first Safe House in Lebanon for victims of Human Trafficking

Posted by finkployd in Info
Saturday, February 5. 2005

The Middle East is rampant with human trafficking, with an estimated market value of 1 billion dollars just between Israel and Lebanon.

What compounds the problem, is the fact that both these countries are in a 'state of war', translating to less funds towards fighting this system - which as with any mafia-run system, is very well funded and protected.

The good news, however, is that just over a month ago the first safe house for abused foreign workers, and victims of human trafficking was opened. The location remains undisclosed for safety purposes.

This not only provides victims with shelter and legal aid, but also provides for the first real SOURCE of public awareness of the existence of a problem. Prior to the opening, the policy was "see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil".

Awareness: A first step towards public support.

THE HOTLINE FOR VICTIMS OF TRAFFICKING IS: 03-092-538

Safe house established for victims of human trafficking
Project has official government support in a rare move for any state

By Rym Ghazal
Special to The Daily Star
Thursday, January 13, 2005

Safe house established for victims of human trafficking

Victims of trafficking in Lebanon will finally be able to seek protection in an official safe house endorsed by the Lebanese government with the cooperation of the International Catholic Migration Commission and Caritas. "Lebanon is a country that recognizes the value of human rights, regardless of sex, religion, ethnicity and nationality," said Jamil al-Sayyed, the director general of the Surete Generale, during the signing ceremony of the "Memorandum of Understanding" between the three parties involved at the Surete Generale building. "Therefore we consider the establishment of the safe house as a direct help to victims of trafficking as their rights have been violated," said Sayyed, pointing out the booklets being distributed on the rights and obligations of housemaids and women working in nightclubs, bars, massage centers and modeling agencies.

The project Safe House began informally a year and a half ago when the International Catholic Migration Commission (ICMC) and Caritas Lebanon teamed up to assist female victims of trafficking by offering shelter and assistance to those who have been abused, or forced into involuntary labor in Lebanon. Now the project is official and Jim Kelly, the representative of ICMC in Lebanon, said he is quite impressed with Lebanon.

"It is rare enough for a government to acknowledge the problem of trafficking and rarer still to commit to cooperation with non-governmental organizations in addressing it," Kelly added. In the Safe House, Kelly said victims will find refuge, a place where they can recover, receive counselling and be advised on their future options such as voluntary repatriation and whether or not and how to confront their exploiters in a court of law. The project will provide free legal representation for the women.

"I hope that this project will be a source of discomfort for those few who abuse female migrant workers and act as if these women are beneath the concern of society and law." "For them, there should be no safe place in Lebanon," added Kelly, to a round of applause from ambassadors or their representative from countries like Russia and Sri Lanka, whose migrant workers are reported to have complained of abuse.

Asha, a Sri Lankan housemaid, is one such case. She says her employer is keeping her passport and holding her hostage. "He keeps threatening me with burning the passport if I don't do what he wants," said Asha, who came to Lebanon two years ago but wants to go home now to check on her family in Sri Lanka, a country devastated by the tsunami.

"He hits and rapes me and I don't know what to do as I don't have enough money or family here to help me," she says. But there is somewhere she can go now, said Najla Tabet Chehade, the director and founder of the Migrant Center, part of Caritas Lebanon. "While the location of the safe house will be kept a secret for the safety of the victims, there is a hotline she can call and we will help her," she added. Chehade has been working with victims of trafficking and abuse for 10 years. "The safe house is a dream come true for me, as now the law is finally on the side of the victims."

Safe House in Lebanon - Daily Star

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