A seminar at USEK about the social and legal aspects of prostitution

The Human Rights Centre at the USEK Law School in Kaslik organized a seminar on the issue of prostitution which aimed at creating a space for dialogue on the realities of prostitution in Lebanon and how to combat it. The event included a discussion about Lebanese laws in relation to sexual exploitation of women.  It also included a number of interventions notably by Lorenza Trulli of the UNHCR on displaced Syrian women refugees who were coerced into prostitution.  Judge Reine Matar spoke about the nebulous nature of the law in relation to prostitution.  She also spoke about the causes of prostitution, its evolution and widespread trend.  The representative of the Ministry of Social Affairs, psychologist Maria Bruni, noted that prostitution is neither a choice nor a conscious decision but rather a result of difficult psychological and social circumstances.  Bruni concluded by presenting a number of recommendations notably: the set-up pf a programme to treat both victims and perpetrators, raising public awareness and education in collaboration with CSOs, formulating policies to combat trafficking in women and children and to protect displaced and refugee women.
Source: Al-Nahar 17 October 2014