Fourth and Fifth Periodic CEDAW Report of Israel
The combined fourth and fifth periodic report of Israel (CEDAW/C/ISR/4-5) states the Police Special Task Force for Treatment of Domestic Violence Offences is specifically trained to provide improved treatment of sex offences. The Task Force training educates those involved with an overview of legal and judicial aspects, rape trauma, theoretical aspects of the rape offence, sexual harassment, events analysis, collaboration techniques with treatment bodies within the community; the training also includes special seminars discussing techniques for encouraging victims to come forward, and for making preliminary inquiries of suspects.
Domestic violence is an alarming social phenomenon that requires special treatment by the Police Victims of Crime Unit, from both a societal and criminal point of view. New procedures were subsequently issued for the treatment of domestic violence offences, violations of protection and prevention orders, and stalking and sex offences. These procedures are occasionally updated. In addition, special training has been introduced focusing specifically on the issue of domestic violence. Collaboration between Police, welfare and community bodies is also being developed in accordance with legislative amendments and other developments. The Victims of Crime Unit is intimately involved in manifesting societal change in this area, and takes part in all the relevant social processes, including that of creating legislation, steering committees and interministerial committees.
Recent police figures show that murder in the name of so-called “family honor” has decreased dramatically in recent years among the Arab population. According to the data, in 2005, seven Arab women were murdered in the name of “family honor,” in 2006, six Arab women were murdered for that reason, in 2007one Arab woman was murdered for “family honor,” and that was also the figure for 2008. Murder is a severe crime in Israel, punishable by life imprisonment. The Police, as well as the Israeli legal system, regard any murder as such, and investigate it vigorously, regardless of the murderer's motives. Israeli law does not recognize any mitigating circumstances in such cases, and prosecutes, indicts and punishes the perpetrators in all severity.
In recent years, there has been a sharp decline in the number of women trafficked to Israel for prostitution. This decline is evident in the number of trafficking victims located by law enforcement agencies, as well as reports issued by the Knesset Subcommittee on Trafficking in Women and NGOs. Only 12 trafficking victims for prostitution were transferred by the Polic to the “Maagan” shelter for Victims of Trafficking in Persons in 2008, most of them were trafficked several years ago.