Israel improves in addressing human trafficking problem

[Scurrilous]

US State Department report ranks Israel in higher category than last year, citing 'significant efforts' to comply with trafficking prevention standards and new gov't amendment to combat trafficking

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3411879,00.html

<snip>

"Israel has improved its record on human trafficking in the last year, according to a US State Department human rights report published Tuesday. The report ranks 151 nations based on their behavior in combating human trafficking, such as prostitution and slavery, highlighting government efforts involving prosecution, protection, and prevention.

Israel was among 23 nations ranked in the lowest category with regards to trafficking in human persons for 2005. This year, in an assessment of the issue in 2006, Israel was one of 10 nations to succeed in rising to a higher category.

According to the report, "The Government of Israel does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking; however, it is making significant efforts to do so.

"This year, the government passed crucial amendments to its anti-trafficking law that comprehensively prohibit all forms of trafficking in persons, including involuntary servitude and slavery. In addition, the government extended legal assistance to victims of trafficking for involuntary servitude, and passed a national action plan to combat trafficking for forced labor."

Despite these improvements, because the government still "does not provide forced labor victims with adequate protection services - such as shelter, medical, and psychological aid – and…has not yet reported any criminal prosecutions under its new law for labor trafficking," Israel still remains in one of the report's lower categories."