Security minister orders added strip club enforcement to curb prostitution

“In many of the striptease clubs, prostitution activity is taking place for all intents and purposes, taking advantage of and distressing women hired to engage in striptease,” said MK Aliza Lavie.

By DANIEL K. EISENBUD
Updated: SEPTEMBER 5, 2017 01:31
A dancer performs for customers at a strip club (photo credit: BRIAN BLANCO / REUTERS)
A dancer performs for customers at a strip club
(photo credit: BRIAN BLANCO / REUTERS)
Following the testimony of Yesh Atid MK Aliza Lavie to a subcommittee regarding the growing presence of prostitution at strip clubs across the country, Public Security Minister Gilad Erdan on Monday ordered an increase in police enforcement.
In her recent testimony before the Subcommittee on Combating the Trafficking of Women and Prostitutes, Lavie noted that women who work in such venues are increasingly being pressured to engage in prostitution.
“In many of the striptease clubs, the action of prostitution is taking place for all intents and purposes, taking advantage of and distressing women hired to engage in stripteasing,” she said.
“In the subcommittee discussions, I approached the police and asked [them] to place a high priority on the eradication of prostitution, including increasing enforcement in places of entertainment, and investigating sites that advertise prostitution services,” Lavie said.
Erdan noted that following a joint meeting between representatives of the State Attorney’s Office, Public Security Ministry and police, it was decided that the former would take immediate action to curb such practices.
“The State Attorney’s Office will examine the amendment of Directive 2.2, which deals with, among other things, the enforcement of offenses related to prostitution, in such a way as to make the solicitation of a dancer [for sex] an act of prostitution and related offenses,” he said.
Erdan added that he would give the police all the necessary tools to “significantly reduce this abusive and exploitative industry, and bring the perpetrators to justice.”
Lavie praised Erdan’s response, and noted that because the majority of illicit activity takes place behind closed doors and in the backrooms of the clubs, she requested extra enforcement be implemented in those areas.
“The recent ruling sharpened the sad truth again – the sex industry in all its forms and manifestations is in most cases prostitution in disguise, and another form of oppression and exploitation of women,” she said.
“At the beginning of the next session, the Subcommittee on the Trafficking of Women and Prostitution will engage in a follow-up discussion,” she added.


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