2007 Trafficking in Persons Report - Center for Women Policy Studies

to do so. In January 2006, the government established
an inter-ministerial committee to address the
rights of migrant workers. Nonetheless, Lebanon
continues to lack a comprehensive anti-trafficking
law, and its record of criminal prosecutions
of abusive employers and sex traffickers remained
inadequate.
Prosecutions
Lebanon did not significantly improve its record of
trafficking prosecutions over the last year. Lebanon
does not prohibit all forms of trafficking in persons,
though it criminalizes trafficking for the purpose
of commercial sexual exploitation through Articles
523, 526, and 527 of its Penal Code. Lebanese
law does not, however, prohibit trafficking for the
purpose of labor exploitation. The penalties for
sex trafficking are not commensurate with those
for other grave crimes; while the crime of rape has
a minimum penalty of five years’ imprisonment,
forcing a female into commercial sexual exploitation
only carries a minimum prison sentence of
one year. The government reported no prosecutions
under Articles 523, 526, and 527. Seventeen prosecutions
began in cases of abuse against migrant
workers. Under its administrative laws, the Ministry
of Labor closed 15 agencies for violations of workers’
rights, including physical abuse, but often the
perpetrators of the physical abuses were not criminally
prosecuted due to the victims’ refusal to press
charges or due to a lack of evidence. In addition to
increasing criminal prosecutions, the government
should revise the punishments for trafficking violations
under its laws to make them consistent with
international standards.
Protection
The Lebanese government did not significantly
improve protection of trafficking victims in the
country over the last year. The government signed a
memorandum of understanding with a local NGO
to identify and refer potential trafficking victims to
a safe house operated by the NGO. Nonetheless,
the government failed to fully ensure that victims
of trafficking are not inappropriately punished for
unlawful acts committed as a direct result of being
trafficked; for instance, many victims are still held in
detention centers for the immigration violation of
running away from their sponsors, and are deported
before receiving protection. Victims are neither
encouraged to participate in trials, nor offered legal
alternatives to deportation to countries where they
would face hardship or retribution. Lebanon should
also permit workers to change employers without
requiring permission from abusive sponsors.
Prevention
Lebanon made little progress in the prevention of
trafficking in persons. The government, in partnership
with a local NGO, continues to distribute
brochures highlighting workers’ rights and remedies.
Lebanon, however, continues to struggle with
border management and the control of trafficking
in persons and illegal migration.
LIBERIA (Tier 2)
Liberia is a source, transit, and destination country
for children trafficked for the purposes of forced
labor and sexual exploitation. Most victims are trafficked
within the country from rural areas to urban
areas for domestic servitude or other forms of child
labor. Displaced children in Liberia were subjected
to sexual exploitation by members of international
organizations, NGO personnel, and Liberian
citizens. There have been reports of children trafficked
to Liberia from Sierra Leone, Guinea, and
Cote d’Ivoire and from Liberia to The Gambia,
Guinea, and Nigeria for domestic servitude, street
vending, sexual exploitation, and agricultural labor.
Awareness of trafficking in Liberia is nascent and no
concrete data exists. While there have been reports
of orphanages and adoption agencies involved in
child trafficking, most appear to be cases of fraudulent
adoption rather than trafficking.
The Government of Liberia does not fully comply
with the minimum standards for the elimination of
trafficking; however, it is making significant efforts to
do so. A 14-year civil war has crippled the country’s
infrastructure and destroyed government institutions,
including the judiciary. In January 2006, a new
government was installed after more than two years
of transitional rule with heavy oversight by the UN
Mission in Liberia (UNMIL). To strengthen its trafficking
response, Liberia should increase prosecution
efforts, establish a formal system of victim referral
to NGOs and international organizations for care,
and adopt and begin to implement its draft national
action plan to combat trafficking.
Prosecution
The Government of Liberia has initiated modest
efforts to combat trafficking through law enforcement
during the past year. Liberia prohibits all
forms of trafficking through its June 2005 Act to Ban
Trafficking in Persons. The Women’s and Children’s
Protection Section (WCPS) of the Liberian National
Police (LNP) works with the UN Police (UNPOL)
to respond to trafficking cases. Of four trafficking
cases investigated by police during the year, only one
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