Sexual exploitation: A crime even with coerced consensus

In collaboration with the Tripoli-based Al Azm Lawyers Sector and sponsored by former PM Najib Mikati, the Arab Organization for Young Lawyers organized on Saturday a conference entitled ‘Towards the Development of an Arab Anti-Human Trafficking Strategy’. During the conference, Colonel Elie Asmar of the Internal Security Forces made clear that the problem is not restricted to sexual exploitation only, stressing that “forcing any person to practice unlawful acts is considered a form of human trafficking.” Asmar insisted on the need to find a proper mechanism to enforce the relevant legal texts and to revise current laws in effect, particularly as per specifying the recovery period for victims prior to rehabilitation. In the same spirit, the representative of the Geneva Institute for Human Rights in Lebanon, lawyer Manar Zeaiter, said a proper plan to fight the dilemma should take into account the different contexts of the human trafficking process. Zeaiter also pointed out to the flaws in Lebanese laws to this effect, especially those found in the explanatory statements.. (Al Diyar, August 7, 2016)