Struggling to survive: Slavery and exploitation of Syrian refugees in Lebanon 1 The Freedom Fund plays a critical role to [Slavery] is happening identify and invest in the most effective everywhere... front line efforts to end slavery and human Lebanese municipality official trafficking, bringing together a wide range of partners committed to this cause. Commissioned by the Freedom Fund, this report examines the manifestations I know a 12 year old girl of slavery and human trafficking among who has packed her toys Syrian refugees in Lebanon. It draws on in a bag because she has interviews with Syrian refugees in Lebanon, to work. She doesn’t want representatives from Lebanese and people in the camp to see international NGOs, Syrian organisations, UN bodies and Lebanese government her play with her toys and officials. The study, which was conducted think she is young and during January and February 2016, unfit to work. also reviews other recent research and Lebanese municipality official vulnerability assessments. 2 Contents 2 4 5 Executive summary Recommendations Syrian refugees in Lebanon: the growing risk of slavery and trafficking 7 10 12 Child labour Child marriage Sexual exploitation 14 16 21 Forced labour Factors contributing to Conclusion slavery and trafficking of Syrian refugees Acknowledgement We are grateful and humbled by the time and willingness that women, men and children showed in accepting to share their experience with us. We would also like to thank individuals and organisations working on the Syrian refugees crisis for taking time from their busy schedules to share their knowledge and analysis. Dr Katharine Jones Senior Research Fellow, Centre for Trust, Peace and Social Relations, Coventry University Contact: [email protected] Leena Ksaifi Independent Consultant and Director of The George Ksaifi Organization Contact: [email protected] Cover image © Tabitha Ross 1 Executive Summary Since it began in 2011, the conflict in Syria has crisis that has unfolded over the past five years. devastated the lives of millions of men, women and Given the extensive social, economic and children. Fearing violence and persecution, families historical ties between the countries, the Lebanese have fled their homes to seek safety in other countries government initially operated an ‘open door’ policy in the region and around the globe. Many crossed the for those fleeing the conflict. border into neighbouring Lebanon. Few would have expected to find themselves forced into slavery. Today, one in five people in Lebanon is a refugee from Syria. With more than 1.2 million refugees While there are a large number of organisations in living within its borders, no other country in the Lebanon providing services and support to Syrian world hosts more refugees on a per capita basis. refugees, including Palestinian Syrians, efforts to curb Such an influx has, however, placed significant the growing incidence of slavery and human trafficking stress on the country. are often uncoordinated, limited in their focus and do not always target those most at risk. As a consequence, the Lebanese government has taken steps to effectively close its borders and, This report sets out a pathway to deliver tangible in May 2015, instructed the Office of the United and lasting change. It examines the different ways Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in which slavery is occurring among Syrian refugees to stop registering new refugees from Syria. It in Lebanon and the multiple factors that combine to has established a sponsorship system to limit the force people into situations of slavery. Addressing numbers arriving from Syria and has imposed these risk factors will require the commitment stringent residency renewal regulations. This has left of a broad range of stakeholders, including the Syrian refugees open to detention and deportation Lebanese government, international governments, for entering, working and staying in Lebanon international organisations, NGOs and donors. without the correct paperwork. Lebanon, which borders Syria to the west, has been These policies have simply exacerbated an already at the front line in responding to the humanitarian dire humanitarian crisis for Syrian refugees, many The Beyond Association safety zone in Zahle. Image © The Freedom Fund. 2 of whom live in abject poverty. With no opportunity Despite highly sensational media coverage, we did not to work legally, and with children unable to go find any evidence of organ trafficking. Further, despite to school, refugees are forced into desperate several high profile arrests by Lebanese authorities, situations to simply survive. our study did not find evidence of the facilitation of Syrian refugees across the border into Lebanon for the Syrian refugees often find themselves working in purpose of exploitation. hard, dangerous or exploitative jobs for little or no money. However, with the ever-present risk of Slavery and human trafficking should never be detection and deportation, families are increasingly condoned or accepted as ‘the norm’. However, sending their children out to work, as they can unless we act decisively, this is the grave risk facing pass more freely through the security check points Syrian refugees in Lebanon. Without significant and operated by Lebanese authorities. determined intervention, the situation will only worsen. Our study found that slavery of Syrian refugees This report provides a set of targeted and integrated in Lebanon is a rapidly growing concern, which recommendations to counter slavery and human manifests in the following ways: trafficking of Syrian refugees in Lebanon. • Child labour has increased significantly in Lebanon The starting point is to ensure that Syrians fleeing since the start of the conflict in Syria. One leading conflict and persecution are properly recognised in NGO estimated that between 60 and 70 percent Lebanon as refugees, that they can legally work and of Syrian refugee children are working, with child their children can go to school. It is also vital that labour rates even higher in the Bekaa Valley. There tackling slavery and human trafficking is a shared is strong demand among Lebanese employers for priority among every organisation with a responsibility child workers and many are pressed into the worst to assist Syrian refugees in the country. forms of child labour. • Syrian refugee girls are increasingly forced into early There is a paucity of data currently being collected to marriages, especially in Bekaa Valley, Akkar (north document slavery and trafficking of Syrian refugees Lebanon). While the family’s decision is commonly in Lebanon. It is imperative that we improve data made to secure the girl’s economic future, there is collection systems so that reliable information is a genuine risk that entering a marriage at such a available to guide the development of effective vulnerable age could result in slavery. interventions. • Evidence strongly suggests that ‘survival sex’ and sexual exploitation is a growing issue for Syrian By taking concerted steps to address the factors that and Palestinian Syrian female refugees. Women can contribute to slavery and human trafficking, Lebanon be forced or coerced into prostitution or providing will be better placed to manage the prolonged ‘sexual favours’ to order to provide food and shelter humanitarian crisis. It will also develop institutions, for their families. laws and policies that are more closely aligned with • Forced labour is increasingly common as Syrian international human rights standards. This will deliver refugees become more desperate, so much so that benefits for everyone within its borders and make it an it may even constitute the ‘new norm’. With surging example to other countries responding to the current prices for food and rent, coupled with the heavy refugee crisis. costs associated with residency renewals, refugee families can quickly fall into debt. This leaves them even more vulnerable to exploitation. 3 Recommendations To the Lebanese government To the Lebanese government, international governments, international organisations 1. and donors Ratify the 1951 Refugee Convention and its 1967 Protocol, and develop an asylum system compatible 5. with international law. As an interim step, introduce and Include tackling slavery and all its manifestations implement a two-year temporary protection scheme as a strategic objective in the 2017-2020 Lebanon for all Syrian refugees, including Palestinian Syrian Crisis Response Plan and mainstream awareness and refugees, to be co-managed by UNHCR and UNWRA, response to forced labour into their programming. with financial support from the international community. The scheme should allow Syrian refugees to work and To international donors their children to access primary education, and allow UNHCR and UNWRA to restart registering refugees. 6. Support the establishment and running of a Slavery 2. Data Monitoring Centre. The Centre should: Support the urgent adoption by the Lebanese Parliament a. Continuously collate evidence from Lebanese and of the draft Bill presented to it by the Lebanese National international NGOs, international organisations Women’s Commission, which introduces a requirement and the media on slavery and trafficking cases, for a civil judge to approve a marriage of a minor in in particular child labour, child marriage, sexual addition to a religious tribunal. slavery and forced labour. b. Work with those organisations that already collate 3. vulnerability assessment