Women go on sale at Tel Aviv shopping center
Window display at Dizengoff Center shows real women with price tags in provocative installation aiming to battle sex trafficking.
By City Mouse Online and Matan Abramovitch Tags: prostitution human trafficking Israel newsShoppers strolling through Dizengoff Center mall in Tel Aviv on Tuesday were confronted with a shocking widow display of women for sale, with price tags attached to them.
Upon closer inspection, it became obvious that the display was part of an installation by the Working Group Against the Trafficking of Women, part of a widespread campaign.
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Women in a mall window display as part of an installation to provoke passersby to realize the tragedy of trafficking of women. |
| Photo by: Eyal Nebo |
Seven unkempt young women stood in front of shoppers passing back and forth under a sign that read "Women for sale according to personal taste." Some of the women were made up to appear as if they had been beaten, and all had price tags that listed details such as age, weight, dimensions, and country of birth.
The stated purpose of the installation is to solicit a large amount of signatures to submit to the Minister of Justice, in order to put forth a private member's bill by Kadima MK Orit Zuaretz to criminalize johns who solicit sexual services. Members of the Working Group believe that a law like this could eradicate the phenomenon of trafficking in women.
"The victims of trafficking don't get to rest during the day, so we don't either," explained lawyer Uri Keidar, one of the organization's founders. "Actually, what we see here happens all the time all over the country, and here in the mall you simply cannot ignore the reality in front of your face."
Keidar continued, "Our objective is to bring the issue to the attention of the public and cause people to come to an opinion on the topic. Naturally, we are also working to put forth a law that would come down on the procurers of prostitutes."
According to Keidar, this bill has already been sitting and gathering dust at the Ministry of Justice for two years, but hasn’t been legislated yet. "The law will cause a reduction in the demand for prostitution, and therefore also a reduction in the trafficking of women," Keidar explained.
"In Sweden it has already happened, and that's what we want to do here in Israel, as well," Keidar added.
The installation, called "Woman To Go," has thus far received a great deal of attention from mallgoers. Very few passersby have reacted either negatively or apathetically, and most seem to support the struggle, with many taking an interest and signing the petition. According to the event organizers, the petition has already garnered hundreds of signatures.
MK Zuaretz herself was among the activists standing in front of the installation on Tuesday to explain its significance to the public and to encourage people to sign the petition. "This 'Trafficked Women Store' brings the back alleys of the country into public view at the mall, and presents the reality that everyone is trying to ignore," Zuaretz said.
"I am planning to pass this petition on to the Minister of Justice at a meeting to debate the bill to criminalize johns, which will reflect the true desire of the people of Israel," Zuaretz added.
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AVAAZ has a current petition doing the rounds against a well-known hotel chain which will not sign the charter against use of their premises for such trafficking http://www.avaaz.org/en/hilton_sign_now/97.php?cl_tta_sign=95dc37608737405007faa5db6fb8d5f1
"Until 2007, thousands of women each year were trafficked into Israel for sex, mostly from the former Soviet Union. They were subjected to violence, rape, and public auctions, and forced to have sex with up to 20 men per night, often without any pay." Read more here: http://www.haaretz.com/news/traffickers-target-israeli-girls-to-replace-foreign-sex-slaves-1.282091
People who choose to be prostitutes are one thing. Women and children who are snatched from their homes and forced to be prostitutes are something else.
I'm ashamed for human dignity! Animal smiles on us!
SLAVES are made in such ways... Modern slaveholding... Where is Human Rights...? Where is Women Rights...?!!!!
Let the women make a living after all its the oldest profession in the world...
There are a lot of places in the world where you can actually buy a woman physically and own her. Women are purchased in poor countries for a number of uses, prostitution being only one of those uses, though maybe the most common.
Unfortunately at long as there are men, there will be prostitution. This is a good first step and these brave women deserve much more than hundreds of signatures. Maybe they should post hidden videos of johns on youtube. I am sure even the traffic cameras pick up a lot. Let the world see animals for who they are. Maybe once one of their friends or the police see the videos, they will stop.
... throughout history, this is the most humorous one this week. Will it work? Why do you think they call it the oldest profession in the world?
You seem to be missing the point behind the use of the word "trafficking".
been there done that in amsterdam where you can buy a nice woman for 75 euros....
This is a great idea to raise attention to such an important cause. I hope they succeed!
I am totally 100 % for legalized prostitution. It is a state moral duty to provide it's citizens, residents or tourists -of both sex -to have access to payed sex .Same with drugs of any kind. Prohibition never works. on the opposite. History showed it enough by itself. We allow TV's to pervert 90 % of people mind every day, we allow the tobacco industries to be number one cause of direct or undirect causes of mortality , same with cafeine, same with stressy way of life, same with under economical standard of living, same with institutionalized religion,... One purpose only= to deny and repress the real needs of human nature. It will never work. It is never working. For the last 3.000 years or more... As long as people are feeling " deceived" by what the community offers in term of values, they will always find ways to escape and satisfied themselves.So, yes. The only way is to supervised and legalize sex market. Any other way is based on hypocrisy, ignorance, and -worse- opportunism from some of our " democratically" elected representatives. T
I wish you every success in this fight. Best of luck.
customers of the Israeli sex industry.
Wrap her up, I'll take her.
I think if you dressed these fine ladies in bikinis more people would stop and look at your message, I know I would.
If you ever go to Amsterdam, do not miss the opportunity to visit the Red Light District, there are nice ladies there behind the windows!
Two silly articles today: this one about the women in the store, and that idiot Carter in Damascus. Is it such a slow news day that we have to read this?
but maybe i've been going to the wrong stores.
People have no sensitivity. I feel like taking these fine ladies all home to protect them from the likes of people who are responding with rude talkbacks.
for what? to make chicken soup with kneidl?
But what is the price range?
wonderful!