009/10 the rate of Arab students of all total second degree students stood at 6.6 per cent (compared to 3.65 in the 1990').

248.A further increase in the rate of Arab students in higher education is due to the academic preparatory classes, in which the rate of Arab students is steadily increasing in recent years. The rate of Arab students of the total number of academic preparatory classes students was 6.2 per cent in 2010, and that rate was even higher – 11.4 per cent in academic preparatory classes operated by the universities.

Gender stereotypes within school books

249.As detailed in Israel's Forth report, The Department for Planning and Development of Curriculums in the Ministry of Education has been active in establishing criteria for schoolbooks, specifically within the realm of gender stereotypes. These criteria were integrated into the curriculum by a special committee appointed in 2001 by the Minister of Education.

250.The Committee examined gender stereotypes in schoolbooks used by the Israeli education system, and endeavored to end all stereotyping in the curriculum. The Committee adjusted the previous criteria, on a qualitative and quantitative level, addressing the following issues regarding equal representation for both genders: expanding the material with illustrations to include women’s contributions in all areas of life; drawing attention to pre-existing stereotypes; refraining from gender stereotypes of all kinds (both direct or implied); assigning tasks on a gender-neutral basis; selecting works, essays and papers equally representative of both genders; assigning children to courses and classes regardless of their gender; omitting gender-stereotypical drawing and illustration from schoolbooks.

251.After receiving the findings, the Minister of Education decided not to incorporate books imbued with gender stereotypes into the education system, and those books already in use in the school system which promoted gender stereotypes are gradually replaced.

Reply to the issues raised in paragraph 24 of the list of issues

Please see above the reply to the issues raised in paragraph 2 of the list of issues.

Employment

Reply to the issues raised in paragraph 25 of the list of issues

The Public Council for Integration and Advancement of Women in the Labor Market

253.In order to implement the Encouragement of the Advancement and Integration of Women in the Work force and Adjustment of Work places to Women's Needs Law 5768 -2008 (hereinafter the "Encouragement of the Advancement and Integration of Women in the Work force and Adjustment of Work places to Women's Needs Law"), a Public Council consisting of 11 professional members specialized on gender and labour market issues was appointed. This Council is headed by Supreme Court Justice (retired) Dalia Dorner and its members are: the Equal Employment Opportunities Commissioner; The Manager of the Authority for the Advancement of the Status of Women; and representatives of the Ministries of Finance, Industry Trade and Labor (ITL); a representative of the NGO "Na'amat – a Movement of Working Women and Volunteers"; a representative of the NGO "Israel's Women Network"; a representative of the "Histadrut" – the General Workers Organization; a representative of the Coordinating Bureau of Economic Organizations and two representatives of the Academia.

254.The first gathering of the Council was held on 24 April 2010 and it is gathering twice a month since then. The Council responsibilities are to advise the Minister of ITL on standards regarding allocation of financial and honorary awards for employers and regarding researches and development projects aimed to promote, integrate and advance women in the workplace, including adjustment of work places according to women's needs and more.

The Council's resolutions

(1)Grants and Honors.

(2)Applying a frame of gender affirmative action, equal employment and a gender mainstreaming in the workplace when considering applications for awards and honors.

(3)Defining wide-ranging criterions for the examination of employers' applications in the first year, which includes both aspects of organizational routine and unique programmes for advancement and promotion of women. These criterions will be examined again by the Council in the future and after examination of the results of the first year.

(4)Consideration of development of future programmes that are aimed at advancement and promotion of women in the workplace.

(5)Criterions for Receiving an Equal Employer Award - According to the Council's resolution, the basic criterions for receiving an Equal Employer Award will be in accordance with the General Manager's Directive, which conditions providing an Award for organizations with lack of offences in fields of social responsibility. The Council added an additional criterion according to which, an employer will be entitled to submit candidacy for awards if at least 90 per cent of his/her employees are Israeli citizens employed in Israel.

(6)Defining criterions for award cancellation.

Candidates’ classification

(1)Business Sector – according to the Encouragement of the Advancement and Integration of Women in the Work force and Adjustment of Work places to Women's Needs Law, financial awards shall be granted only to private employers, namely not a State institute such as a local authority or corporation established by law. However due to a legal opinion presented by the Ministry of ITL's legal department it was decided to apply a narrow definition of the term "State institute" and thus, allowing local authorities, corporation established by law and others to apply for awards.

(2)Contractor's workers – a business that employ by contract may apply for a grant under several conditions.

(3)The Council decided to operate campaigns and direct application to employers in order to encourage them and raise their awareness for filing applications for grants.

255.The Council also deliberated and decided upon the categories of the Grants and Awards to be issues. Hereinafter are the Grants and Award Categories:

(1)A leading institution in the promotion of the status of women and of equal employment opportunities (5 – 29 employees) – financial grants.

(2)A leading institution in the promotion of the status of women and of equal employment opportunities (30 – 99 employees) – financial grants.

(3)A leading institution in the promotion of the status of women and of equal employment opportunities (100 – 499 employees) – financial grants.

(4)A leading institution in the promotion of the status of women and of equal employment opportunities (500 employees and above) – honorary award.

(5)A leading General Director in the promotion of the status of women and of equal employment opportunities – honorary award.

(6)A leading human recourses director in the promotion of the status of women and of equal employment opportunities – honorary award.

(7)A prize on behalf of the Minister of ITL for the advancement of the status of women within the minority populations. This prize is a financial grant according to the Council's recommendations.

256.In its session of 25 October 2010, the Council compiled a recommendation for standards for examination and evaluation of application for awards and grants. The proposed standards are: A formal gender equality policy within the organization, salary, relevant aspects regarding recruitment, employment and promotion, training, guidance and career development, balance between work and family life and special activities. These criterions are based on normative standards, similar to other developed countries, however, compatible with Israeli laws.

257.In order for the Law to be successfully implemented, considerable resources are required. Thus, a public tender for providing services and for implementing this programme, is currently in advanced stages of formulation. The tender is to be published in January 2011.

258.Theoretical and Empiric Assistance – for the formation of theoretical background and a scientific platform for the Public Council discussion, the Economics and Research Administration in the Ministry of ITL compiled the following papers:

(1) Theoretical Models for advancement of women in the labour market

(2)A paper regarding comparative examination of foreign legislation aimed at promoting and advancing women employment (including legislation of the united Stated and the European Union),

(3)Information regarding similar programmes and grants for the advancement of women in the world.

Timetable for the continuation of the implementation of the law:

(1)Council deliberations regarding a set of standards for choosing the winning employers, in order to incorporate these standards in the regulations – held on 25 October 2010.

(2)Council deliberations regarding the determination of the weight for each standard, in order to incorporated it in the regulations – 15 November 2010.

(3)Council deliberations regarding methodology determination and evaluation tools for examination of employers' applications – December 2010.

(4)Publishing a public tender for a supplier which will be in charge of sorting and examination of employers' applications – January 2011.

(5)Presenting draft regulations which are based upon the Council's recommendations to the legal department of the Ministry of ITL.

(6)Deciding on the private services supplier – April-May, 2011.

(7)Presenting an internet website of the Program for Integration and Promotion of women in the Labor Market – May, 2011.

(8)Publishing appeals for employers to submit applications for awards – May and June, 2011.

(9)Examination of employers applications August – December, 2011.

(10)Choosing the winners by the Public Council - January, 2012,

(11)Approval of winners by the Minister – January, 2012 and holding a public ceremony for the Equal Employer for the year 2011 – January-February, 2012.

Budget

259.As of 2010, the programme's budget stands at 1.8 Million NIS (U.S. 486,000$).

Additional information

260.The Equal Employment Opportunities Commission (hereinafter :“the “Commission”) is a statutory body, established by the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Labor in 2008, following Amendment No. 18A to the Equal Employment Opportunities Law 5748-1988 (hereinafter the "Equal Employment Opportunities Law"). The Commission is engaged in civic enforcement of equal employment opportunities, and operates to apply appropriate normsof equal employment opportunities within the labour market. The Commission also promotes awareness to workers rights, the implementation of these rights and prevention of situations in which workers waive their rights in advance. In order to do so, the Commission has explanatory and legal authorities.

261.In order to raise awareness and promote equal employment opportunities, the Commission produces, publishes and distributes researches, informative materials and conducts lectures on the matter of equal employment opportunities.

262.In the legal aspect, the Commission deals with employers and workers discrimination claims, issues warrants for the presentment of information against employers and provides legal representation. The Commission is in charge to all the relevant Equal Opportunity Laws in the field of employment, including the Male and Female Workers (Equal Pay) Law 5756-1996 (hereinafter"the Male and Female Workers (Equal Pay) Law") and the Prevention of Sexual Harassment Law 5758-1998 (hereinafter the "Prevention of Sexual Harassment Law"). It operates to assist in advance to claims made by employees and/or employers, handles court proceedings, writes legal opinions, and organizes conferences and more.

263.As of October 2010, the Commission handled 1,000 applications, including taking legal proceedings when it considers necessary (to date, the Commission filed 14 civil suits against employers).

264.The Equal Employment Opportunities Commission has made the Arab population a priority in its work and is targeting cases dealing with double discrimination, thus raising public awareness and enforcing the law in specific cases.

265.The Commission publishes regularly a pamphlet in Arabic which is intended for employers, employees and employment-seekers in the Arab population. The pamphlet contains information regarding discrimination at various stages of the employment process and details regarding the Commission, ways of contacting it, ways of addressing a complaint etc.

266.On 21 January 2009, the Commission launched its Arabic website which contains information for employers, employees and employment-seekers on issues such as: discrimination at work, discrimination in applying for work, discrimination upon dismissal, verdicts and court decisions regarding issues of discrimination etc.

The Male and Female Workers (Equal Pay) Law

267.In order to decrease the gap between men and women salaries, the Male and Female Workers (Equal Pay) Law, was enacted. Despite the advanced legislation and the improvement in this field, there are still some inequalities between the salaries of men and women, as follows:

(1)According to information of the Central Bureau of Statistics published on 8 March 2010, in 2008, the average monthly income of men was 9,627 NIS (U.S. $2,601.89) and the average monthly income of women 6,077 NIS (U.S. $1,642.43) women earned 37 per cent less than men.

268.Additional data published by the Central Bureau of Statistics on 31 August 2010 are as follows:

(1)Also in 2008, the monthly income for men working in the Civil Service was 14,787 NIS (U.S. $ 3,996.4) and women monthly income was 11,244 NIS (U.S. $ 3,038.9), namely, women earned 24 per cent less than men in similar positions in the Civil Service.

(2)In 2010, of the total employees in the labour market, 1.534 million are men and 1.350 million are women.

(3)The rate of population aged 15 and above, participating in the labour force in the second quarter of 2010 was 56.9 per cent (62.2 per cent of the men and 51.8 per cent of the women).

(4)The rate of unemployed youth aged 15 and above, is 6.5 per cent among men and 5.9 per cent among women.

(5)The rate of persons between the ages of 25 and 64 who are in the labour force gender-segregated is 81.6 per cent of the men and 68.8 per cent of the women.

(6)The rate of unemployed persons between the ages of 25 and 64 is 5.8 per cent of the men and 5.4 per cent of the women.

(7)The rate of (involuntary) partly employed women during the second quarter of 2010 was 6.8 per cent.

269..Recently, the Commission filed a suit against the Jerusalem Municipality, concerning unequal salary (A precedent legal action). In this case, on August 2008, two employees of the city municipality filed a complaint with the Commission. The complaint indicated discrimination in male and female pay. The Commission turned to the city municipality and requested information. Such a request is derived from the power given to the Commission by Section 18(k) to the Equal Employment Opportunities Law and Section 2 to the Male and Female Workers (Equal Pay) Law. The Municipality did not respond to the Commission’s request, therefore, a warrant was issued by the Commission to reveal the information. Following the issuance of the warrant, the council disclosed the information and the complaint was found to be valid. Inequalities were found between male and female salaries in the Jerusalem Municipality. A suit was filed to Jerusalem Labor Court, and to date the case is pending.

The Prevention of Sexual Harassment Law

270.As far as thePrevention of Sexual Harassment Law, the Commission is authorized to file civil suits against employers which are under the jurisdiction of the Labor Courts. Labor Courts can order compensation in favor of the employee without the employee having to prove damages. The Commission seeks to assist both employees and employers, in dealing with sexual harassment cases in the work place. Note that since the Commission began its operation only in 2008, there are no available statistics. According to data gathered by the Association of Rape Crisis Centers in Israel, in 2010 (until 7 October 2010), the Association of Rape Crisis Center received 7,793 new sexual harassment complaints, of which 450 concerned sexual harassment in the workplace (5.7 per cent).

271.In 2008, 80 cases were filed in the Civil Service. The offences included sexual harassment and sex offences against women. Among the 80 cases, 15 cases were forwarded to the Police and 65 resolved as disciplinary hearings by the Civil Service Commission. 49 disciplinary procedures opened against Civil Service employees, 11 suits were filed.

General complaints filed to the Commission

272.In 2009, the Commission handled 498 complaints. 286 of these complaints were submitted by women, 32 with regard to terms of employment and one regarding sexual harassment.

273.In 2010 (up to September 2010), the Commission treated 465 complaints. Of these complaints, 286 were filed by women, 45 as regards to terms of employment and 4 regarding sexual harassment.

274.Since the beginning of 2009, the Commission initiated 14 legal actions (amongst are cases of unequal pay) regarding gender discrimination. During 2009, the Commission submitted 7 opinions that represented its position regarding women discrimination issues.

Reply to the issues raised in paragraph 26 of the list of issue

275.In 2008, the Authority for the Advancement of the Status of Womenbegan conducting special targeting activities in order to better implement the Prevention of Sexual Harassment Law in the work place.

276.TheAuthority continuously issues notifications and applications to all employers in the labour market, informing them of their duties under the Prevention of Sexual Harassment Law, including the obligation to disseminate among their workers the prevention of sexual harassment codex, the obligation to conduct explanatory activities and the duty to appoint supervisors for the prevention of sexual harassment. Up to September 2010, 4000 notifications have been issued.

277.TheAuthority collects the details of persons appointed as supervisors for the prevention of sexual harassment in order inform them of their responsibilities, supply them with relevant educational materials and invite them to relevant conferences; thereby assist them with fulfilling their responsibilities. As of August 2010, there are 2,500 supervisors for the prevention of sexual harassment.

278.For the last several years, the Authority is producing and distributing a prevention of sexual harassment codex that includes relevant legislation and regulations. This codex is meant to be presented in central areas in the workplace. The codex is produced as a large size poster as well as small information brochure, and it is translated to English, Arabic, Russian and the Amharic language. The codex is also available on the Authority's internet website and in May 2010, it was added to the salary slips of all civil service employees.

279.TheAuthority has produced an information kit regarding the prevention of sexual harassment. The kit includes a CD with a 50 minutes video which demonstrates different kinds of sexual harassment in the workplace and ways of dealing with such harassment. The short movie is provided in Hebrew and accompanied with English, Arabic, Russian and an Amharic translation. The kit also contains a guiding booklet and it is provided free of charge to every supervisor for the prevention of sexual harassment.

280.In June 2010, the Authority for the Advancement of the Status of Women organized a conference to raise awareness for sexual harassment in the private sector. Additional conferences are to be held in the future.

281.In March 2010, a prevention of sexual harassment rules and regulations forum was established. The forum was initiated by the Authority for the Advancement of the Status of Women and includes members from Government Ministries, NGOs and private professionals. The forum discusses the prospect of adding changes to the present Prevention of Sexual Harassment Law.

Salary inequalities

282.The Ministry of Industry, Trade and Labor is currently performing an extensive study of salary inequalities in Israel. In a preliminary report titled: “Gender Inequalities in the Labor Market 2009 – Israel compared to Developed Countries”, published in 2010, regarding 2008 – according to HDI (Human Development Index) standard of the UNDP (United Nations Development Program) (and in comparison with the OECD countries and additional 7 countries of the EU, a grand total of 40 states) Israel is gradated in the 7th place. According to this data, women in Israel earn 33 per cent less than men.

283.For additional information regarding this matter please see above the reply to the issues raised in paragraph 25 of the list of issues.

Women and men in civil service, over the year 2008

284.In 2008, the rate of women employed in the Civil Service was 64.1 per cent compared to 35.9 per cent of the men.

Administrative ranking

285. Between the years 1997 – 2008, salary inequalities have significantly decreased by 15.6 per cent. In 2008 woman earned only 6.2 per cent less then men.

Academic ranking

286.Management employees: between the years 1997 – 2008, salary inequalities increased by 6.7 per cent, and in 2008 women earned 22.8 per cent less then men.

Seniors' contracts ranking

287.Here Salary inequalities have also decreased by 3.5 per cent.

288.For additional information regarding this matter please see above the reply to the issues raised in paragraph 25 of the list of issues

Replyto the issues raised in paragraph 27 of the list of issues

289.No aggregated data was received regarding this issue.

Health

Reply to the issues raised in paragraph 28 of the list of issues

290.Please see above the reply to the issues raised in paragraph 2 of the list of issues.

Reply to the issues raised in paragraph 29 of the list of issues

291.Please see above the reply to the issues raised in paragraph 2 of the list of issues.

Reply to the issues raised in paragraph 30 of the list of issues

292.The imprisonment conditions of security prisoners, limitations there of, regulations regarding visitation etc., are regulated by the Israeli Prisons Service (IPS) standard order No. 03.02.00 – "Rules Regarding Security Prisoners".

293.Every prisoner or detainee under the care of the IPS has access to the following complaint mechanisms concerning grievances regarding the staff and wardens', including claims of wrongful use of force:

Filing a complaint to the Prison Director;

Petitioning the relevant District Court in a prisoner's petition,

Filing a complaint to the Warden's Investigation Unit (WIU), through the IPS or directly to the Unit.

Filing a complaint to the Prisoners Complaint Ombudsman,

294.Section 71 to the Prisons Ordinance [New version] 5732-1971 (Hereinafter the "Prisons Ordinance") establishes rules for Official Visitors in prisons. These Visitors are appointed by the Minister of Public Security and are comprised of lawyers from the Ministry of Justice and other Government Ministries that are being appointed annually, either for a specific prison or nationwide.

295.Section 72 of the Prisons Ordinance grants official visitor's authorities to Supreme Court judges and the Attorney General, and to District and Magistrate Courts judges in prisons in their jurisdiction.

296.Official Visitors are allowed to enter the prisons at any given time (unless special temporary circumstances apply), inspect the state of affairs, prisoners' care, prison management, etc. During these visits, the prisoners may approach the visitors and present their complaints, including grievances pertaining to use of force. Prisoners may also make a complaint with the Prison Director and ask for an interview with an Official Visitor. Attorney General's Guideline (No. 4.1201. (1.5.75), updated – 1.9.2002) broadened the scope of the above to also include detention facilities and detention cells in police stations.

Additional monitoring in conducted by visits of the ICRC personnel

Medical care

297.In every IPS detention facility there is medical clinic with a staff of a physician and a medic. A medical examination is conducted daily and one can be examined by a physician upon request. Where a need arise for specialist or if there is a need of hospitalization, the proper coordination is made with the relevant hospital and the Ministry of Health. In addition, the IPS operates a detention facility intended for prisoners with physical and mental problems in which prisoners with chronic illnesses are being cared for. The prisoners receive medical care including access to specialists when necessary. Gynecologist examinations are held when necessary and upon request of a female prisoner to be examined.

Separation between security and criminal prisoners

298.Israel's Prisons Service has dedicated special efforts in the recent years in order to address the issue of female prisoners. One aspect of these efforts was the separation between security prisoners and criminal prisoners.

The use of drugs

299.In all prisons there is a strict separation between prisoners with a drug addiction and prisoners without any narcotic background.

Food

300.The food received by security prisoners is satisfactory and matches the menu served to the facilities' personnel. In Megido and Ktziot prisons, two Pita bread bakeries were opened to provide an alternative to the common dark bread available in Israel.

Access to education

301.Palestinian detainees incarcerated in Israel have equal access to education as their Israeli inmates. Currently, several hundreds of Palestinian detainees are acquiring higher education through the "Open University" (a correspondence educational institution). Others are completing their matriculation certificates. In the summer of 2009, some 3,300 prisoners took the formal Palestinian Authority exams within the IPS detention facilities.

Family visits

302.According to the standard IPS commission orders, the prisoners may receive family visits once every two weeks for duration of 30 minutes. The number of adult visitors is limited to three; however there is no limit on the number of the visiting children.

Reply to the issues raised in paragraph 31 of the list of issues

Infant mortality

303. According to updated information from the Ministry of Health, the infant mortality rate among Bedouins in 2008 was 8.5:1000, representing a decline of 51.5 per cent from the rate recorded in 2002 (17.5:1000) However, in 2009, there was a increase and this rate stood at 12.5:1000. The high rate is mostly attributed to high rates of congenital anomalies and hereditary illnesses resulting from the high rate of consanguineous marriages, together with low rate of prenatal diagnosis due to religious and cultural reasons. Another element impacting the mortality rate is the religious prohibition against abortion among Muslims even in medically recommended cases, as well as the high rate of births among elderly women. The infant mortality rate among Bedouin infants whose families live in unauthorized villages was actually lower than that among Bedouin infants whose families live in established towns. The Government continues to open Mother and Child Health Clinics in unauthorized villages and new Clinics are being built to serve the population.

304.Furthermore, the Government has funded several special projects to improve the health of, and expand the health-care services provided to, Bedouin living in unauthorized villages. One of these programmes is a special long-term intervention programme intended to decrease the infant mortality among the Bedouins. The programme is community-based and boasts a wide-spectrum of participants, including representatives from the Bedouin community leadership and the educational system, along with providers of curative and preventative health care services, the Department of Health in the Community and the Epidemiology Department in the Faculty of Health Sciences of the Ben Gurion University in the Negev.

305.Free genetic testing is also funded by the Government, along with genetic counseling, for any member of a Bedouin tribe in which the prevalence of a serious inherited disease is above 1:1000 and for which there is an available genetic test.

306.The Ministry continues to work intensively on health education/information projects so as to reduce the infant mortality rate among Israeli Muslim Arabs. The central aim of these projects is to discourage marriage among close relatives, encourage pregnant women to make more use of diagnostic procedures during pregnancies, and encourage mothers to make more use of the Mother and Infant Health Care Services dispersed throughout the country.

307.There is a long-term programme aimed at training members of the Bedouin population to work in nurseries and maternity wards in order to further reduce infant mortality among the Bedouin population.

308.The Ministry of Health is currently financing a project aimed at further reducing infant mortality among the Bedouin population that is being conducted in cooperation with the Ben Gurion University. In 2009, the Ministry began working on an additional project regarding the improvement of the Bedouin population's nutrition.

Improvement in the growth of Bedouin infants

309. There has also been an important improvement in the growth of Bedouin infants and toddlers over the past two decades, indicating improved nutrition. Moreover, there has been increased compliance with recommendations for the intake of supplemental folic acid among Bedouin women in their fertile years, and a decrease in the incidence of open neural tube defects (NTD’s) among Bedouin fetuses and infants. Unfortunately there are still high rates of congenital malformations and inherited diseases among Bedouin infants, due to multiple factors including the tradition of consanguineous marriage (approximately 60 per cent), as well as cultural-religious-social barriers to pre-marital and pre-natal screening for inherited diseases.

Immunization coverage

310. There have been significant improvements in the past decade. Improved immunization coverage of Bedouin infants in the Negev, for example, resulted in a significant decrease in vaccine-preventable infectious diseases. 2006 figures indicate that 90 per cent-95 per cent of Bedouin children have completed all necessary vaccinations by age three – a sizeable improvement compared to the 1981 rate of 27 per cent. Note that the vaccination figures of the Arab population are higher than those of the Jewish population, both nationally and in the southern district. 2010 figures show that the rate of immunization coverage regarding hemophilus influenza B, infantile paralysis, diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis is 88 per cent among Bedouin children and 90 per cent among Jewish children. With respect to measles, mumps and rubella, the rate of immunization coverage among Bedouin children is 93 per cent in comparison to 91 per cent among Jewish children.

311.Two mobile immunization teams managed by the Ministry of Health also provide home immunizations to infants of Bedouin families living outside of permanent towns. A computerized tracking system allows the Ministry to identify infants who are overdue for their immunizations and to send one of the mobile immunization teams to immunize them.

Training of nurses

312. On 4 November 2009, the Deputy Health Minister stated that due to a shortage of nurses, the Ministry would be forced to close several Health Care stations serving every segment of the population. Thus, the following clinics were closed: one station in Omer, two stations in Dimona and three stations in Be'er-Sheva, and the patients were directed to larger stations located in their areas. The Deputy Health Minister also stated that in order to overcome the lack of trained nurses in the Arab population, and in particular in the Bedouin population, the Ministry of Health was planning to open a nurses' training course at Ben Gurion University in the Negev, which would be fully financed by the State for nurses of the Bedouin population. The Deputy Health Minister added that the intention was for this to be a long-term programme which would result in an increased number of well-trained Bedouin nurses, serving the target population, the Bedouins.

313.The Ben-Gurion University opened a new course of studies – a bachelors' degree for male/female qualified nurses of the Bedouin population. As of 2010, 37 students have enrolled in this new course. In addition, as of January 2010, five nurses were hired to work in mother and infant health care stations and their training for these positions will take six months. There is also a two year programme training nurses, who will work in the Bedouin population, in providing parental guidance. In 2010, 16 nurses graduated from this programme and a new group of nurses is currently being assembled. Note however that there is still a substantial shortage of qualified nurses in the Bedouin population.

Physician specialty services

314. Physician specialty services are currently being provided to the Bedouin community in the Negev, including: Pediatrics, General Internal Medicine, Neurology, Family Medicine, Dermatology, Gynecology and Obstetrics, etc. In addition, every resident has equal access to all the specialty clinics at the Soroka Hospital, with no discrimination between Bedouin or Jewish patients.

315.In addition, the first female Bedouin physician in Israel, Rania al-Oqbi, has completed her degree. She was part of the special "Cultivating Medicine in the Desert" programme, which was aimed at incorporating more Bedouin into the health sector. As of 2009, six Bedouin women are studying medicine; 35 Bedouin women have completed degrees in various health professions; and 45 additional women are studying health sciences.

Mother and infant health-care stations

316.There are 46 mother and infant health care stations located in the southern district, 27 of which (more than 50 per cent) serve the Bedouin population:

13 stations are located in the Bedouin towns (also serving the Bedouin population living in nearby unauthorized villages)

Eight stations serving unauthorized villages

Five stations located in Jewish localities, which also serve the Bedouin population in localities nearby (Abu-rabiah Station in Be'er Sheva which mainly serves Bedouins living in unauthorized villages, Dimona A, Arab A, Yeruham and Mitzpe Ramon stations.)

One mobile station serving the Bedouin population located in the unauthorized villages in the Marit Area, near the city of Arad.

317.For further information please see above the reply to the issues raised in paragraph 2 of the list of issues.

Reply to the issues raised in paragraph 32 of the list of issues

318.At the end of 2009, there was a total of 1,785 HIV and a total of 342 AIDS cases among women in Israel. The following table indicates the exposure category among women and men:

Exposure category	Women	Men
AIDS cases	HIV diagnosed	AIDS cases	HIV diagnosed
Men who have sex with men			275	968
Injecting drug users	34	134	155	528
Persons with hemophilia and other blood/blood component recipients	7	6	54	42
Heterosexual contacts:
Partners of the above 3 categories	22	57	2	4
Originating from a country with a "generalized HIV epidemic" and their spouses	219	1,129	320	909
Sex with HIV carrier of undetermined source	15	57	9	39
Source undetermined	23	192	67	195
Mother to child	16	91	17	71
Not known	6	119	41	211
Total	342	1,785	940	2,967

Source: The Central Bureau of Statistics, Statistical Abstract of Israel , 2010

319.In 2009, 7 new cases of AIDS and 113 new cases of HIV among women were reported (a decrease of 30 per cent and 14 per cent respectively compared to 2008). For comparison, in 2009, 18 new cases of AIDS and 243 new cases of HIV among men were reported.

320.Among Arab women (including Muslim, Christian, Circassian and Druze women), during 2007-2009 there were only 5 new cases of HIV, representing a rate of 0.7 to 100,000 Arab women – a substantial lower rate than among Jewish women – 9.4 to every 100,000 women.

Health care and awareness-raising campaigns

321.HIV examinations are available to each person, anonymously and free of charge. Every Israeli citizen who is HIV-positive is entitled to virtually free of charge treatment in any one of the nine regional AIDS centers.

322.The Ministry of Health has initiated various projects to increase awareness to HIV, especially among more traditional populations, such as the new immigrants from Sub-Saharan countries but also among the general population. The Ministry developed a programme adapted to these populations, incorporating both HIV health education and an individual support and follow-up by health educators originating from the same communities. Further programmes target youth, as well as soldiers, educating them on HIV and AIDS, through direct counseling, radio and TV broadcasts. Relevant information is also accessible through the Ministry's website.

An open hotline

323. The Ministry also operates an open hotline regarding AIDS and sexually transmitted diseases.

Gender and family life education

324.The Department of Sexuality, Gender and Family Life in the Ministry of Education is in charge of developing educational materials and programmes regarding, inter alia, sexuality, gender, non-violent couplehood, self image, couples relations, sexual identity and sexual tendency, sexuality and media (pornography), pregnancy prevention, AIDS prevention, acceptance of others even when different, and more. The Department trains guidance counselors, psychologists and the Ministry's general personnel. The Department offers several educational programmes regarding responsible sexual behavior and AIDS prevention, sex and family life education programme for pupils with special needs, sexual education for the intermediate schools, including seminars for teachers and professionals on identifying sexual abuse among children, children at risk and prevention of sexual harassment.

Rural women and disadvantaged groups of women

Reply to the issues raised in paragraph 33 of the list of issues

General

325.There are more than 180,000 Bedouins living in the Negev desert area. Most of them (approximately 120,000 – 66 per cent) live in urban and suburban centres which have been legally planned and constructed. The remaining 60,000 Bedouins (34 per cent) reside in hundreds of unauthorized clusters, which are spread over an area of more than 500,000 dunams, obstructing urban expansion in the greater Negev area and the common good of the Bedouin population. This, while, as detailed below as well as in Israel's Periodic Report, the existing towns can accommodate most of the needs of the Bedouin population, and while vacant lots await additional occupants in all of these towns.

326.Bedouins enjoy all the rights and opportunities of Israeli citizens, including the privilege to receive formal education at all levels, health services etc., in accordance with the laws of Israel.

The Authority for the Advancement of the Status of Women - Activities according to the Work Plan for Promotion of the Status of Bedouin Women

327.Economic Initiative for Women in Kssaife - a three year programme developed with "Joint-Israel", for creating and marketing authentic products made by women through a central body owned by them. The women become business owners exempt from V.A.T. In 2007, 20 women participated in the programme. At the end of the three-year project, 100 Bedouin women will have participated in the programme.

328.Another project is the creation of a joint marketing body for women businesses in the Bedouin village Hussniya in the Galilee. Currently there are 20 women participating in the project.

329.The Authority for the Advancement of the Status of women also provides Bedouin women with knowledge regarding employment and Business entrepreneurship, constructing business strategies and more. The courses include information, inter alia, on market research, learning from information sources, setting up a working budget, writing a business plan etc.

330.The Authority also provides Bedouin women with the opportunity to complete their formal education by providing special courses in relevant subjects, such as language skills, computers, use of the internet and more. It also provides information and courses regarding empowerment and community leadership such as life skills, parenting, health awareness, and skills needed to operate community projects.

331.For additional information regarding the Authority for the Advancement of the Status of women in regarding to tuitions grants, scholarships, empowerment courses and more please see above the reply to the issues raised in paragraph 21 of the list of issues.

Assessment of the work plan

332.The Authority for the Advancement of the Status of women is doing it utmost for promotion of the status of Bedouin women, inter alia, by providing much needed knowledge, education, enrichment courses and activities, assistance in finding employment and additional assistance for Bedouin women.

333.However it is important to remember that the Bedouin society is a very traditional society and every change in the advancement and empowerment of women is taking longer time and requires additional efforts.

334.One should remember that these activities do not stand alone and are supplemented by improvements in areas such as transportation and public transportation infrastructures which allow for Bedouin girls in this traditional society to attend schools near their homes, steps that will become fruitful in the near future. Thus, a change is evident in the Bedouin society; however it is still happening relatively slowly.

Additional information regarding Bedouin population

Housing

335.There are seven existing Bedouin towns in the Negev: Laqiya, Hura, Kseife, Arara, Tel-Sheva, Segev Shalom and Tarabin, in addition to the city of Rahat. All existing towns have approved plans and include infrastructure such as schools, clinics, running water, electricity, etc.

336.Although these eight existing towns (the seven towns in addition to the city of Rahat) can effectively provide a proper solution to the Bedouin population's needs, subject to their expansion, the Government decided that a further eleven new towns for Bedouins should be established. The Government did so in order to accommodate the Bedouin population and in consideration of their special needs, including their desire to settle according to a tribal format. The new towns will include the best infrastructure and services the State offers to its citizens. The planning and construction of the new towns are carried out by the authorities in consultation with Bedouin representatives who provide input as to their vision of every town's character.

337.Tarabin was the first town to be populated. "Tarabin" is situated in the Bney-Shimon District Council, and is designated for the members of the Tarabin El-Sana tribe. The first stage of the town's development has been finalized, most of the lots have been distributed, and hundreds of residents have already populated the town. Each of the families received developed land for construction and an agricultural property. The new town was planned jointly with its inhabitants, as a modern town offering educational services, underground infrastructure, and health services. The town spreads over a territory of 1,132 dunams, and is intended to be home to approximately 3,500 people by 2020.

338.The following eight new towns are in the process of planning and development: Abu Krinat - located on 7,320 dunams, consisting in its first stage of 1,300 lots and an industrial centre. Abu Krinat is intended to accommodate approximately 15,000 people by 2020; Bir Hadaj- an agricultural town located on an area of 6,550 dunams, and intended to accommodate approximately 12,500 people by 2020; Kaser A-Sir - located on an area of 5,000 dunams, and designed to accommodate around 8,000 people by 2020. The other towns to be established are Makchul-Marit – for which a detailed plan for two neighborhoods was approved in September 2005, and a detailed plan for a third neighborhood is underway, spread over 6,300 dunams, and designed to accommodate approximately 12,000 people by 2020; Um Betin – for which a master plan was approved in March 2005, and which is located on 6,700 dunams, and designed to accommodate approximately 8,000 people by 2020; Moleda - for which a master plan was approved in March 2005, and which is located on 11,000 dunams; and Darijat. The names of these towns were chosen by the Bedouin population. One additional plan that is currently in the advance stages of planning is of the town El-Seid. An additional three towns, Ovda, Abu-Talul, and El-Foraa are currently in the process of receiving statutory approval.

339.In addition, the Government is in the process of expanding thousands of units in the existing towns. Rahat for example, will be approximately tripled in its size (from 8,797 dunams to 22,767 dunams) through a project that is to be implemented and estimated to cost approximately 500,000,000 NIS (U.S. $128,205,128). The plan includes the construction of 7,500 additional housing units (intended to house 90,000 people by 2020), public and trade facilities, employment centres for women, and public areas. The above plan, developed according to the highest standards, is a speedy solution to the current situation existing in the town of Rahat. As of May 2010, thousands of lots were sold to Bedouin families and the plan is progressing well.

340.There are more than 2,800 vacant lots available for occupancy by Bedouins living in the Diaspora throughout the existing permanent towns and in addition more than 6,900 lots which can be developed upon demand.

341.As mentioned in Israel's periodic report, the Government is encouraging movement to permanent towns by providing unique benefits to all the residents of the Bedouin Diaspora who seek to move to permanent towns. This policy was adopted because of the difficulties the State faced in providing infrastructural and social services to so many small, scattered clusters, mostly numbering several dozen houses or huts.

342.In accordance with the provisions offering compensation to Bedouins moving to these towns, the Government provides the land free of charge, while the Bedouins receive significant compensation for any structures they leave behind destroyed (even on land unlawfully held by them). Compensation is awarded both in monetary terms and in terms of land. In addition, grants are provided for families who choose to move to an existing or new town regardless of their economic status.Since 2002, the rates of compensation have risen dramatically (800 sqm. per family and 7,500 NIS (U.S. $1,923) per family and an additional 1,500 NIS (U.S. $384.6) per child). A family that destroys its unauthorized construction and relocates to the planned towns can receive up to 400,000 NIS (U.S. $102,564) per family. The average sum received is estimated at 200,000 NIS (U.S. $51,282), which is exceedingly higher than the actual loss. Furthermore, the Bedouin population is eligible to receive tens of thousands of dunams for agricultural use and shepherding, at very low rates.

343.In order to maintain the special character of Bedouin communal life and prevent the exploitation of the above-mentioned benefits, the State has refused offers by non-Bedouins to buy land in the areas designated for exclusive Bedouin localities. Furthermore, representatives of the Bedouin population take part in all planning processes; in the sub-committee of the Local Committee for Planning and Building, there are representatives of each of the existing Bedouin towns, and in the District Committee for Planning and Building, the Mayor of Rahat and the Head of Council of Segev-Shalom are members.

344.In addition, in 2007, the authorities began the planning procedures for the Be'er-Sheva Metropolis District Plan (No. 23/14/4). The plan seeks to regulate the planning situation of the greater Negev area, with consideration being given to the population's needs, restrictions, environmental affects etc. To date there are several objections which have been raised with respect to the above-mentioned plan, which are yet to be decided upon by the courts.

345.As mentioned in Israel's periodic report, an additional sum of 1.1 Billion NIS (U.S. $282,051,282) was invested over a period of six years (2004-2010) for the development of infrastructure and the establishment of public facilities and the reorganization of ownership in southern Israel.

The Advisory Committee on the Policy regarding Bedouin Towns

346.The Advisory Committee on the Policy regarding Bedouin towns was established, in its present form, on October 24, 2007, based on Government Resolution No. 2491. The Advisory Committee's task was to present recommendations regarding a comprehensive, feasible and broad-spectrum plan which was to establish the norms for regulating Bedouin housing in the Negev, including rules for compensation, mechanisms for allotment of land, civil enforcement, a timetable for the plan's execution, and proposed legislative amendments, where needed.

347.The Advisory Committee, chaired by former Supreme Court Justice Mr. E. Goldberg, comprises seven members, including two Bedouin representatives. The Advisory Committee began holding its sessions in January 2008. The Advisory Committee's hearings were public and took place in Be'er-Sheva. The Advisory Committee concluded its public discussions in May 2008, and on December 11, 2008, submitted its final recommendations to the Government. The Committee's final report dealt with three main areas: land, housing and enforcement. These areas were focused upon after the Committee recognized that only an integrated policy that included these issues could help in organizing the housing of the Bedouin in the Negev. The Committee recommended the development of an arrangement which balances the needs of the Bedouin and the State, can be implemented quickly and established by legislation in a way that assures a defined, consistent and egalitarian policy. The Committee asserted that such a policy would be a fair and implementable solution for the land disputes, which would serve to renew the Bedouin's confidence in the State and its intentions.

348.On 18 January 2009, the Government confirmed Resolution No. 4411 after a full examination of the Committee's Report. The Government accepted the Committee's recommendations as a basis for arranging the Bedouin's housing in the Negev, and appointed a professional cadre which comprises representatives of Government Ministries, the Israel Land Administration and the Attorney General. The cadre is intended to submit a detailed and implementable outline aimed at fulfilling the Government Resolution.

349.Currently, the implementation team is in the final stages of completing the detailed Governmental Plan for regulation of the Bedouin housing situation in the Negev. The Plan is based on the recommendation of the Advisory Committee and on intensive staff work that was conducted in the past year and included consultations with representatives of various segments of the Bedouin community, as well as comments on the Committee's Report by civil society organizations.

350.Note, that in its current work, the team attempted to create a comprehensive mechanism geared at settling law suits regarding land ownership and development of the physical and social infrastructures. To that end, the necessary mechanisms (both legal and operational) for the establishment of new localities, for the development of existing localities and for the settlement of law suits, are now being created.

Abu-Basma Regional Council

351.As mentioned in Israel's periodic report, a regional council was founded for five of the new towns. It is called "Abu Basma", and was officially established on February 3, 2004. The Abu-Basma Regional Council is responsible for ten Arab villages, of which six are Bedouin villages

352.Government Resolution No. Arab/40 3956 of 18 July 2005, assigned Abu-Basma regional council with attending to the Bedouin population's needs in areas such as education, infrastructure, employment, transportation, agriculture etc. and allocated a total budget of 387.7 Million NIS (U.S. $99,410,256) for the development of infrastructures and the building of public structures in Abu-Basma and Al Sid localities between 2005 and 2008. Government Resolution No. 4088 of 14 September 2008 extended the duration of Resolution No. 3956 until the end of 2009, in order to use the entire budget allocated.

353.Government Resolution No. 724 of 9 August 2009 approved a five-year-plan to improve accessibility to public services and educational centres in the regional council of Abu-Basma, and the public service centres scattered throughout the Bedouin villages in the south. The total budget for these plans amounts to 68.5 Million NIS (U.S. $17,564,103) over the course of the years 2009-2013, with 13.7 Million NIS (U.S. $3,512,820) to be distributed per year.

Perennial Program for the Advancement of the Status of Bedouin Women

354.Over 2010, the Authority for the Advancement of the Status of Women has prepared a new perennial programme for the Advancement of Bedouin women for the years 2011 – 2015 (in continuation of the previous programme that was implemented in 2007-2008). The programme includes workshops on family matters, intimacy, spouse’s communication and dignity, parental authority and first aid operated in schools and at the community centres. This programme was submitted to the Prime Minister's office, its operation is dependant upon assigned budget.

Measures to ensure Bedouin women rights

355.All of the house demolitions in Bedouin localities and towns are conducted according to the law and in the vast majority of the cases after lengthy court deliberations. Note that in many cases, the structures that are being demolished are tin structures and wood (that are planted elsewhere) which constitute attempts to invade state-owned land in order to take hold of public land illegally. In addition, in some cases the invaders have residence solutions in other places, such as permanent towns.

356.The State of Israel has allocated a large budget in favour of the Bedouin community. The budget is intended to supply the community with housing possibilities, services and infrastructure. Many millions were invested in doubling the size of the city of Rahat by adding thousands of housing units that are offered to the community in beneficial purchase conditions. In addition, the State plans to build new localities with one-floor houses that are suitable for the lifestyle and occupations of the Bedouin community.

Reply to the issues raised in paragraph 34 of the list of issues

Water

The policy of water supply to the Bedouin unauthorized villages

357.The Bedouins living in existing Bedouin towns enjoy the same services provided to all Israeli citizens, some of which are specially adapted to their needs. Unfortunately, many Bedouins choose to live outside permanent towns, in living conditions which the Ministry of Health considers to be unsatisfactory. Thus, additional funds were allotted towards the development of their health services and the Government is doing all it can to provide sufficient health care to Bedouins who live in unauthorized villages.

358.On 11 October 2007, the Government consolidated an additional multi-year plan to promote and assist in the construction and development of sewage infrastructure in the Bedouin localities in the Negev area (Government resolution No. 2428). According to the resolution, a condition for the implementation of the plan was the establishment by the localities of Water and Sewage Corporations, as stipulated in the Water and Sewage Corporations Law 5761-2001 (hereinafter the "Water and Sewage Corporations Law"). However such corporations have yet to be established.

359.Nearly 60,000 Bedouin live in unauthorized villages in the Negev. These unauthorized villages pose difficulties in supplying the residents with necessary services, especially water. While the Government does not question its duty to supply its inhabitants with services such as water, it is practically impossible to supply such services to sporadic places which disregard the national construction and planning programmes.

360.Nevertheless, pending the completion of the establishment of the 11 additional permanent Bedouin towns and the regulation of water supply systems, the Ministerial Committee for the Arab, Druze and Circassian Populations' Affairs has decided to build "Water Centers." Pursuant to this decision, instructions have been given concerning the planning of water supply systems to several centres in the Negev called "Water Centers." The Water Centers result from the Government's understanding of the needs and current realities faced by the Bedouin population, and governmental efforts to improve the Bedouin's living conditions. The planning of the centres takes into account the amount of water necessary for the population size expected in 2020, and the establishment of the centres involves great costs. These systems will enable the supply of water to a significantly larger portion of the Bedouin population than that which currently receives a water supply through individual connections.

361.As of June 2010, there are Water Centers in the following Bedouin localities: Um Betin, El-Seid, Abu-Krinat, Bir Hadaj, Darijat and Kaser A-Sir. In addition, there is an agreement to establish additional Water Centers in Moleda, Abu-Talul, Foraa and Lakia.

362.An additional method relied upon to provide water is through direct water connections being made to the main water pipeline, which are granted to a minimum of ten families. Due to the problematic nature of these connections, which require the transfer of water to unauthorizedvillages, this method is less frequently employed than previously. The connection to the main pipeline is approved by the Water Committee, which evaluates requests for connections to pipelines, and conducts negotiations in cases where disputes arise between residents of the Diaspora concerning the ownership of such connections. According to 'Mekorot' – the Israel National Water Corporation – there are numerous pirated connections to pipelines, which are made absent the authorization of the Water Committee.

363.On 13 September 2006, the Haifa District Court (residing as a Water Tribunal) rejected an appeal filed by Adalah on behalf of 767 Israeli-Bedouin living in the Negev's Diaspora, demanding access to sources of water (D.C.H. Appeal 609/05, Abdallah Abu Msaed, et. al. v. The Water Commissioner).

364.In its decision, the Haifa District Court President emphasized that while the case directly deals with connections to the main water pipelines, it indirectly addresses the complex issue of the organization of "Bedouin housing." The Court added that it is not disregarding the fact that all citizens enjoy the basic human right to water and health, which must be granted by the State in order to guarantee the right to dignity, but explained that, in its opinion, providing connections to the main water pipeline is not the way to resolve the problem of unauthorized villages. According to the Court's decision, the right to water is not absolute, but can be made conditional upon a "clear" public interest "not to encourage cases of additional illegal settlement."

365.On 18 November 2006, Adalah submitted an appeal to the Supreme Court against the ruling delivered by the Haifa District Court. The appeal is still pending (C.A. 9535/06, Abdullah Abu Musa’ed, et. al. v. The Water Commissioner and the Israel Lands Administration).

The current situation

366.As of February 2009, 'Mekerot' has begun laying new pipelines, two inches in diameter, in order to improve and enlarge the amounts of water supplied to the Bedouins and to prevent technical difficulties (pipelines that were previously approved for direct connections by the Water Committee are of one inch diameter, which is insufficient for a supply of water to a large number of persons and which causes technical problems, such as low water pressure, freezing of pipes etc.).

367.Owners of direct water connections to the pipeline of one inch diameter may apply to 'Mekorot' and request that the corporation expand the pipeline. Note that even in cases where such an application has not been made, 'Mekorot' can identify pipes with respect to which there is a large amount of water consumed, and can widen the pipeline at its own initiative. All of 'Mekorot's' pipelines are located underground, and claims regarding pipelines that are laid on the ground probably refer to pipelines that were illegally laid down by the local population.

Electricity

368.The Electricity Supply Law (Temporary Order) 5756-1996, was enacted to solve the problem of providing electricity to Arab and Druze citizens whose houses had been built without building permits, and were consequently not connected to the central electricity grid. This Law was amended in 2001, extending the temporary supply for a period of seven years. In 2004 the Law was amended again, so that the extension would cease as of 31 May 2007.Since the enactment of the Law and up until 31 May 2007, the Electricity Administrationapproved the connection of 8,941 buildings to the electricity grid.

369.Israel Electric Corporation began connecting el-Mustakabal and el-Aasam b' schools, which operate in the unauthorized village of Abu-Talul, to the national electricity grid. The corporation is also working to connect el-Amal school in the village Hirbat el-Watan and additional schools in other unauthorized villages in the Negev. These steps were taken following a petition to the High Court of Justice by Adalah in July 2009. Following the State's notification to the Court in February 2010 that the necessary works for connecting the schools to the national grid were completed, and that the schools would be connected within several days, the Court stated that the remedy requested in the appeal had been provided, and therefore rejected the appeal (H.C.J 5475/09 Aiub Abu-Sabila et. al. v. The Ministry of Education et. al. (10.3.10)).

Administration for sewage infrastructures – Bedouin population

370.Government Resolution No. 3956 (Arab/40) of 18 July 18, established a total budget of 387.7 Million NIS (U.S. $104,783,784) for the development of infrastructures and building public structures in Abu-Basma and Al Sid localities between 2005 and 2008. The budget included 44 Million NIS (U.S. $11,891,892) (of which 50 per cent is in the form of a Government loan) for development of water and sewage systems. The implementation of this resolution was delayed due to the slow population of these localities and for difficulties the localities encountered in returning the loan.

371.On 11 October 2007, the Government consolidated an additional multi-year plan to promote and assist in the construction and development of sewage infrastructure in the Bedouin localities in the Negev area (Government resolution No. 2428). According to the Government Resolution, as a prerequisite condition for the implementation of the plan, the localities were required to establish Water and Sewage Corporations, as stipulated in the Water and Sewage Corporations Law. However such corporations have yet to be established.

372.In March 2010, the Be'er Sheva District Court approved an agreement between Kssaife local authority and "Adam, Teva V'din - The Israel Union for Environmental Defense" regarding arrangements of the Kssaife sewage system. The finalization of the sewage system was delayed due to the objection of one of Kssaife's residents to the laying of the sewage pipe near his property. According to the agreement, the head of Kssaife locality and the local authority shall take all necessary steps to complete the building of the sewage line by June 2010. The agreement was reached after concluding that the area in question does not belong to the objecting resident.

Health

Infant mortality

373.Please see above the reply to the issues raised in paragraph 31 of the list of issues.

Health infrastructures

Health clinics

374. According to figures dated May 2010, the total number of health clinics and independent physicians in the Bedouin population was 51, according to the following distribution: in the permanent localities there were 27 clinics and eleven independent physicians; in the localities in the process of planning and development there were nine clinics and in the unauthorized villages there were 4 clinics.

375.The clinics located in the Bedouin localities are equipped according to the standards of every Health Fund in the country. Clinics in unauthorized Bedouin villages located throughout the Negev are all computerized, air conditioned, and equipped according to the standards followed by all the Health Funds (HMOs) in the country.

376.It is important to note, that medical services are also available in the various Health Funds' clinics, which are located outside the Bedouin localities, such as in Be'er Sheva, Arad, Dimona, Omer Mitzpe-Ramon etc.

Special services

377.- The General Health Services Department operates a special health service forthe Bedouin population that includes an ambulance service for Bedouins, run by aBedouin employee. This enables a talented professional staffto evaluate the living conditions of patients prior to their release fromhospitalization.

Immunization coverage

378.Please see above the reply to the issues raised in paragraph 31 of the list of issues.

Prevention of language barriers in providing health services

379.Ben-Gurion University has opened a new course of studies – a bachelors' degree for male/female qualified nurses from the Bedouin population. As of 2010, 37 students have enrolled in this new course. In addition, as of January 2010, five nurses were hired to work in mother and infant health care stations and their training for these positions will take six months. There is also a two year programme intended to train nurses, who will work in the Bedouin population, in providing parental guidance. In 2010, 16 nurses graduated from this programme and a new group of nurses is currently being assembled. Note however that there is still a substantial shortage of qualified nurses in the Bedouin population.

380.The first female Bedouin physician in Israel, Rania al-Oqbi, has completed her degree. She was part of the special "Cultivating Medicine in the Desert" programme, which was aimed at incorporating more Bedouin into the health sector. As of 2009, six Bedouin women are studying medicine; 35 Bedouin women have completed degrees in various health professions; and 45 additional women are studying health sciences.

Mother and infant health care stations

381.Please see above the reply to the issues raised in paragraph 31 of the list of issues.

Development of road infrastructure and public transportation services in Bedouin localities

Development of road infrastructure

382.In regard to infrastructure projects, the Ministry of Transportation and Road Safety has conducted the following projects in the southern Bedouin localities:

Paving an access road to the Al-Said service centre, which leads, inter alia, to two schools and a mosque.

Paving an access road to the Um-Batin service centre, which includes an n elementary school, a high school, a youth centre and a health clinic.

Paving an access road through Marit and Darijat localities to Kuhla village. The road will provide access to these localities' service centre, which is currently in the final planning stages and will include a variety of public services such as kindergartens, health clinic, school etc.

An access road was paved to the service centre in Abu Krinat, which includes an elementary school, kindergartens and a youth centre.

An access road was paved to the Huashala service centre, which includes an elementary school and a high school, kindergarten, a youth centre and a health clinic.

An access road was paved to the Moleda service centre and to two schools in this locality. The service centre in Moleda includes, among other, medical services and an elementary school.

An access road was paved to the Dir Hadje service centre, which includes schools, kindergartens and a health clinic.

Public transportation services in Bedouin localities

383.Public transportation services are provided for the Bedouin population in the north at lower cost, and are operated regularly on Saturdays (Sabbath). The Ministry of Transportation and Road Safety has made preparations for the examination of the public transportation services in the northern Bedouin villages and localities during 2011-2012, which examination falls within the framework of an extensive development plan for the Arab population.

384.Public transportation in the Bedouin localities in the north is provided for the localities of Abtin, Shibli and Zarzir. Other localities are assisted by service lines, which are operated in a similar manner to those that operate in localities in the South.

385.The Bedouin localities in the south are situated in four main areas: near Dimona (road 25), Arad (roads 60 and 31), Rahat (road 40) and in proximity to the Negev junction road 40 south). For that reason the Ministry increased the frequency of public transportation in these areas as follows:

Along road 25 an all-stops bus were operated between Dimona and Be'er-Sheva. The stops were designed according to the Bedouin localities on the ground, and the busses conduct 17 rounds each day. In addition, an express line also provides service to the Bedouin localities near Dimona with a frequency of 83 daily rounds.

As of 13 September 2010, The Ministry of Transportation and Road Safety increased the public transportation on road 25 by two additional bus lines and by a total of 35 daily rides, which provides public transportation services to the Bedouin population in and around Arara and Segev Shalom.

The Ministry has operated public transportation bus lines on road 60 and 31 near Arad with a frequency of 89 rounds each day, and as of September 13, 2010, the Ministry has also increased the public transportation in these road by five new bus lines which provide service to Kssaife, Jura, Lakia, Tel-Sheva, and other Bedouin localities around Be'er-Sheva with a total of 61 daily rounds.

As of the 2009-10 school year, a special bus line is operated between the city of Arad to the Ahva College. This line provides service to the Bedouin population both in the unauthorized villages and the permanent localities with two daily rounds.

In addition since May 2009, the Ministry is operating service lines between Rahat and the city of Sderot with 93 rounds each day, between Rahat and Sapir College with 3 daily rounds and between Rahat and Hura with a frequency of two daily rounds. All of these lines service the Bedouin population both in the unauthorized villages and the permanent localities along the relevant roads.

Additional bus lines are operated between the Negev junction and Be'er-Sheva to Mitzpe Ramon by four all-stops bus lines with a total frequency of 129 daily rounds.

Public transportation is also continuously operated in the localities of Kssaife and Hura, and in Lakia on Saturdays only.

386.These important infrastructure projects and public transportation lines provide the whole Bedouin population living in the Negev with transportation solutions, making the access to health, education, employment and other important services much easier, particularly for children and women in this traditional society. Thus, women and girls who need to travel may use these new roads and bus lines without the need of walking to far away bus stations and may access schools, health clinics and other public services without traveling far from their homes and families.

Reply to the issues raised in paragraph 35 of the list of issues

387.Please see above the reply to the issues raised in paragraph 2 of the list of issues.

Reply to the issues raised in paragraph 36 of the list of issues

Senior citizens

388.According to the Ministry of Senior Citizens Affairs, one of the main obstacles to the enjoyment of the rights according to the law, is the lack of knowledge regarding certain rights. Therefore, the Ministry is currently working of a bill proposal regarding informing senior citizens regarding their rights. According to the bill proposal, public authorities will be obligated to transfer the Ministry of Senior Citizens Affairs, information regarding rights and benefits of senior citizens as they reach retirement age, and the Ministry will be obligated to publicize such information. The bill is currently still being drafted.

Women with disabilities

389.According to the 2009 report of the Commission for Equal Rights for Persons with Disabilities, in 2007, women comprised the majority of the population of persons with disabilities in Israel. Of 1.2 million persons with disabilities, 650,000 were women. The reason for their majority is the longer life expectancy of women in the total population. This majority is more evident in older ages, in which the rate of the disabilities is also higher.

390.To date no updated aggregated data regarding obstacles to the enjoyment of the rights guaranteed under the Convention by older women and disabled women is available.

Marriage and family relations

Replyto the issues raised in paragraph 37 of the list of issues

Minimum age of marriage

391.According to the Marital Age Law 5710-1950 (hereinafterthe "Marital Age Law"), minors between the ages of 16 to 17 who wish to get married are requires the get an approval from a Family Matters Court. A person that marries a minor, conducts a marriage or marries his/her child or a child under his/her custody to another against the Marital Age Law is liable for up to two years imprisonment (or a fine of 67,300 NIS (U.S. $ 18,189)).

392.The Israeli Police has anchored the policy and method of treatment regarding early illegal marriages in Police procedure 03.300.200 titled "Ways of Treatment of Offences of Early Marriages and Sexual Intercourse with a Minor". The Police conducted deliberations with representatives of the Ministries of Justice, Interior and the social services in the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Labor, in which criteria and priorities were set for the Police treatment of such offences.

393.According to the above deliberations, priority will be given for treatment of the following complaints:

(a)Complaints regarding the marriage of a female minor under the age of 14, when at the time of filing the complaint she is under the age of 16;

(b)Complaints regarding marriages between a female minor and a man where the age differences are 10 years and above;

(c)Cases where the marriages took place proximate to the date of registration.

394.According to data received from the Ministry of Public Security, to date, no complaints regarding the above matters were filed.

395.To date, only a small number of cases of underage marriages were opened during 2009 and 2010. One of the main reasons for the small number of cases is the absence of complaining side and also that the offence is brought to the attention of the authorities only when the women comes to register the couple's children in the Ministry of Interior. However, by then, most women are no longer minors.

The polygamy offence

396.Section 176 of the Penal Law prohibits Polygamy in Israel. According to this section, polygamy is punishable by 5 years imprisonment. According to Section 179, a Jewish person shall not be convicted of polygamy if the second marriage is conducted after receiving a marriage permit according to a final verdict of a Rabbinical Court and after the final verdict receives the approval of the High Rabbinical Court. According to Section 180 of the Law, Polygamy among people of other religions is "permitted" only in two situations: the spouse from the first marriage is unable, for reasons of mental illness, to agree to a divorce or to the cancellation of the marriage or to participate in such procedure; the spouse from the first marriage is missing in circumstances which give rise to fear for his/her life and he can not be traced for seven years. The Penal law also stipulates that a woman cannot be forced to annul the marriage without the consent of the relevant court.

397.In 2009, 51 investigation cases were opened for polygamy. Of these cases, 18 (35 per cent) were transferred to the State Attorney's Office. During the same year four cases were brought to trial and the offenders were convicted. Since January 2010, 15 investigation cases were opened for polygamy and eight were transferred to the State Attorney's Office.

Reply to the issues raised in paragraph 38 of the list of issues

398.The authority to allow the marriage of a Jewish man and a Jewish woman according to the Israeli law, within the State of Israel is of the Rabbinical Courts, as a unique authority and is conducted according to the Jewish religious law.

399.According to the Jewish religious law, it is impossible to compel a man to divorce his wife against his will, and it also impossible to compel a woman to agree to receive a divorce decree ("Get") against her will. Note that Section 181 to the Penal Law titled "dissolution of marriage against the wife's will" prohibits dissolving the marriage bond against the wife's will in the absence of a final judgment of the civil court or of the competent religious tribunal to make that dissolution binding. The sanction in such case is five years imprisonment.

400.The dissolution of marriage is done by a religious court, however it is a voluntary private act, in which the husband grants a divorce decree to the wife, and the wife receives the decree from the husband. Note, that the religious tribunal may not compel neither of which to divorce against their will. However the religious tribunal has legal tools by which it may, in certain cases, force a husband to provide a divorce to his wife or force the wife to receive the divorce.

401.In a recent precedent by the Jerusalem Family Matters Court, the Court awarded the husband (the plaintiff) the amount of 53,333 NIS ($14,400) as non-pecuniary damage for the period he was held in marriage against his will, since his wife refused to receive the divorce decree and continued to dwell in an apartment which was owned exclusively by the husband (F.M.C 21162/07 Anonymous v. Anonymous, Jerusalem Family Matters Court (21.1.10)). This case indicates more clearly the equality between men and women in the process of divorce and clearly shows that a divorce may not be conducted against the wife's will.

Distribution of the property

402.The distribution of the property is conducted according the general Israeli Law (H.C.J 1000/92 Hava Bavli v. The High Rabbinical Court – Jerusalem (1994)). The applicable Law is the Division of Property between Spouses Law 5733-1973 (the "Division of Property between Spouses Law"), which determines, as a general rule, that at the time of the divorce, each side will receive half of the value of the couple's assets. In regard to couples that were married prior to the enactment of this law, the applicable law is the "preemption of communion", which determines joint ownership of both side regarding their assets and equal distribution of the property between them.

403.The Knesset recently amended the Division of Property between Spouses Law (Amendment No. 4 of 2008) in order to allow the division of property prior to the divorce or end of marriage. According to Jewish "Halacha", both spouses must consent to the divorce. The purpose of the Amendment is to prevent the possibility of one spouse to require the other spouse to relinquish his/her property rights, as a condition for his/her consent to divorce.

404.Section 2(d) to the Law was amended to further broaden the application of the Law, to include marriage annulment, declaration that the marriage was void and separation according to religious law that does not allow divorce, in addition to divorce.

405.Section 5(a), dealing with the right of each spouse to half of the couple's entire property, was amended to allow the Court to grant the right not only after divorce or after the death of a spouse as previously, but also immediately after the annulment of the marriage. The total property includes future pension rights, retirement benefits, savings, providence funds etc.

406.The Amendment added Section 5A(a), according to which, the Court may allow, under certain circumstances, the realization of the right to division of property, namely the right of each spouse to half of the couple's total property, prior to the divorce or the marriage annulment in each of the aforementioned forms.

407.According to Section 5A(b), the Court may shorten the periods stipulated in Section 5A(a), if it deems it appropriate. Furthermore, in certain circumstances, namely the involvement of violent elements, the Court may order the division of property even if the situation does not comply with the terms stipulated in Section 5A(a).

408.According to Section 5A(c) the Court may condition the execution of a division of property request, in the deposition of a written letter of consent to receive or give a 'Get' from the applicant.

Optional Protocol

Reply to the issues raised in paragraph 39 of the list of issues

409.The State of Israel does not intend to ratify the Optional Protocol at this point in time.

Annexes

Annex 1

Reply to the issues raised in paragraph 16 of the list of issues

State of Israel

Ministry of Justice

August 2007

National Plan regarding the Battle against Trafficking in Persons for the Purpose of Prostitution

Committee of Directors General regarding the Battle against Trafficking in Persons

During its meeting of July 11th 2007, the Committee of Directors General regarding the Battle against Trafficking in Persons, chaired by the Director General of the Ministry of Justice, Mr. Moshe Shilo, decided upon a National Plan to combat trafficking for the purpose of prostitution. This plan is based upon the recommendations of a sub committee appointed by the Committee of Directors General. In the light of the substantive progress made in Israel in regard to the battle against this phenomenon, this plan focuses upon steps to solve specific, remaining problems.

This plan is not limited to trafficking between states, but rather applies, in addition, to trafficking within the borders of Israel , if it exists and to the extent that it may occur.

The Committee of Directors General was established by two Government Resolutions, from the 28th of December 2003 and the 21st of May 2006, which mandated the appointment of this Committee and assigned to it the responsibility to forge decisions to coordinate the battle against trafficking in persons on three planes: prosecution, protection of victims and prevention. According to the Government Resolution of May 2006, the Committee is composed of the Directors General of relevant ministries or their senior representatives.

The following government offices are represented in the Committee: the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Public Security, the Ministry of Social Affairs, the Ministry of the Interior, the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Labor, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Health, the Israel Police and the Prime Minister's Office. The Director General of the Ministry of Justice serves as Chairman.

The subcommittee, which submitted its recommendations to the Committee, included representatives from the Ministry of Justice, the State Attorney's Office, the Ministry of the Interior, the Ministry of Public Security, the Ministry of Social Affairs, the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Israel Police and the Authority for the Advancement of Women in the Prime Minister's Office. In addition, the Director of the Maagan Shelter for Trafficked Women participated. Representatives of the non governmental organizations who work in the field actively participated in most of the meetings. The subcommittee held 11 meetings, over a period of time between December 2006 and June 2007.

Drafting a broad strategy to battle prostitution in general is beyond the scope of this plan. However, since in certain respects, steps used to battle against prostitution can aid the battle against trafficking, the plan does include recommendations on the plane of prevention which relate to prostitution in general.

The following is a summary of the National Plan approved by the Committee of Directors General in the realms of prevention, prosecution and protection. It should be emphasized that the implementation of the Plan will require operative recommendations which will need to be designed by working groups.

Prevention

1.Factual and academic research should be promoted regarding the world of prostitution in general and trafficking in particular, above and beyond existing research which should be mapped.

2.Information campaigns should be undertaken among the Israeli public and segments of it. In addition steps should be taken to renew, broaden, and update information campaigns in the countries of origin of victims of trafficking for the purpose of prostitution.

3.Training programmes should be continued, broadened and updated in every relevant government agency. In addition, broad multi office training sessions should be undertaken and should include the subject of the duty to report to the police, suspicions of trafficking offences.

4.Supervision over the Egyptian border should be strengthened.

5.Steps should be considered to limit the demand for prostitution services, including comparative research in order to reach a policy decision regarding legislation in this area.

6.Forceful enforcement of section 205c of the Criminal Law, which prohibits advertising prostitution services, should continue, and an assessment should be made in regard to possible amendments to the law.

7.Cooperation with countries of origin and transit should be continued on all planes: prevention, prosecution and protection of victims.

8.Enforcement efforts should be continued to limit the use of premises for the purpose of prostitution, including continued police activity according to the Limiting the Use of Premises to Prevent the Commission of Offences Law, 5765 – 2005 in appropriate cases, and continued police enforcement of the offences prohibiting the possession of premises for the purpose of prostitution and the renting out of premises for the purpose of prostitution, while heightening cooperation between government offices and local authorities in this area.

9.The subcommittee which submitted the recommendations, should be appointed as a permanent subcommittee, which should meet periodically in order to deal with ongoing problems, to draft recommendations and to supervise the implementation of the Plan.

Prosecution

1.Law enforcement agencies should encourage awareness of possible changes in the patterns of criminal activity of trafficking for the purpose of prostitution and related offences and act accordingly.

2.Appropriate procedures should be developed among government offices in order to allow for the prosecution of traffickers in cases where victims have returned to their countries of origin.

3.Cooperation with police forces in countries of origin should be continued, including assistance in locating victims who are needed for investigatory purposes or for testimony, information exchange, conferences, and bilateral agreements, when appropriate. In addition, efforts should be continued to promote contact with transit countries in these areas.

4.Heightened use of financial and economic tools should be undertaken in order to limit the profits which feed trafficking, including by means of cooperation between police investigators and prosecutors and the Tax Authority, by means of promoting the utilization of the Prohibition of Money Laundering Law during the investigation and prosecution stages of cases, and by means of promoting police awareness as to necessary steps to allow for seizure of assets connected to these offences.

5.The use of the Combating Criminal Organizations Law should continue to be considered during early investigatory stages in cases of trafficking for prostitution.

6.Steps should be taken in order to hasten the completion of criminal cases of trafficking for prostitution, including by means of legislation which authorizes one judge to rule on such cases in cooperation with the Courts Authority, and by means of heightening the awareness of prosecutors and judges to the necessity of expediting these cases.

7.Efforts should be continued to create a climate friendly to submission of complaints by trafficking victims in regard to additional criminal offences committed against them, including by means of apprising the victims in regard to their rights, by means of ascertaining that the State Attorney's Guidelines are internalized by prosecutors, and by means of encouraging investigators to approve the transfer of victims to the shelter for trafficked women, in coordination with the Central Branch of the Police, as this tends to encourage victims to submit complaints.

8.Efforts should be undertaken to deter trafficking of Israeli women abroad and related offences, including by means of continued intelligence gathering, by means of improving cooperation between Israel and countries of destination and by means of heightening public awareness to this possibility in order to caution potential victims.

Protection

1.A more comprehensive translation system should be promoted, giving due attention to junctions which do not enjoy adequate translation services. In addition, training should be considered in regard to translators who serve in court cases in order to promote accurate translation, especially in cases which include difficult material.

2.A broadening of the shelter's mandate should be considered in order to include treatment follow up regarding women who have left the shelter to live more independent lives.

3.A model of half way houses should be considered for women who have resided in the shelter. In this regard, existing resources should be examined and in particular – kibbutzim, and criteria to participate in the programme should be designed.

4.The appointment of a State social worker should be considered, to support victims of trafficking in detention facilities, to help to identify them and to assist their safe return to their countries of origin.

5.A tool kit should be fashioned in order to facilitate identification of victims of trafficking. This tool kit should serve all the relevant junctions which come into contact with such victims.

6.A procedure should be established to allow for the safe return of victims of trafficking to their countries of origin, whether or not they have resided in the shelter.

7.Application of the Protection of Witnesses Plan should be considered in regard to victims of trafficking for prostitution or related offences in appropriate cases, as far as the Plan becomes operative and subject to the priorities of the Agency for the Protection of Witnesses in the Israel Police.

8.Payment of compensation to victims of trafficking for prostitution should be promoted, including by means of heightening the awareness of prosecutors and judges to the importance of awarding adequate compensation, by means of promoting procedures to ensure the payment of compensation to victims who have left the country, and by means of heightening the awareness of prosecutors in regard to the State Attorney's Guidelines requiring them to condition plea bargains in trafficking cases - on traffickers depositing compensation sums to be awarded to victims.

9.Efforts should be made to ensure medical treatment to trafficking victims who have legal status in the country, whether or not they have resided in the shelter.

10.An assessment should be made by the Steering Committee of the shelter regarding necessary arrangements, if the shelter is to house Israeli victims of trafficking, should the need arise. This assessment is necessary, under the assumption that this population may be different from that presently residing in the shelter. The assessment should include an examination of alternative existing shelters for this population.

11.Efforts should be made to heighten the awareness of prosecutors to the legal possibility of requesting that testimony of victims of trafficking for prostitution or pornography should be heard not in the presence of the defendant.

12.Legislation calculated to protect victims of trafficking for prostitution should be considered, in the framework of regular channels in the Ministry of Justice. This may include authorizing courts to request a social service report on he state of victims (in the framework of criminal cases against traffickers), giving jurisdiction to courts to rule upon prison terms for traffickers who have not paid compensation to victims, and authorizing non release of details regarding victims, if this area is not wholly covered by existing legislation and to the extent that it is not covered.

13.Efforts should be made to heighten the awareness of prosecutors to the Rights of Victims Law, as far as it relates to victims of trafficking for prostitution.

The Committee of Directors General decided to promote 5 goals which are viewed as of highest priority at this stage and 4 additional goals which are to be pursued at the next level of priority.

The following are the five goals of highest priority:

1.In the realm of prevention – to strengthen supervision of the Egyptian border – (recommendation 4 in the chapter on Prevention)

2.In the realm of prosecution – to encourage awareness of possible changes in patterns of criminal activity and act accordingly – (recommendation 1 in the chapter on Prosecution)

3.In the realm of protection – to fashion a tool kit to facilitate the identification of victims of trafficking – (recommendation 5 in the chapter of protection)

4.In the realm of protection – to promote the safe return of victims of trafficking to their countries of origin – (recommendation 6 in the chapter of protection)

5.In the realm of protection – to make efforts to ensure medical treatment to all victims of trafficking who have legal status in Israel (recommendation 9 in the chapter on protection).

The following are the four goals of next highest priority:

1.In the realm of prevention – to undertake information campaigns in Israel and abroad – (recommendation 2 in the chapter on prevention)

2.In the realm of prevention – to promote training programmes – (recommendation 3 in the chapter on prevention)

3.In the realm of prosecution – to promote heightened use of financial and economic tools – (recommendation 4 in the chapter on prosecution)

4.In the realm of protection – to promote a more comprehensive translation system – (recommendation 1 in the chapter on protection)

The Committee of Directors General appointed inter-ministerial teams in order to forge operative recommendations for each of the five goals of highest priority.

In addition, the Committee of Directors General decided to publicize a summary of the National Plan among the public at large and among the non-governmental organizations who work in the field of anti trafficking activities. The Committee also decided to appoint the sub committee who drafted the recommendations on a permanent basis, in order to deal with ongoing problems, to draft recommendations and to supervise the implementation of the Plan.

Annex 2

Reply to the issues raised in paragraph 16 of the list of issues

State of Israel

Ministry of Justice

February 8, 2007

National Plan regarding the Battle against Slavery and Trafficking in Persons for the Purposes of Slavery or Forced Labor

Committee of Directors General regarding the Battle against Trafficking inPersons

In its meeting of 10 January 2007, the Committee of Director Generals regarding the Battle against Trafficking in Persons decided upon a National Plan to combat slavery and trafficking in persons for the purposes of slavery or forced labour. This decision was based on the recommendations of a sub committee appointed by the Committee. Such a national plan is a necessary first step in the development of a strategy to suppress this scourge.

The Committee of Directors General was established by two Government Decisions, from 28 December 2003 to 21 of May 2006, which mandated the appointment of such a committee which would be responsible for forging decisions to coordinate the battle against trafficking in persons on three planes: prosecution, protection of victims and prevention. According to the Government Decision of May 2006, the Committee is composed of the Director Generals of relevant ministries or their senior representatives.

The following government offices are represented in the Committee: the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Public Security, the Ministry of Social Affairs, the Ministry of the Interior, the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Labor, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Health, the Israel Police and the Prime Minister's Office. The Director General of the Ministry of Justice serves as Chairman.

The subcommittee, which presented its recommendations to the Committee, was composed of representatives from the government offices represented in the Committee. The Chairperson of the subcommittee was the Government Coordinator of the Battle against Trafficking in Persons in the Ministry of Justice. Representatives of non governmental organizations were invited to attend in order to contribute their experience.

The Plan does not purport to regulate the field of foreign workers in general, since this task is assigned to other bodies, but rather to develop recommendations regarding the battle against the most severe phenomena in this field – slavery and trafficking for the purposes of slavery and forced labour. Nevertheless, these recommendations may require changes in existing arrangements in the field of foreign workers, as far as they may create a climate friendly to the development of such severe phenomena.

The following is a summary of the decisions which were made on the planes of prevention, prosecution and protection. It should be emphasized that these decisions constitute a National Plan, and not operative procedures, which will need to be designed in the wake of the plan.

Prevention

1.A data base of information on slavery and trafficking for the purposes of slavery and forced labour should be created, including by means of data sharing among government agencies, strengthening channels of communication with non governmental organizations and encouraging research.

2.Steps should be taken in order to inform the Israeli public regarding these phenomena, including its duty to report to the police suspicions of trafficking for the purpose of slavery and forced labour, within the purview of the criminal law.

3.The public, and sectors among it, should be encouraged to submit relevant information to the police on the subject of slavery and trafficking for the purposes of slavery and forced labour, and in particular, sectors which may come into contact with victims of these crimes, including private enterprises.

4.Information campaigns would be undertaken in the countries of origin of foreign workers in order to equip them with basic information about employment conditions and rights in Israel.

5.Steps should be taken in order to inform foreign workers about their basic rights during early stages of their arrival in Israel.

6.The question of establishing contact with countries of origin of foreign workers should be deliberated upon, in order to bring about agreement as to supervision of their recruitment and informing them regarding their rights before their arrival in Israel.

7.Training should be forwarded among representatives of government offices who work with foreign workers regarding trafficking in persons and slavery.

8.The supervision over the Egyptian border should be heightened.

9.The arrangements detailed in Government Decisions 446, 447, and 448 should be implemented regarding the new system of employment of foreign workers by means of private offices, upon whom various obligations and monetary guarantees are to be imposed, in order to ascertain adequate supervision over workers' conditions.

10.The Government Coordinator should be required to report to the Government periodically about the scope of the phenomenon, its characteristics and the steps the government has taken in order to combat it.

11.A policy should be considered of not allowing the entry of foreign workers from countries which have no embassy or consulate in Israel, unless exceptional circumstances exist.

12.It is important to adhere to a policy of mobility of foreign workers and especially in the realm of nursing care.

13.It is important to undertake inspections in order to identify cases of fictitious requests for foreign workers.

14.The ratification procedure of international treaties to suppress trafficking in persons, should be completed as soon as possible.

15.The subcommittee which submitted recommendations should be appointed as a permanent subcommittee, which meets periodically in order to deal with problems and draft recommendations.

Prosecution

1.A clear policy should be established regarding the investigation and prosecution of crimes against foreign workers, distinguishing between cases which merit criminal investigation and prosecution according to the Criminal Law and cases in which investigation and prosecution on the basis of regulatory offences suffices.

2.A clear division of labour should be coordinated among the law enforcement agencies in regard to investigation and prosecution of regulatory offences versus Criminal Law offences like trafficking and slavery.

3.A procedure should be forged regarding the transfer of information about cases in the process of being investigated among law enforcement agencies.

4.Coordinators should be appointed in the Police, the State Attorney's Office and the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Labor in order to develop a broad view of the problem, to serve as a source of information, and to function as a clearing house in transferring cases to appropriate law enforcement agencies.

5.The enforcement policy of the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Labor in regard to protection of foreign workers should be heightened.

6.A guide by which to identify victims of trafficking and slavery (otherwise known as a national referral mechanism), should be designed, to be used at relevant crossroads.

7.A policy of encouraging complaints of foreign workers against those who have committed crimes against them should be encouraged.

8.Enforcement should be heightened in regard to the prohibition against middleman fees paid by foreign workers, beyond sums established by law.

9.Supervision over manpower agencies and private offices dealing with foreign workers should be heightened, including implementation of existing Government Decisions.

10.Supervision of employers of foreign workers should be strengthened.

11.Cooperation between Israeli law enforcement agencies and like agencies abroad should be heightened to combat these phenomena.

12.Use of financial tools to combat trafficking should be heightened in appropriate cases.

13.Cooperation among criminal, regulatory and financial law enforcement agencies should be heightened.

14.A comprehensive translation system should be set up, capable of serving all the relevant points at which foreign workers come into contact with government agencies.

15.Ways and means should be devised of transferring information about criminal convictions of trafficking and slavery to agencies responsible for allocating permits and licenses to employ or otherwise deal with foreign workers.

16.Efforts should be made, as far as possible, to expedite the resolution of cases of trafficking and slavery in the courts and the Department for the Investigation of Police Officers.

Protection

1.Supportive frameworks and an array of services should be established for victims of slavery and trafficking for the purposes of slavery and forced labour, including residence solutions, if necessary, and medical insurance.

2.A social worker, who is a public servant, should be employed in detention facilities in order to support victims of trafficking and slavery and contribute to identification of such victims.

3.A procedure to grant legal aid to victims of slavery and trafficking for the purposes of slavery and forced labour should be designed. .

4. A pilot should be considered by which social workers who are public servants are appointed to interview nursing caretakers and agricultural workers, in order to investigate their employment conditions.

5.A policy of not prosecuting victims of trafficking and slavery for crimes integral to the crimes committed against them, should be deliberated upon.

6.A procedure should be designed by which visas may be given to victims of slavery and trafficking for the purposes of slavery and forced labour with the aim of rehabilitation, in accordance with the policy of the Minister of the Interior, as announced in the Knesset.

7.Transfer of information between the Ministry of the Interior and the Immigration Authority should be continued and heightened in order to prevent unnecessary arrests of foreign workers.

8.The Government Decision to broaden the function of the Ombudswoman who deals with the complaints of foreign workers in the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Labor, should be implemented, in order to authorize her to deal with complaints outside the field of construction.

9.Establishing a hotline for foreign workers should be considered in order to aid in identification of victims of slavery and trafficking for the purpose of slavery or forced labour.

10.Consideration should be given to applying the Protection of Witnesses Plan (from January 4, 2005), to victims of trafficking and slavery or allied crimes, as far as this plan becomes operative.

11.Awareness in Courts and State and District Attorneys should be heightened regarding legislation requiring courts, in general, to rule on compensation of victims of trafficking and slavery in the framework of the criminal procedure.

12.Legislation, regulations and guidelines whose purpose is to protect victims of trafficking and slavery and to heighten their access to courts, should be encouraged.

13.Safe return of victims of trafficking and slavery to their countries of origin should be promoted.

The Committee of Directors General decided to promote five decisions which are viewed as of highest priority at this stage, and appointed teams in order to design operative steps to implement them:

1.In the realm of prevention: to undertake information campaigns in the countries of origin of foreign workers in order to equip them with basic information about their conditions of employment and rights (decision 4 in the chapter on Prevention).

2.In the realm of Prosecution: to coordinate a clear division of labour among the law enforcement agencies in regard to investigation and prosecution of regulatory offences versus Criminal Law offences like trafficking and slavery (decision 2 in the chapter on Prosecution).

3.In the realm of Prosecution: to design a guide by which to identify victims of trafficking and slavery (otherwise known as a national referral mechanism), to be used at relevant crossroads (decision 6 in the chapter on Prosecution).

4.In the realm of Protection: To establish supportive frameworks and an array of services for victims of trafficking and slavery, including residence solutions, if necessary, and medical insurance (decision 1 in the chapter on Protection).

5.In the realm of Protection: To promote safe return of victims of trafficking and slavery to their countries of origin.

In addition, the Committee of Directors Generals appointed the subcommittee who submitted the recommendations as a permanent subcommittee which will meet periodically in order to deal with problems and draft recommendations

Annex 3

Reply to the issues raised in paragraph 16 of the list of issues

State of Israel

Ministry of Justice

Status of Implementation of the National Plan regarding the Battle against Trafficking in Persons for the Purpose of Prostitution (as of February 23, 2010)

Prevention

1.Factual and academic research should be promoted regarding the world of prostitution in general and trafficking in particular, above and beyond existing research which should be mapped - During 2009, the Ministry of Social Affairs and Social Services has publicized a tender for a survey on the world of prostitution. In addition, the National Coordinator approached the Research Center of the Ministry of Public Security in order to request it to initiate research on this subject. This is being considered. Preliminary work has been done by the subcommittee on changing patterns in the world of prostitution and trafficking for prostitution which heard from various sources including the Police, the Ministries of Public Security, Interior, Social Affairs and Social Services, and Health, the National Coordinator, the State Attorney's Office representative, the Authority for the Rehabilitation of Prisoners and various NGOs including Machon Todaa, Isha L'Isha – Feminist Center Haifa, The Hotline for Migrant Workers. In the context of this subcommittee, the Police have prepared a report which maps out central issues.

2.Information campaigns - should be undertaken among the Israeli public and segments of it. In addition steps should be taken to renew, broaden, and update information campaigns in the countries of origin of victims of trafficking for the purpose of prostitution – This report describes public information campaigns by various bodies including the Ministry of Education and the Authority for the Advancement of Women, the National Coordinator and the State Attorneys Office. However, in view of the virtual stamping out of trafficking for prostitution, it is doubtful if this is the time to commence campaigns in countries of origin. .

3.Training programmes - should be continued, broadened and updated in every relevant government agency. In addition, broad multi Ministry training sessions should be undertaken and should include the subject of the duty to report to the Police, suspicions of trafficking offences – This report describes training programmes in detail.

4.Supervision over the Egyptian border should be strengthened – Efforts are being made. While there are growing numbers of infiltrators, there have been no trafficked women for the purpose of prostitution during 2009.

5.Steps should be considered to limit the demand for prostitution services, including comparative research in order to reach a policy decision regarding legislation in this area – During 2009, a preliminary bill on broadening the present prohibition on advertising prostitution service has been drafted, and it has been decided to invite the Police to a meeting regarding it. A private bill has been submitted to prohibit purchase of prostitution services. During 2008, a subcommittee decided to delay final decision regarding this bill to allow time for a mapping of the world of prostitution and public information campaigns. Now that the year has passed, the subcommittee is scheduled to meet on March 22nd in order to decide, after hearing a number of academics and field workers who have not yet been heard.

6.Forceful enforcement of Section 205C of the Penal Law, which prohibits advertising prostitution services, should continue, and an assessment should be made in regard to possible amendments to the Law – A preliminary bill has been prepared and awaits a meeting with the Police in order to receive their remarks.

7.Cooperation with countries of origin and transit should be continued on all planes - prevention, prosecution and protection of victims – this report details such cooperation.

8.Enforcement efforts should be continued to limit the use of premises for the purpose of prostitution, including continued Police activity according to the Limiting the Use of Premises to Prevent the Commission of Offences Law in appropriate cases, and continued Police enforcement of the offences prohibiting the possession of premises for the purpose of prostitution and the renting out of premises for the purpose of prostitution, while heightening cooperation between Government Ministries and local authorities in this area – This report deals with police activity according to the Limiting the Use of Premises Law and Police enforcement of prostitution offences.

9.The subcommittee which submitted the recommendations should be appointed as a permanent subcommittee, which should meet periodically in order to deal with ongoing problems, to draft recommendations and to supervise the implementation of the Plan – The Committee of Directors General appointed the Committee as a permanent subcommittee. This year, in view of the subcommittee dealing with the change of patterns of prostitution and trafficking for prostitution, which includes representatives from the relevant Ministries, this permanent subcommittee was not convened.

Prosecution

1.Law enforcement agencies should encourage awareness of possible changes in the patterns of criminal activity of trafficking for the purpose of prostitution and related offences and act accordingly - a subcommittee headed by the Deputy Director General of the Ministry of Public Security was appointed to explore this issue and has reached an advanced stage in its deliberations. It has heard from representatives of Police, the Ministries of Public Security, Interior, Social Affairs and Social Services, Health, the National Coordinator, the State Attorney's representative, the Authority for the Rehabilitation of Prisoners and various NGOs including Machon Todaa, Isha L'Isha, the Hotline for Migrant Workers. It has also heard evidence from women who were in the world of prostitution in the past.

2.Appropriate procedures should be developed among Government Ministries in order to allow for the prosecution of traffickers in cases where victims have returned to their countries of origin - This was not relevant during 2009.

3.Cooperation with police forces in countries of origin should be continued, including assistance in locating victims who are needed for investigatory purposes or for testimony, information exchange, conferences, and bilateral agreements, when appropriate. In addition, efforts should be continued to promote contact with transit countries in these areas - This report details efforts made in these directions.

4.Heightened use of financial and economic tools should be undertaken in order to limit the profits which feed trafficking, including by means of cooperation between police investigators and prosecutors and the Tax Authority, by means of promoting the utilization of the Prohibition of Money Laundering Law during the investigation and prosecution stages of cases, and by means of promoting Police awareness as to necessary steps to allow for seizure of assets connected to these offences – Legislation was passed to make trafficking a predicate offence in the context of the Prohibition of Money Laundering Law.

5.The use of the Combating Criminal Organizations Law should continue to be considered during early investigatory stages in cases of trafficking for prostitution – During 2009 there was no case which justified the use of this law, though during 2009 there was one such case.

6.Steps should be taken in order to hasten the completion of criminal cases of trafficking for prostitution, including by means of legislation which authorizes one judge to rule on such cases in cooperation with the Courts Administration, and by means of heightening the awareness of prosecutors and judges to the necessity of expediting these cases – Legislation giving jurisdiction to a sole judge in trafficking cases has passed, and the Government has introduced a Bill to extend this to prostitution offences under aggravated circumstances.

7.Efforts should be continued to create a climate friendly to submission of complaints by trafficking victims in regard to additional criminal offences committed against them, including by means of apprising the victims in regard to their rights, by means of ascertaining that the State Attorney's Guidelines are internalized by prosecutors, and by means of encouraging investigators to approve the transfer of victims to the shelter for trafficked women, in coordination with the Central Branch of the Police, as this tends to encourage victims to submit complaints – As seen in this report, efforts are being made in this direction.

8.Efforts should be undertaken to deter trafficking of Israeli women abroad and related offences, including by means of continued intelligence gathering, by means of improving cooperation between Israel and countries of destination and by means of heightening public awareness to this possibility in order to caution potential victims – During 2009, there were no cases which justified these efforts, though during 2008, there were some relevant isolated cases.

Protection

1.A more comprehensive translation system should be promoted, giving due attention to junctions which do not enjoy adequate translation services. In addition, training should be considered in regard to translators who serve in court cases in order to promote accurate translation, especially in cases which include difficult material – A subcommittee appointed by the Committee of Directors General is currently meeting to deal with these problems.

2.A broadening of the shelter's mandate should be considered in order to include follow-up treatment regarding women who have left the shelter to live more independent lives – The shelter does give assistance to women who have left it ad hoc, though the mandate has not been formally broadened.

3.A model of half-way houses should be considered for women who have resided in the shelter. In this regard, existing resources should be examined and in particular – kibbutzim, and criteria to participate in the programme should be designed – In view of the cessation of trafficking for prostitution during 2009 and the low number of women in the shelter, this goal needs to be re-evaluated.

4.The appointment of a State social worker should be considered, to support victims of trafficking in detention facilities, to help to identify them and to assist their safe return to their countries of origin – 2009 has witnessed the formation of connections between the National Coordinator and social workers in the detention facility of "Ktziot". The Unit has visited the facility twice this year, maintained contact with social workers regarding actual cases and facilitated a meeting between social workers and the Centers for Assistance for Victims of Sexual Offences in order to promote training and give advice and assistance in view of the large numbers of women who arrive, having been raped or sexually molested on the way to Israel. .

5.A tool kit should be fashioned in order to facilitate identification of victims of trafficking. This tool kit should serve all the relevant junctions which come into contact with such victims – A subcommittee headed by a District Attorney's Office representative was appointed to deal with this subject. Thus far, this subcommittee has merged with the subcommittee to distinguish changes in the world of prostitution and trafficking for prostitution and has participated it those deliberations as a necessary first step to identification.

6.A procedure should be established to allow for the safe return of victims of trafficking to their countries of origin, whether or not they have resided in the shelter – As this report describes, the shelter does in fact help women, including those who have not resided in it. In addition, NGOs aid in this matter and a subcommittee has been appointed, headed by a representative of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Social Services to forge recommendations. This subcommittee has held several meetings, including one attended by a representative of the IOM.

7.Application of the Protection of Witnesses Plan should be considered in regard to victims of trafficking for prostitution or related offences in appropriate cases, as far as the Plan becomes operative and subject to the priorities of the Authority for Witnesses Protection in the Police – The Law has was passed in November of 2008 and its implementation has begun. The National Coordinator met with the Police representative dealing with the Law and there is no impediment to urging that the Authority should consider a victim of trafficking who accords with its criteria.

8.Payment of compensation to victims of trafficking for prostitution should be promoted, including by means of heightening the awareness of prosecutors and judges to the importance of awarding adequate compensation, by means of promoting procedures to ensure the payment of compensation to victims who have left the country, and by means of heightening the awareness of prosecutors in regard to the State Attorney's Guidelines requiring them to condition plea bargains in trafficking cases - on traffickers depositing compensation sums to be awarded to victims – As detailed in this report, efforts are being made to do so, including involving the Administrator General in plans to guard and forward compensation of victims who have returned to their countries of origin. In addition, State Attorney Guidelines refer to compensation and there are increasing awards by courts. Prosecutors do require defendants to deposit compensation money as conditions for plea bargains.

9.Efforts should be made to ensure medical treatment to trafficking victims who have legal status in the country, whether or not they have resided in the shelter – A subcommittee appointed by the Committee of Directors General have crystallized recommendations and sent them to members for remarks. Upon receiving remarks and incorporating them, they will submit them to the Committee of Directors General.

10.An assessment should be made by the Steering Committee of the shelter regarding necessary arrangements, if the shelter is to house Israeli victims of trafficking, should the need arise. This assessment is necessary, under the assumption that this population may be different from that presently residing in the shelter. The assessment should include an examination of alternative existing shelters for this population – During 2009, there have been two solutions for Israeli victims - One such victim was housed in the "Maagan" shelter, and there is a system of shelters for Israeli victims of prostitution, as detailed in this report.

11.Efforts should be made to heighten the awareness of prosecutors to the legal possibility of requesting that testimony of victims of trafficking for prostitution or pornography should be heard not in the presence of the defendant – State Attorney Guidelines refer to this.

12.Legislation calculated to protect victims of trafficking for prostitution should be considered, in the framework of regular channels in the Ministry of Justice. This may include authorizing courts to request a social service report on the state of victims (in the framework of criminal cases against traffickers), giving jurisdiction to courts to rule upon prison terms for traffickers who have not paid compensation to victims, and authorizing non-release of details regarding victims, if this area is not wholly covered by existing legislation and to the extent that it is not covered – During 2009, legislation was passed regarding social service reports.

13.Efforts should be made to heighten the awareness of prosecutors to the Crime Victims' Rights Law, as far as it relates to victims of trafficking for prostitution – This is being touched upon in training sessions and will be further addressed.

Annex 4

Reply to the issues raised in paragraph 16 of the list of issues

State of Israel

Ministry of Justice

Status of Implementation of the National Plan regarding the Battle against Slavery and Trafficking in Persons for the Purposes of Slavery or Forced Labor (as of February 23, 2010)

The following are the main points of the National Plan and its implementation -

Prevention

1.A data base of information on slavery and trafficking for the purposes of slavery and forced labour should be created, including by means of data sharing among government agencies, strengthening channels of communication with non governmental organizations and encouraging research – Information is being compiled by the PIBA, and the National Coordinator makes efforts to create channels of communication between NGOs and government agencies and to summarize the cases encountered during the course of the year. However, there is still no comprehensive data base.

2.Steps should be taken in order to inform the Israeli public regarding these phenomenon, including its duty to report to the Police suspicions of trafficking for the purpose of slavery and forced labour, within the purview of the Penal Law - During 2009, many initiatives to educate the public were undertaken, and in most of them all these issues were addressed.

3.The public, and sectors among it, should be encouraged to submit relevant information to the Police on the subject of slavery and trafficking for the purposes of slavery and forced labour, and in particular, sectors which may come into contact with victims of these crimes, including private enterprises – Public information campaigns are being held, though not as yet among private enterprises.

4.Information campaigns would be undertaken in the countries of origin of foreign workers in order to equip them with basic information about employment conditions and rights in Israel – See this report regarding the brochures distributed by the Ministry of ITL and the submission of the recommendations of the subcommittee on public information campaigns, which deal largely with apprising foreign workers concerning their rights. In addition, during this recording period, the National Coordinator initiated a meeting with the Thai and Vietnamese embassy to discuss protection of workers migrating abroad.

5.Steps should be taken in order to inform foreign workers about their basic rights during early stages of their arrival in Israel - Recently, the rights brochure has been placed in a prominent place in the room in which foreign workers are interviewed upon arrival in Israel by functionaries of the Ministry of Interior.

6.The question of establishing contact with countries of origin of foreign workersshould be deliberated upon, in order to bring about agreement as to supervision of their recruitment and informing them regarding their rights before their arrival in Israel – Such a process has been initiated with the agreement between Thailand and the IOM to supervise recruitment of foreign workers from Thailand. In addition, video conferences with Sri Lanka have been organized.

7.Training should be forwarded among representatives of Government Ministries who work with foreign workers regarding trafficking in persons and slavery - This is being done in an intensive fashion, as can be seen in this report. Particularly important are the series of workshops partnered by the Joint Distribution Committee, CIMI, and the Ministry of Justice regarding identification of victims. .

8.The supervision over the Egyptian border should be heightened - As appears in the report, there has been a dramatic decrease in the number of trafficking victims moved via the Egyptian border.

9.The arrangements detailed in Government Resolutions 446, 447, and 448 should be implemented regarding the new system of employment of foreign workers by means of private offices, upon whom various obligations and monetary guarantees are to be imposed, in order to ascertain adequate supervision over workers' conditions - Following the National Plans and previous recommendations, the Ministry of ITL formulated procedures for new employment methods in the nursing care and agriculture fields. In the nursing care, the procedure regarding private bureaus geared towards bringing, mediating and caring for foreign workers in the nursing care came into force in September 2008 and the implementation had already began. Licenses and permits for private bureaus were granted solely to corporations that adhered to all the special provisions set for a license and a permit according to the Employment Service Law. The details of the 140 licensed bureaus were published in the Ministry of ITL web-site, in both Hebrew and English.

10.The National Coordinator should be required to report to the Government periodically about the scope of the phenomenon, its characteristics and the steps the Government has taken in order to combat it – As detailed in this report, the National Coordinator prepares a summary of the status of trafficking in Israel and disseminates it to key functionaries, as well as on the internet site of the National Coordinator Unit.

11.A policy should be considered of not allowing the entry of foreign workers from countries which have no embassy or consulate in Israel, unless exceptional circumstances exist – The Head of the New Population, Immigration and Border Authority (PIBA) has issued guidelines not to allow the entry of foreign workers who wish to work in nursing care, but do not know English. This guideline is particularly important in nursing care where the connection with the caretaker must include good communication.

12.It is important to adhere to a policy of mobility of foreign workers and especially in the nursing care field – This was done through the above detailed employment methods.

13.It is important to undertake inspections in order to identify cases of fictitious requests for foreign workers - This has been done on a limited basis by the Ministry of Interior in the course of 2009.

14.The ratification procedure of international treaties to suppress trafficking in persons, should be completed as soon as possible – This has been done. All central trafficking conventions have been ratified.

15.The subcommittee which submitted recommendations, should be appointed as a permanent subcommittee, which meets periodically in order to deal with problems and draft recommendations – This has been done. The Committee of Directors General has appointed this committee to serve permanently and it has been convened on several occasions. During 2009, the entire subcommittee has not convened, but rather only representatives of most of the ministries about specific subject.

Prosecution

1.A clear policy should be established regarding the investigation and prosecution of crimes against foreign workers, distinguishing between cases which merit criminal investigation and prosecution according to the Penal Law and cases in which investigation and prosecution on the basis of regulatory offences suffices – The creation of a special Police unit to deal with crimes against foreign workers – the "Saar Unit of the "Lahav Unit" – has led to expertise in distinguishing between trafficking and lesser offences. In addition, all training initiatives include examples of each kind of crime in order to highlight the distinctions.

2.A clear division of labour should be coordinated among the law enforcement agencies in regard to investigation and prosecution of regulatory offences versus Penal Law offences like trafficking and slavery - With the structural changes witnessed by 2009, work remains to be done in this regard. In the wake of the changes, much of the supervisory work of the Ministry of ITL has passed on to the Ministry of Interior. In addition, the "Saar Unit" does not have field units gathering information, as was the case in the past. A subcommittee appointed to deal with this subject conducted a series of meetings and has drafted guidelines which have not yet been issued because of changes in jurisdiction in the wake of the creation of the new Authority.

3.A procedure should be forged regarding the transfer of information about cases in the process of being investigated among law enforcement agencies – The National Coordinator initiated a series of meetings in order to facilitate transfer of information between Police and the Ministry of Interior and a procedure has evolved regarding passage of information between these bodies, though on occasion, there are still problems which require attention.

4.Coordinators should be appointed in the Police, the State Attorney's Office and the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Laborin order to develop a broad view of the problem, to serve as a source of information, and to function as a clearing house in transferring cases to appropriate law enforcement agencies - In each of the above mentioned bodies, there is a contact person dealing with trafficking issues and who serves to bring about dissemination of information, serves as an advisor for people within the body and a liaison for those outside the body.

5.The enforcement policy of the Ministry of ITL in regard to protection of foreign workers should be heightened - Enforcement has been heightened, but in the wake of the creation of the PIBA, most of the enforcement authorities have been transferred to this Authority. As mentioned in this report, training sessions have already been held for supervisors from this Authority and the head of the Authority has expressed his support for such emphasis and such training.

6.A guide by which to identify victims of trafficking and slavery (otherwise known as a national referral mechanism), should be designed, to be used at relevant crossroads – This has been done by a subcommittee appointed by the Committee of Directors General and has been approved by the Committee on May 5th 2008. In addition the training workshops organized by the Joint Distribution Committee, CIMI and the Ministry of Justice delivers lectures and materials on this matter and is in the process of creating a pamphlet to be disseminated.

7.A policy of encouraging complaints of foreign workers against those who have committed crimes against them, should be encouraged – 2009 has seen a flurry of activity in this regard.

8.Enforcement should be heightened in regard to the prohibition against middleman fees paid by foreign workers,beyond sums established by law – work remains to be done in this regard.

9.Supervision over manpower agencies and private offices dealing with foreign workers should be heightened, including implementation of existing Government Decisions – As has been detailed in this report, this has been done by the PIBA. .

10.Supervision of employers of foreign workers should be strengthened - This is being done by police who have initiated a series of raids during 2009.

11.Cooperation between Israeli law enforcement agencies and like agencies abroad should be heightened to combat these phenomena - The first step has been taken by means of the agreement with the IOM regarding recruitment of Thai foreign workers to Israel. In addition, video conferences with Sri Lanka dealt with the same subject.

12.Use of financial tools to combat trafficking should be heightened in appropriate cases – This is in the process of being done, but requires further work. Especially important is the work of the department in the Ministry of Interior which has the authority to cancel or deny permits and licenses.

13.Cooperation among criminal, regulatory and financial law enforcement agencies should be heightened – This requires further work, especially in view of the structural changes during 2009.

14.A comprehensive translation system should be set up, capable of serving all the relevant points at which foreign workers come into contact with government agencies – A subcommittee appointed by the Committee of Directors General is currently holding meetings regarding this subject and has reached the final stages of its deliberations.

15.Ways and means should be devised of transferring information about criminal convictions of trafficking and slavery to agencies responsible for allocating permits and licenses to employ or otherwise deal with foreign workers – The Ministry of ITL made concentrated efforts over this and previous years to deny permits and licenses to employers and agencies who abuse foreign workers, as detailed above.

16.Efforts should be made, as far as possible, to expedite the resolution of cases of trafficking and slavery in the courts and the Department for the Investigation of Police Officers - As can be seen in this report, investigations by DIPO in these matters are prioritized and expedited.

Protection

1.Supportive frameworks and an array of services should be established for victims of slavery and trafficking for the purposes of slavery and forced labour, including residence solutions, if necessary, and medicalinsurance – As mentioned in this report, A shelter for male victims has been established in July 2009 and the mandate of "Maagan" has been broadened to allow absorption of female victims of trafficking for labour. The same non-profit association who manages the "Maagan" Shelter has been chosen to run the "Atlas" shelter for men. Both shelters have housed victims during the 2009 and both shelters give medical, psychiatric assistance and various other services.

2.A social worker, who is a public servant, should be employed in detention facilities in order to support victims of trafficking and slavery and contribute to identification of such victims - 2009 has witnessed the formation of connections between the National Coordinator and social workers in the detention facility of "Ktziot". The Unit has visited the facility twice this year, maintained contact with social workers regarding actual cases and facilitated a meeting between social workers and the Centers for Assistance for Victims of Sexual Offences in order to promote training and give advice and assistance in view of the large numbers of women who arrive, having been raped or sexually abused on the way to Israel. .

3.A procedure to grant legal aid to victims of slavery and trafficking for the purposes of slavery and forced labour should be designed - As reported, this directive has been formulated and disseminated.

4. A pilot should be considered by which social workers who are public servants are appointed to interview nursing care and agricultural workers, in order to investigate their employment conditions – This has not been implemented, but the new system in the nursing care field envisions social workers examining the condition of foreign workers, and not just that of thosethey care for.

5.A policy of not prosecuting victims of trafficking and slavery for crimes integral to the crimes committed against them, should be deliberated upon - During 2009, this question is being addressed by the Deputy State Attorney (Criminal Matters), but has not yet been formulated. Still, as a matter of practice, as a rule, victims are not prosecuted for those crimes.

6.A procedure should be designed by which visas may be given to victims of slavery and trafficking for the purposes of slavery and forced labour with the aim of rehabilitation, in accordance with the policy of the Minister of the Interior, as announced in the Knesset – This procedure was published in July 2008 and is being implemented.

7.Transfer of information between the Ministry of the Interior and the Immigration Authority should be continued and heightened in order to prevent unnecessary arrests of foreign workers – Since the Immigration Authority of the Police is no longer in existence, the "Oz Unit" of the Ministry of Interior arrests illegals.

8.The Government Resolution to broaden the function of the Ombudswoman who deals with the complaints of foreign workers in the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Labor, should be implemented, in order to authorize her to deal with complaints outside the field of construction – The mandate has been broadened to the agriculture field and the Knesset is currently deliberating further broadening. .

9.Establishing a hotline for foreign workers should be considered in order to aid in identification of victims of slavery and trafficking for the purpose of slavery or forced labour – A meeting took place in the office of the National Coordinator on November 10th 2008 with members of the State Attorney's Office and the Ministry of Public Security, and the Unit prepared comparative research on this subject which was forwarded to the Ministry of Public Security. In addition, the Legal Aid Directive established envisions a special telephone line for victims of trafficking.

10.Consideration should be given to applying the Protection of Witnesses Plan (from January 4, 2005), to victims of trafficking and slavery or allied crimes, as far as this plan becomes operative – As mentioned in this report, on November 16th 2008 the Witness Protection Law passed into law, and it is beginning to be implemented, but thus far no case of trafficking has arisen which is appropriate.

11.Awareness in Courts and State and District Attorneys should be heightened regarding legislation requiring courts, in general, to rule on compensation of victims of trafficking and slavery in the framework of the criminal procedure - This is part of training sessions taking place among State and District Attorney's Office.

12.Legislation, regulations and guidelines whose purpose is to protect victims of trafficking and slavery and to heighten their access to courts, should be encouraged – During 2009, the Minister of Justice appointed the committee responsible for recommending allocation of money in the framework of the special Forfeiture Fund. Regulations were signed by the Minister during 2008. These Regulations give priority to requests for rehabilitation and compensation of victims above other request. Also in 2009, there passed Amendment 9 to the Legal Aid Law which grants legal aid to all victims of trafficking and slavery on a permanent basis.

13. Safe return of victims of trafficking and slavery to their countries of origin should be promoted – A subcommittee is deliberating on this matter with the active participation of the Center of International Migration and Integration. A representative of the IOM appeared before it.