Prostitution, Trafficking in Women & Pornography
Women Parliament Impact
The debates in the Women’s Parliament sessions promoted some significant feminist and social initiatives, such as the coalition against pornography, which succeeded in passing a law against pornography broadcasts on public television.
The Women’s Parliament has done well in terms of raising public awareness to various issues. The debates had an evident impact on the public discourse concerning “the trafficking in women” and on the understanding of the connection between prostitution, the trafficking in women and pornography.
WP Session 2014
The Prostitution and Pornography Industry in Israel, and the Fight Against it
Following the publication of the book, “Flesh and bloods: prostitution, human trafficking and pornography”, which was compiled by Prof. Esther Hertzog and Dr. Arela Shadmi, a discussion was held on 22.6.14, on the subject of the prostitution and pornography industry in Israel, and the fight against it. The event took place at the Inbal Dance Theatre Company and Arts Centre, with the collaboration of the following organizations: “Women’s Parliament”, “Sister”, “Isha L’Isha”, “Todaa NGO”, “ELEM”, and “SHIN movement for the equal representation of women”.
The book’s main statement is that the prostitution industry is the despicable, yet effective means of the patriarchal world to perpetuate the inferior position of women, and men’s superiority. Prostitution is the ultimate, most exhaustive fulfillment of the core of the patriarchy. The meaning of prostitution is that the woman is reduced to the body alone; her subjectivity disappears, is silenced, and becomes irrelevant. Prostitution is an index of sorts, in light of which the entire female gender is measured, and therefore, as long as one woman engages in prostitution, no woman is liberated and safe.
In the first session, which was moderated by Dr. Arela Shadmi, the connection, often forgotten, between the masculine culture and the existence of prostitution, human trafficking and pornography was emphasized. In her opening words, Dr. Shadmi emphasized the personal, criminal and moral responsibility of men and consumers of prostitution. Idit Harel and Ran Gavrieli shared their vast experience with the audience, describing the cultural characteristics of men, consumers of prostitution.
The second session opened with the screening of a segment from the documentary, “Nefarious” by Benjamin Nolot, which deals with the global sex industry. The discussion, which was moderated by Prof. Esther Hertzog, dealt with the question: How do the authorities act to eradicate prostitution and pornography in Israel? The panel’s participants, Dalia Avramov, attorney, from the Tel Aviv district attorney’s office, MK David Tsur, chairman of the Subcommittee on Trafficking in Women and Prostitution, and Superintendent Rubi Kayam, national investigation officer, Israel police force, described how the district attorney’s office, the Knesset and the police are dealing with the prostitution and pornography phenomenon. In addition, the legislative initiative for the criminalization of the clients and the chances of implementation in the Israeli reality was discussed.
The third session opened with a screening of a segment from a short film about the damages of the pornography industry. The theme of the session was: The fight to eradicate prostitution and pornography: strategies for broadening it. Shula Keshet moderated the discussion, in which Michal Leibel, attorney, from the Task Force on Human Trafficking, Reut Guy, from “ELEM” and Mirit Krogliak, attorney, from “Isah l’isha” participated.
WP Session 2001
Advertisements, Pornography and Censorship – From a Feminist Perspective
The third assembly of the Parliament took place in Holon under the auspices of Chana Hertzman, the city general director and Motti Sasson, the mayor.
The event started with a “stand-up” performance by Sarit Sarry, titled: “about the teats and pulkes of Tnuva”. The discussion raised the issue of strategies to be used in the struggle against advertisements that present women as sexual objects. The participants in the events have voted on the issue of censoring sexist advertisements. The majority supported the enhancement of censorship.
The panelists were:
- Anat Hoffman, a member of Jerusalem city council.
- Tirza Granot, a director of a school of copywriting.
- Ayelet Metzger, the head of the advertisement and information department in the 2nd channel spoke about the freedom of speech versus woman’s honor”.
- Dr. Ayala Gliksberg the director of the women’s council in Givataim.
- Dalia Liran Alper, a lecturer in Beit Berl College.
- Dr. Amalya Saar, an anthropologist from Haifa University narrated the discussion.