19 Jun, 2007 in
Asia-Israel connections by
Fili Tags:
Asia-Israel connections,
civic_organizations,
democratic_society,
deportation,
foreign_nationals,
Israel,
migrant_workers,
profit_organization_dedicated,
refugees,
trafficking_in_women,
volunteers
Hotline: Help the migrant workers in Israel
The Hotline for Migrant Workers (HMW), established in 1998, is a non-partisan, not for profit organization, dedicated to (a) promoting the rights of undocumented migrant workers and refugees and (b) eliminating trafficking in women in Israel. We aim to build a more just, equitable and democratic society, where the human rights of all those residing within its borders are paramount civic and political values. [...]
We use a three-pronged approach to achieve our goals including:
- Crisis Intervention: Volunteers have assisted over 35,000 migrant workers, refugees and women trafficked for the sex industry through our telephone hotline and visits to detention centers.
- Legal Action: We achieved judicial review for detained migrants slated for deportation and state-financed legal aid for survivors of trafficking. For example, in precedent-setting cases, a government policy that made workers dependent on their employers for legal status was abolished, and the High Court ruled that a trafficking survivor does not have to prove damages in civil cases to receive compensation.
- Public Policy: Over 150 volunteers dedicate their time to the Hotline for Migrant Workers. We have initiated more than 1,000 media items and conducted over 430 lectures. Our activism was instrumental in the granting of legal status to children of migrant workers and in achieving better legislation and policy for trafficked women. The HMW is a recognized authority and serves as an advisory body for national and international bodies, government ministries, academia and civic organizations.
We assist undocumented foreign nationals in Israel facing detention and deportation.
I first heard of the Chinese migrant workers sad stories in Israel from an East-Asia MA student giving a talk during the East-Asia day at the Hebrew University a year ago. Following this issue ever since I know there’s alot to be done and very few people to do it.
These days there’s a new course starting for volunteers, but either way - If you wish to contribute and help on this issue, contact a girl called Idan at idan@hotline.org.il /052-3490193 . You can also visit the Hotline website and read about the Hotline volunteer opportunities and how to become a Hotline member.
UncleMatt
| June 23rd, 2007 at 10:59 pm #
If you happen to mention the Hotline for Migrant Workers, why not also write a piece about Workers’ Hotline. We give legal assistance for laborers in general, and Chinese workers in particular.
fiLi
| June 23rd, 2007 at 11:09 pm #
Oh, please do tell. I don’t know anything about Workers’ Hotline. :$
If you could share some more information about that then I’ll be sure to look into it. If you feel like writing a post about it and what you’re doing there, I’d be happy to put it on this blog and share that with the world.