Zarzar 1

Alli Zarzar
AP Language and Composition
12 December 2016
All Alone
The words sexual assault often stop one in their tracks. This phrase has taken on
such a vast meaning. It scares, it stuns, it sickens. Headlines bearing this terrifying
phrase grab our attention violently. In Lebanon, however, the repulsing action of taking
advantage of a human being is more than a regular occurrence. The unorganized
Lebanese government and corrupt laws do not allow for survivors of sexual assault to
receive the justice they deserve. The government seems to turn a blind eye, not caring
for their well-being. The government's lack of coordination and pure ignorance within
their justice and law enforcement corporations result in Lebanese women and young
girls becoming victims again, this time to the law. Lebanese laws are full of loopholes for
aggressors to escape through, instead protecting women from danger. The women and
young girls in Lebanon who have had to face the terror of sexual assault need to
receive the justice they deserve, through a better organized government and stable,
clear laws.
The unorganized Lebanese government puts women at risk to become victims of
sexual assault. Many organizations that aim to protect citizens from the dangers of
corrupt governments have commented on Lebanons unbalanced system. The Human
Rights Watch stated that Weakness and a lack of coordination in the Lebanese
governments response to sex trafficking is putting women and girls at risk (Police Bust
Prostitution Ring in Bekaa Valley). A shocking article written by The Guardian bearing

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the title Dozens of Syrians forced into sexual slavery in derelict Lebanese house;
Victims were tortured and only left house for abortions and treatment for venereal
diseases in case that has shocked country further constitutes this issue (Dozens of
Syrians forced into sexual slavery in derelict Lebanese house; Victims were tortured
and only left house for abortions and treatment for venereal diseases in case that has
shocked country). One of many groups of women who fall victim to Lebanons
unorganized government and are often targeted for human trafficking are Syrian
refugees. Syrian women in Lebanon are at a higher risk for sexual assault due to their
lack of legal residency in the country and fear of arrest (Human Rights Watch
Submission to the Committee on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights in Advance of
Its Review of Lebanon). This fear of arrest has directly resulted from an unorganized
government. The unsympathetic characteristics of the Lebanese government have also
caused distrust in seeking help after experiencing the horror of assault.
As a result of the lack of organization in the Lebanese government, many
instances of human trafficking are not reported due to the mistrusting attitude the
government conveys to them. There are many accounts of victims sharing this exact
occurrence. A Syrian refugee tells her tale of disappointment: Panma recalled that
President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf had a meeting with them [two women who were sold
into sex slavery] and promised that her government would ensure they got justice
(Tamba). They did not receive that justice, leading to distrust. A Red Cross volunteer
was sexually harassed and she did not even dare to file a lawsuit against the aggressor
because she did not trust Lebanese law (Bader). Five Syrian workers reported to
Human Rights Watch that sponsors or employers attempted to sexually exploit them

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and they did not dare to approach the authorities to complain (Human Rights). The
authorities, in return, have not effectively enforced binding laws to protect Lebanese
women.
The absence of needed laws in the Lebanese government has not only resulted
in distrust, but increasing cases of sexual assault, even in young girls. The Lebanese
government claims to monitor these atrocities very closely, but due to their
reoccurrence, the legitimacy of this claim must be questioned. (Trafficking in Syria and
Lebanon Document date: 2016-10-18 P8_RE(2016)006312 Answers to written
questions). Sexual harassment of Lebanese children is ongoing. The U.S Department
of State in their article Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons discovered
that Lebanese children become victims of sex trafficking often as a result of early
marriage. Wheres the law protecting these young girls from early marriage? If Lebanon
passed a law in 2011 to combat human trafficking, then why are so many instances of
it still occurring (Dozens of Syrians)? Perhaps it is from Lebanons poor existing laws;
meant to protect, but only contradict. The laws in place are almost absent themselves,
for they are ineffective.
The laws that the Lebanese government do implement cause further
complication. Yes, there are laws in place, but these laws do not protect women and
children at all. Recalling the incident where a Red Cross Volunteer was raped, a
reporter, Bader, explores the Lebanese law that supposedly protects women who fall
victim to sexual assault:According to Article 503 of Lebanese Penal Law, the crime of
rape is considered a felony punishable by hard labor for at least five years. Article 504
amended the punishment, setting it at seven years; however if evidence of extenuating

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excuses is presented, the penalty can be reduced. Article 522 states that where a valid
marriage between the perpetrator and the victim is officiated he case is discharged
(Bader). Manar Zaiter, project manager at the Lebanese Womens Democratic
Gathering further explains the faults within the laws. If forced corruption actually
constitutes to a criminal force, why then isnt it directly criminalized without resulting to
circumvention? What is required is the criminalization of the violation of the sanctity of
the body. That is the act of coercior itself (Bader). Why does a marriage automatically
dismiss a case? Why must direct evidence be provided on the victims part, but not the
aggressor's? Not everyones stories are narratives, so why does the government treat
them so? The laws that aim to protect women only harm them more. The justice system
doesnt get much better, unfortunately.
The justice system has released many criminals who have broken Lebanons
own laws. It may be recalled that Lebanese businessman El Deebs, who was accused
as the mastermind in the trafficking of young Liberian girls, had them sold out of
Lebanese households, their passports seized, and some of them sexually abused, was
freed on Tuesday (Tamba). Judge Smith declared Abbas El Deebs, a Lebanese
national from allegiance to human trafficking, not guilty and released him from further
detention" (Hope for Girls from Lebanon). Even the courts seem to revolve around
men. Jabbour, the head of the anti- trafficking unit in Lebanon explains the fault in what
men think is right: Everything revolves around the sexuality of men, she said. We raise
boys and men with the idea that its very normal to buy sex and to have sex whenever
they want, not to control their sexuality (Dozens of Syrians). This elevated platform
men have been placed on allows them to slither their way out of the laws put in place to

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help women. These laws arent that great either, its almost if the government wants to
grant men with the title of not guilty. Then, these criminals are released only to
continue committing the same crimes. Law enforcement does not treat women any
better.
Lebanese law enforcers often ignore the pleas for help from victims of rape.
Gardenah, a victim of human trafficking, not only had her case thrown out by the justice
system because there was not any direct evidence to prove that they were sold into
slavery, but has often been ignored when telling officers of other abuses simply
because they sounded like a story, and was dismissed as a narrative. Panma, a
woman involved in the same case, recalls other horrible situations she was put in by
police. Once, I was put in a room naked with low temperatures from the 6:00 A.M. until
12 midnight, as a punishment because the police said I was misbehaving (Tamba). Not
only do these poor women lack the help they need from law enforcement, whose job is
to protect citizens, but they find themselves in extreme situations because of them. Men
hold too much of a superior position in Lebanese law and justice, resulting in the lack of
justice for survivors of human trafficking.
Its time for these survivors to get the justice they deserve. Due to the corrupt and
unorganized Lebanese government, they do not receive what they are required to
receive. The contradicting laws, the broken promises, the lack of protection, the unjust
justice systems, and the repulsing law enforcement all place survivors of human
trafficking right back as victims. The general conclusion was that abuse against women
in the Middle East is ongoing because of the major challenges in implementing laws and
the levels of civil society involvement in enrolling and protecting them found the

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Lebanese American University in a conference aimed to get to the bottom of the unjust
and unequal protection given to women (Workshop on Women in Conflict Zones Opens
in Beirut). Its time for the Lebanese government to enact laws that do not leave room
for criminals to escape, and to get out of its sexuality- of- men mindset. Law
enforcement needs to protect women, not hurt them or frighten them even more. The
government needs to figure out how it can become organized and stable; a place for
women to seek justice and fairness, not a place of fear. In order to accomplish this, the
government should scrutinize their laws more carefully, and resolve the ones that put
women in more danger. Their court and law enforcement systems need to be improved
as well, perhaps through training. The government needs to listen to these strong
women and their tales of horror, and help them reach the closure they so badly need
and deserve.

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Works Cited
Bader, Eliana. "In Lebanon, Women Are Victims of Rape and the Law." The Arab
Weekly. N.p., 23 Oct. 2016. Web. 30 Nov. 2016.
"Dozens of Syrians Forced into Sexual Slavery in Derelict Lebanese House; Victims
Were Tortured and Only Left House for Abortions and Treatment for Venereal
Diseases in Case That Has Shocked Country." Theguardian.com 30 Apr. 2016: n.
pag. General OneFile. Web. 28 Nov. 2016.
"Hope for Girls From Lebanon." Africa News Service 17 Aug. 2016: n. pag. Global
Issues in Context. Web. 29 Nov. 2016.
"Human Rights Watch Submission to the Committee on Economic, Social, and Cultural
Rights in Advance of Its Review of Lebanon." US Official News 30 Aug. 2016: n.
pag. Infotrac Newsstand. Web. 28 Nov. 2016.
"Lebanon." U.S. Department of State. U.S. Department of State, 2016. Web. 30 Nov.
2016.
"Police Bust Prostitution Ring in Bekaa Valley." The Daily Star [Beirut, Lebanon] 9 Nov.
2016: n. pag. Global Issues in Context. Web. 29 Nov. 2016.
Tamba, Gloria T. "'Trafficked' Girls' Nightmare Persists." The Liberian Observer. N.p., 04
Sept. 2016. Web. 30 Nov. 2016.
Trafficking in Syria and Lebanon Document date: 2016-10-18 P8_RE(2016)006312
Answers to written questions." European Union News, 31 Oct. 2016. General
OneFile. Web. 28 Nov.2016.
"Workshop on Women in Conflict Zones Opens in Beirut." The Daily Star [Beirut,
Lebanon] 9 Aug. 2016: n. pag. Global Issues in Context. Web. 28 Nov. 2016.