Geneva Health Forum 2024

Migrants worker in Lebanon, a reflection by Amel Association

Not scheduled

15m

Geneva

Oral presentation Migration, health and equity

Description

Since the Lebanese Labor Law does not protect migrant domestic workers, migrants are subject to the Kafala System, which makes them especially prone to abuse, violence, and exploitation. Amel Association, in light of the struggle to protect human dignity and provide basic rights, launched in 2011 the “Support to Migrant Workers” program, which works under 6 pillars and aims to guarantee their access to social, economic, and human rights:
1. Sustainable service provision (social, legal, health, psychosocial);
2. Capacity building and economic empowerment;
3. National and international advocacy coordination;
4. Awareness raising;
5. Action-based research;
6. Coordination with countries of origin.
Amel is also involved in the fight against human trafficking and modern slavery through advocacy for policy change, training frontliners and authorities on the identification of victims, as well as raising awareness on trafficking factors and indicators among vulnerable communities.
In response to the socioeconomic crisis in Lebanon, Amel has adapted assistance to migrant workers to the new needs identified by adopting an emergency protection and health based approach.
Many projects were done throughout these years, few snapchats will be mentioned here:
A. From our activity report for 2022, Amel team was able to support:
• 165 migrants with assisted voluntary return to their countries of origin;
• 600 migrants were supported with rental fees;
• 1400 were provided with food and non-food items according to their needs
• 150 were supported with legal services;
• More than 1100 migrants were supported with primary health care consultations, medication and diagnosis.

B. Moreover, Amel team supported during Covid19, Amel was the only national organization to provide vaccination for migrants as well to do the COVID-19 PCR testing for free.
C. Series of cultural events for migrant workers and their families at Amel centers. Children and their mothers were welcomed for a vibrant culture day for each nationality ( Ethiopian, Sudanese, etc..)
In order to make the children see the beauty of their origins, Amel develops a dialogue through art. Art is a way of nurturing children and freeing them from challenges that are beyond them.
D. Women empowering classes helped many Migrants to outdo their status and to become idol for other migrants to prove themselves, as well as to work in a secure place. ( Real testimonies from different women)
E. Amel worked on the awareness of frontliners for human trafficking indicators identification. Accordingly, in 2022, the team was able to identify and support 20 victims and help them break the trafficking chain and their links with the trafficking network.
F. Engaging our community Research department to shed light on the migrants statues in order to encourage Research for better reflection of the current status.
For all its efforts, Amel was granted the official Observer status at the IOM executives council at November 2017.
We are aiming to participate in this conference to encourage other local NGOs, with the help of INGO and other donors to make sure that no one will left behind.