‘Almost Quarter of Sex Workers in Israeli-Occupied Territories Minors’
WEST BANK (Dispatches) – A new report has revealed that some 14,000 people in the Israeli-occupied territories are currently engaged in prostitution, including 3,000 minors.
Citing figures presented at the annual conference on the status of women held last week, Israeli daily the Jerusalem Post said 95% of sex workers in the occupied territories are women.
The conference was held by the Gender and Feminism Studies, M.A. at the Schechter Institute of Jewish Studies in Jerusalem al-Quds, the paper said.
The age of entry into prostitution in the occupied territories is as low as 13, and only 20% of the women engaged in the vocation ultimately manage to escape the cycle of prostitution, it said.
Most of the women engaged in prostitution have experienced severe sexual abuse in childhood, according to testimonies from women caught up in the cycle and those who have left it.
Na’ama Goldberg, founder and director of the Don’t Stand Aside (Lo Omdot Mineged) organization, said women entering prostitution in the occupied territories are those who have no choice.
"In many cases we are talking about severe traumas such as incest, girls coming from non-functioning homes, complete with neglect of their emotional needs, running away from home and straight into the arms of pimps with the aim of seeking love. That’s where the vicious circle begins.”
Citing figures presented at the annual conference on the status of women held last week, Israeli daily the Jerusalem Post said 95% of sex workers in the occupied territories are women.
The conference was held by the Gender and Feminism Studies, M.A. at the Schechter Institute of Jewish Studies in Jerusalem al-Quds, the paper said.
The age of entry into prostitution in the occupied territories is as low as 13, and only 20% of the women engaged in the vocation ultimately manage to escape the cycle of prostitution, it said.
Most of the women engaged in prostitution have experienced severe sexual abuse in childhood, according to testimonies from women caught up in the cycle and those who have left it.
Na’ama Goldberg, founder and director of the Don’t Stand Aside (Lo Omdot Mineged) organization, said women entering prostitution in the occupied territories are those who have no choice.
"In many cases we are talking about severe traumas such as incest, girls coming from non-functioning homes, complete with neglect of their emotional needs, running away from home and straight into the arms of pimps with the aim of seeking love. That’s where the vicious circle begins.”