pdfMachine by Broadgun Software - a great PDF writer! - a great PDF creator! - http://www.pdfmachine.com http://www.broadgun.com STATE OF ISRAEL Ministry of Justice Ministry of Foreign Affairs 4TH Periodic Report Concerning the IMPLEMENTATION OF THE INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION ON THE ELIMINATION OF ALL FORMS OF DISCRIMINATION AGAINST WOMEN Compiled by the Department for International Agreements and International Litigation, Ministry of Justice Submitted in 2005 to the United Nations CEDAW Committee May 29, 2005 INTRODUCTION ..........................................................................................................5 INTRODUCTION ..........................................................................................................5 LEGISLATIVE MEASURES ...................................................................................................6 JUDICIAL MEASURES .........................................................................................................7 ADMINISTRATIVE MEASURES.............................................................................................8 THE CURRENT SITUATION..................................................................................................9 ARTICLE 1 - DEFINITION OF DISCRIMINATION AGAINST WOMEN............10 THE CONSTITUTIONAL LEVEL ..........................................................................................10 EQUAL RIGHTS LEGISLATION...........................................................................................10 JUDICIAL DEVELOPMENT OF THE RIGHT TO EQUALITY......................................................11 THE ELIMINATION OF DISCRIMINATION IN THE PRIVATE SPHERE.......................................11 ARTICLE 2 - OBLIGATIONS TO ELIMINATE DISCRIMINATION ...................12 LEGAL PROVISIONS .........................................................................................................12 Basic Laws..........................................................................................................12 LEGAL RECOURSE AVAILABLE FOR THE PURSUIT OF WOMEN'S RIGHTS.............................13 The Public Complaints Commissioner and State Comptroller..............................13 Other Governmental Bodies ................................................................................14 GOVERNMENTAL MECHANISMS AND MEASURES ESTABLISHED TO PROMOTE THE STATUS OF WOMEN ..........................................................................................................................14 INVESTIGATIVE AND STUDY INITIATIVES BY THE GOVERNMENT........................................14 MECHANISMS IMPLEMENTED FOR THE IMPROVEMENT OF THE STATUS OF WOMEN ............14 The Authority for the Advancement of Women in Israel .....................................14 The Knesset Committee for the Advancement of the Status of Women ...............15 PERFORMANCE OF THE CIVIL SERVICE .............................................................................16 Measures Taken on the Municipal Level .............................................................16 ARTICLE 3 - THE DEVELOPMENT AND ADVANCEMENT OF WOMEN ........17 EFFECTIVE NATIONAL MACHINERY AND PUBLICITY ...........................................................17 WOMEN WITH DISABILITIES .............................................................................................17 General and Legal Framework ............................................................................17 General Economic and Personal Situation ...........................................................18 Special Health Concerns of Women with Disabilities..........................................18 Employment........................................................................................................18 ARTICLE 4 - ACCELERATION OF EQUALITY BETWEEN MEN AND WOMEN .......................................................................................................................................19 AFFIRMATIVE ACTION .....................................................................................................19 Expanding Affirmative Action to Public Institutions ...........................................19 Affirmative Action in the Civil Service ...............................................................19 Affirmative Action in Governmental Corporations..............................................19 Affirmative Action in Public Corporations ..........................................................19 Affirmative Action in Other Areas ......................................................................19 SPECIAL MEASURES AIMED AT PROTECTING MATERNITY.................................................20 ARTICLE 5 - SEX ROLES AND STEREOTYPING .................................................20 WOMEN AND THE MEDIA .................................................................................................20 PORNOGRAPHY................................................................................................................20 PROSTITUTION.................................................................................................................21 WOMEN AND RELIGION ...................................................................................................22 VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN............................................................................................22 SEXUAL VIOLENCE - LEGAL ASPECTS ..............................................................................22 Prevention of Sexual Harassment ........................................................................22 1 Stalking...............................................................................................................23 EXTENT OF THE PHENOMENON SEXUAL VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN................................23 Minimum Punishments........................................................................................23 Raising Awareness..............................................................................................24 Police Handling of Sex Crimes against Women...................................................24 Sex Criminals in the Penitentiary System ............................................................24 The Sexual Assault Help Centers Data ................................................................25 DOMESTIC VIOLENCE - LEGAL ASPECTS...........................................................................25 Recent Amendments to the Prevention of Violence in the Family Law................25 Other Legislative Developments..........................................................................25 EXTENT OF THE PHENOMENON OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE...................................................26 Domestic Violence – General Data......................................................................26 Police Handling of Domestic Violence................................................................27 Centers for the Treatment and Prevention of Domestic violence ..........................28 Shelters for Battered Women...............................................................................28 Hotlines...............................................................................................................29 Treatment of Battering Men ................................................................................29 Violence against Women within the Arab Sector.................................................29 ARTICLE 6 - SUPPRESSION OF THE EXPLOITATION OF WOMEN................30 GENERAL ........................................................................................................................30 PREVENTION....................................................................................................................30 Information Campaigns.......................................................................................30 Border control.....................................................................................................31 THE LEGAL FRAMEWORK ................................................................................................31 Legislation ..........................................................................................................31 INVESTIGATION AND PROSECUTION..................................................................................32 Police Activities ..................................................................................................32 The Prosecution ..................................................................................................32 Courts .................................................................................................................33 THE PARLIAMENTARY INVESTIGATIVE COMMITTEE ON TRAFFICKING OF WOMEN .............33 THE ACTUAL SITUATION..................................................................................................33 SENTENCING....................................................................................................................33 Severe Sentences.................................................................................................33 Compensation for the Victim of the Crime ..........................................................34 PROTECTION AND THE HUMAN DIMENSION ......................................................................34 Shelter.................................................................................................................34