State to fund treatment of prostitutes with AIDS

Two prostitutes smuggled into Israel by human traffickers to receive extensive publicly funded medical treatment before being sent back to Ukraine

Aviad Glickman|Published: 08.15.10 , 16:12

The State will invest some NIS 63,000 (about $16,600) in the treatment of two women diagnosed with AIDS and hepatitis, who were smuggled into Israel by a human trafficker and were forced to work as prostitutes.

Supreme Court Justices Ayala Procaccia, Edna Arbel and Elyakim Rubinstein on Sunday accepted the State's position, and confirmed that the two women's treatment will last six months, after which authorities can send them back to their home country, Ukraine.

The two women filed an appeal with the High Court with the help of The Hotline for Migrant Workers, Israel Aids Task Force, and Physicians for Human Rights. One of the women was brought to Israel in 2001, and the other in 2004, through a human trafficking network, whose members forced tem to work as prostitutes.

Later on, they both managed to escape and attempted to rehabilitate their lives, only to find out they had contracted chronic ailments due to their past occupation.

The women were hospitalized in different governmental institutions for drug rehabilitation, and were later transferred to a shelter for human trafficking and sexual harassment victims, which enabled them to extend their visa time after time.

After being diagnosed with AIDS and hepatitis, the two were hospitalized for extended periods of time in publicly funded hospitals, and continued receiving treatment partially covered by the Health Ministry even after being discharged.

In their appeal, the two claimed that if they are forced to return to the Ukraine, they will not receive suitable medical treatment, and will most probably suffer socially due to their past.

The two further claimed that the State of Israel was responsible for their condition because it did not prevent women trafficking, and because no legal measures were taken against the recipients of the prostitution services they were forced to give. Therefore, they claimed, the State was responsible for their treatment.

"Our hearts go out to the petitioners, who have known tremendous amounts of suffering throughout their lives and are currently also dealing with grave illnesses," wrote the judges in their ruling.

"We wish them full and speedy recovery, but we must not ignore the fact that the two have been receiving extensive amounts of medical treatment that is publicly funded."