NCJ Number
224681
Date Published
May 2008
Length
99 pages
Annotation
This report assesses both the trafficking situation in Lebanon and the adequacy of existing legislation on trafficking in accordance with its obligations under the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons.
Abstract
The problem of trafficking in Lebanon appears to be small. Reasons for not being able to identify the number of persons trafficked in Lebanon include: (1) trafficking being a hidden crime with few cases reported and (2) currently no law that specifically names a crime of human trafficking. In order to strengthen the legal and law enforcement institutions in their ability to prevent and combat trafficking in persons in Lebanon, the Ministry of Justice undertook a project in 2005 with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime to assess Lebanon’s anti-trafficking efforts. This report was intended to make recommendations, provide interregional strategies to combat trafficking in human beings, and increase and improve governmental and non-governmental responses to the problem. Highlights of the assessment include: (1) the need for legislative reforms on issues involving the identified vulnerable group of potential victims of trafficking and the need to enhance the labor law with international standards; (2) a noted discrepancy among the governmental and non-governmental organization’s definition of trafficking in human beings, along with a common definition non-existent in the criminal justice system; (3) with Lebanon a country of destination for potential victims of trafficking in human beings, there is no indication in the official NGO data that indicates it as a transit country and no indication specifying it as a country of origin for potential victims of trafficking; (4) the inability to identify victims and confusion on the definition which complicates victim identification; (5) Lebanon’s progress in preventing trafficking in human beings with important reform projects and launching an awareness campaign targeting foreign domestic workers in Lebanon; and (6) NGO’s comprehensive program for potential victims of trafficking were identified, such as shelter, legal assistance, and social and psychological support, as well as services useful to any victims of exploitation. Figures, tables, and annex