Lebanon on U.S. Watch List over Human Trafficking
The United States has said Lebanon falls in the category of countries which could exert more efforts to combat modern-day slavery, placing it on the “Tier 2 Watch List.”
“Lebanon is a source and destination country for women and children subjected to forced labor and sex trafficking and a transit point for Eastern European women and children subjected to sex trafficking in other Middle Eastern countries,” said an annual ranking compiled by the State Department and announced by Secretary of State John Kerry on Monday.
The 382-page report called for more “investigations, prosecutions, and convictions of offenders under the anti-trafficking law, including officials complicit in human trafficking.”
It also urged Lebanese authorities to “increase training for judges, prosecutors, law enforcement officials, and diplomatic personnel about the crime of trafficking and the anti-trafficking law” and “continue to implement standard procedures to identify trafficking victims among vulnerable populations, such as illegal migrants, women holding artiste visas, domestic workers, and Syrian refugees.”
The report is the State Department's key weapon for combating human trafficking, and comes in an annual ranking in "tiers"— Tier 1 is best, 2 means more could be done, and 3 is a blacklist that can spark sanctions.
Countries in "Tier 3," the lowest category, are those whose governments do not respect international norms or laws on trafficking and are not making significant efforts to do so, according to the report.
The International Labor Organization says trafficking in persons represents a $150 billion-a-year industry, including $99 billion for the sex industry alone.
Washington estimates some 20 million people are victims.
"Trafficking in persons is an insult to human dignity and an assault on freedom," Kerry said in the report's introduction as he called for a comprehensive "fight against modern slavery."
"It's a battle against money, it's a battle against evil," he said.
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