Human Trafficking in [Lebanon Street Children in [Lebanon] [other countries]Child Prostitution in [Lebanon] [other countries] |
Human Trafficking & Modern-day Slavery Republic of Lebanon [ Country-by-Country
Reports ] The Lebanon is a
destination for Asian and African women trafficked for the purpose of
domestic servitude, and for Eastern European and Syrian women trafficked for
the purpose of commercial sexual exploitation. Lebanese children are
trafficked within the country for the purpose of commercial sexual
exploitation and forced labor in the metal works, construction, and
agriculture sectors. Women from Sri Lanka, the Philippines, and Ethiopia
migrate to Lebanon legally, but often find themselves in conditions of forced
labor, through unlawful withholding of passports, non-payment of wages,
restrictions on movement, threats, and physical or sexual assault. During the
armed conflict in July 2006, Sri Lankan domestic workers reported being
restricted from leaving the country by their employers. Eastern European and
Syrian women come to Lebanon on “artiste” visas, but some become victims of
trafficking for commercial sexual exploitation when they are subjected to
coercive acts such as such as unlawful withholding of passports, restrictions
on movement, threats, and physical assault. - U.S. State Dept Trafficking in
Persons Report, June, 2008 [full country report] |
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CAUTION: The following links have been
culled from the web to illuminate the situation in ***
FEATURED ARTICLE *** Seeking
Hemalatha - Letter from Lebanon - Sri Lankan domestic missing in Lebanon 'Her name is Hemalatha Mendis,'
explained one official. 'We received these photographs this morning. We don't
know for sure where she is but we believe she is being held at the agency
which brought her to the country.
Hundreds of such agencies have sprung up in Lebanon over the past few
years. They bring in women from Sri Lanka, the Philippines or Ethiopia to
work as maids and are notorious for abusing the women. Later that day I met with
Hemalatha. Her employer had described her as 'a problem' and had wanted to
return her to the agency. This prompted the agency owner to 'take out a big
stick and start beating my back, my arms and my legs,' she said. 'I tried to
cover my body but I couldn't. I was crying and my head began to throb with
pain. Once finished, the owner turned
to the employer and said: 'If you have any more problems with her just bring
her to me.' ***
ARCHIVES *** U.S.
Dept of Labor Bureau of International Labor Affairs INCIDENCE
AND NATURE OF CHILD LABOR - There have been reported cases of child prostitution and other
situations that amount to forced labor.
Although Bur of Democracy,
Human Rights & Labor - Country
Reports on Human Rights Practices - 2005 TRAFFICKING
IN PERSONS – The
country was a destination for East European and Russian women, contracted as
dancers in adult clubs. Most of these women engaged in voluntary illegal
prostitution and were at risk as targets of abuse. The country was also a destination
for women from Africa and Restrictions of movement and
withholding of passports were common practice. A small number of exploited
foreign workers won cases against their employers. Non-judicial action
resolved the majority of these cases. As a result of that process, workers
frequently were repatriated without further judicial action. A few cases were
referred to the judiciary for further action, although the government took
minimal steps to prosecute traffickers. Expert
on Trafficking in Persons Ends Visit to Lebanon - September 15, 2005 In the course of my mission, I
have found that a significant number of human beings, women in the majority,
are trafficked into and within In
Contempt of Fate - The slave narrative of Beatrice Fernando When Beatrice Fernando was 23
years old, she contracted with an agency to work in Freedom
House Country Report - Political Rights: 5 Civil Liberties: 4 Status: Partly Free Human Rights Overview by Human
Rights Watch – Defending Human Rights Worldwide U.S. Library of Congress
- Country Study FI
Organises Grassroots Human Trafficking and Forced Labour Workshop Sr. Herminia Cruz, FMM, a
Philippine sister, has lived and worked in the Middle East for 24 years. In
Lebanon, like other countries who “host” trafficked persons, human rights
violations are common occurrences. Victims frequently experience sexual and
physical abuse, confiscation of their identity documents and
confinement. “Migrant workers are crying
for help; I hope that I can give them justice through their rights being
respected. We need to coordinate more with NGOs, especially FI,” the
Franciscan sister reflected. Seeking
Hemalatha - Letter from Lebanon - Sri Lankan domestic missing in Lebanon 'Her name is Hemalatha Mendis,'
explained one official. 'We received these photographs this morning. We don't
know for sure where she is but we believe she is being held at the agency
which brought her to the country.
Hundreds of such agencies have sprung up in Lebanon over the past few
years. They bring in women from Sri Lanka, the Philippines or Ethiopia to
work as maids and are notorious for abusing the women. Later that day I met with
Hemalatha. Her employer had described her as 'a problem' and had wanted to
return her to the agency. This prompted the agency owner to 'take out a big
stick and start beating my back, my arms and my legs,' she said. 'I tried to
cover my body but I couldn't. I was crying and my head began to throb with
pain. Once finished, the owner turned
to the employer and said: 'If you have any more problems with her just bring
her to me.' UAE : HORRENDOUS RECORD OF CHILD SLAVERY - WORK WORRIES - Sri Lankan women are trafficked to Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Qatar, mainly as sex workers or for forced labor. All material used herein
reproduced under the fair use exception of 17 USC § 107 for noncommercial,
nonprofit, and educational use |
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Human Trafficking in [Lebanon Street Children in [Lebanon] [other countries]Child Prostitution in [Lebanon] [other countries]