75 Nahalat Binyamin, Tel Aviv, 65154
Tel Aviv
Israel
- Human rights
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 persons in Israel. We aim to build a more just, equitable and democratic society where the human rights of all people are paramount civic and political values. Our objectives are:
To establish and safeguard the social and legal rights of migrants in Israel.
To ensure fair and competent legal representation and due process and strengthen the rule of law.
To improve judicial review in detention centers.
To enable migrant workers and refugees to advocate for themselves.
To ensure our target groups, decision-makers and the Israeli public have access to reliable and updated information.
To promote public policy that prevents exploitation and trafficking.
To promote public knowledge about and engagement.
The HMW was founded by a group of citizens disturbed by the exploitation and abuse of migrant workers in Israel. With initial assistance from the NGO Kav La’Oved, the HMW was able to fill a critical deficiency in existing services by assisting foreigners under arrest and slated for deportation. Through trips to detention centers, we came into contact with other groups in need of assistance including survivors of sex and labor trafficking, unaccompanied foreign minors and refugees. In addition to direct service, our work has expanded to include legal advocacy, public policy activities, public education and training of government officials. Hotline organization and staff have many awards: we were honored by the Sderot Conference for Society (2007) and the Association for Civil Rights in Israel (2001). In 2009, we received the National Prize for Combating Trafficking in Persons from the Israeli government.