EMBASSY TEL AVIV SUBMISSION FOR TRAFFICKING IN

UNCLAS TEL AVIV 000347 SIPDIS SIPDIS G/TIP FOR SHERREN FARAJ, NEA/IPA E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ASEC ELAB KCRM PHUM PREL SMIG SUBJECT: EMBASSY TEL AVIV SUBMISSION FOR TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS SOLICITATION FOR G/TIP-MANAGED FY 2008 ESF AND INCLE FUNDS REF: A. 2006 STATE 161293 ¶B. 2005 STATE 21234 ¶C. 2003 STATE 34981 ¶1. Embassy Tel Aviv submits the following four anti-trafficking in persons project proposals for consideration of funding from FY 2008 INCLE and ESF appropriations. ¶2. High priority. NAME OF APPLICANT Center for International Migration and Integration REQUESTED FUNDING AMOUNT $126,882 PROJECT TITLE Building Capacity to Combat Trafficking for Forced Labor in Israel PROJECT DURATION 24 months PROJECT ABSTRACT Following legislative amendments in 2006, Israel law criminalizes trafficking for forced labor. Even though steps are being taken to translate the law into actual assistance and prosecutions, it is of the essence to increase capacity and awareness among the ranks of officials dealing directly with the (potential) victims; most of them have no experience whatsoever working with this particular group of mostly Asian vulnerable migrants. The proposed project aims therefore to support the implementation of the new legislation by enhancing the capacity of the Israeli government and civil society to combat trafficking for forced labor. The project has built-in sustainability insurances by building on legislative and policy processes already underway. It aims to support the effective implementation of new laws and policies by providing a stimulus to the required human resources infrastructure, in the form of training and awareness-raising, bilateral exchanges, study-visits, technical assistance and research. Through enhancing government and civil society capacity, the program will directly contribute to increased identification of victims trafficked for forced labor, improved protection standards for victims of trafficking for forced labor, and increased prosecution of the traffickers. ¶3. High priority. NAME OF APPLICANT Isha L'Isha-Haifa Feminist Center REQUESTED FUNDING AMOUNT $138,814 PROJECT TITLE Every Woman's Right to Dignity: Combating Internal Trafficking in Women in Israel PROJECT DURATION One year. PROJECT ABSTRACT The Every Woman's Right to Dignity: Combating Internal Trafficking in Women in Israel project is an extension of Isha L'Isha's successful Fighting against Trafficking in Women project. With the assistance of generous support from the U.S. State Department, Isha L'Isha has managed to meet its objective of greatly reducing trafficking in women from overseas to Israel. At this time, the proposed project is needed because the high demand for sex services has not been reduced now that greater anti-trafficking efforts and the creation of new laws result in fewer women trafficked from abroad. This gap is being filled by internal trafficking - women who are Israeli citizens, forced into prostitution by pimps, abusive partners, and drug dealers. We at Isha L'Isha view all prostitution as exploitive, and the coercion, abuse and denial of basic human rights involved in internal trafficking is no less than that of international trafficking. However, internally trafficked women are currently invisible to the government system. They are routinely ignored - or even harmed - by the social services that are meant to be a safety net for citizens. This project aims to advocate for greater government responsiveness to their needs and to educate the public about the abuses involved in the sex industry. It will do so by educating government officials, clients, and the public through lectures, seminars, publications, and media advocacy. It will also help victims receive support by holding empowerment workshops, providing trained volunteers to accompany them to service offices, a telephone support line, and an emergency fund for meeting pressing needs. Expected results include greater government responsiveness to the victims' needs, more services available to assist them, a reduced number of women in the sex industry, and changed perceptions among the public regarding internal trafficking. ¶4. Medium priority. NAME OF APPLICANT Hotline for Migrant Workers REQUESTED FUNDING AMOUNT $150,000. PROJECT TITLE The Ina Nagrotza Trafficking in Persons and Global Migration Resource Center PROJECT DURATION Two years. PROJECT ABSTRACT Although Israel has made great strides in combating the trafficking of foreign women for prostitution, trafficking in persons has not disappeared. Rather, it has diversified to include labor trafficking of migrants, and the trafficking of Israeli women for prostitution. To ensure that Israelis have the tools to deal effectively with the changing dynamics of trafficking, particularly in light of its global nature, they need access to updated and accurate information of best practices and recent developments in Israel and globally. The Ina Nagrotza Trafficking in Persons and Global Migration Resource Center, the only one of its kind in the country, will ensure that this takes place. It will engage in and promote academic research, public knowledge, training and information dissemination to the media, academics, the public and practitioners. This increased awareness and expertise is necessary to ensure that Israel continues to make progress in anti-trafficking initiatives. We are requesting $150,000 in support of the center's activities for two years. ¶5. Medium priority. NAME OF APPLICANT Amnesty International - Israel Section REQUESTED FUNDING AMOUNT $280,000 PROJECT TITLE Anti-Trafficking in Persons - Education for responsibility PROJECT DURATION 36 months PROJECT ABSTRACT Trafficking in persons in Israel (in which there is both sexual and forced labor exploitation) is a long standing human rights atrocity. Although there are government and civil plans with respect to the same, there is a lack of long and short term educational programs for community activism - educational initiatives in this regard. As a result, we witness the legitimacy of trafficking in persons, indifference and lack of understanding by society in general and by law enforcement authorities specifically. The Israeli Section of Amnesty International (AI Israel) would like to use the platform of its existing Human Rights Education (HRE) program and its HRE program on trafficking in persons for enhancement of civil awareness and commitment to prevention of trafficking. We plan to do so not only through the channels of formal education in the classroom, but also through educating for community activism of youth, university students, teachers and future teachers. We further plan to do so by enhancing our strong partnerships with the government ministries, including first and foremost with the Ministry of Education (MOE),as well as with other NGOs, and by lobbying for the adoption and implementation in the national school curriculum of a human rights centered educational program on prevention of trafficking in persons. Through these channels of educational programs for community activism and lobbying for the official adoption of the educational program we expect to see positive changes not only in participants' perceptions, knowledge and behavior concerning prevention of trafficking in persons, but also in larger audiences, which have not been directly targeted before. Thus we aim to become the catalyst for an institutional change that will motivate the government to officially embrace an educational objective with respect to prevention of trafficking in persons in a democratic human rights centered society. Within the framework of this project we plan to hold, among others, painting and photography exhibition(s),publication of book(s) on the journey of trafficking victims, national and international educational conferences and seminars and further develop educational workshops and materials in order to strengthen both the civil and governmental commitment to the prevention of trafficking in persons worldwide and specifically in Israel. ********************************************* ******************** Visit Embassy Tel Aviv's Classified Website: http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/telaviv You can also access this site through the State Department's Classified SIPRNET website. ********************************************* ******************** JONES