The Middle East Council of Churches Contributes to Empowering Domestic Workers in Lebanon

You can find some photos at the end of the text.

The Diakonia and Social Service Department, Lebanon’s Office, at the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), in partnership with the international organization Norwegian Church Aid (NCA), launched a series of awareness sessions on gender-based violence (GBV) for a group of migrant domestic workers.

This program comes at a time when domestic workers in Lebanon suffer from neglect, injustice to their rights, and even gender-based violence... all in the absence of an adequate legal framework to protect them and preserve their dignity.

One session was given to a group of females in which they were exposed to a video called “Together Against Violence” that builds core understanding of gender, gender roles, and GBV, and how power and social norms shape these experiences. Participants were allowed to discuss productive, reproductive, and social roles and how they can evolve toward fairness.

Most importantly however, is the main activity which is a scenario game where small groups identify the type of violence, its effects, and the safest first report. This is very critical because it equips them with the tools, confidence, knowledge to handle a GBV-related scenario and to know that something that can be done. Consequently, a local referral list is provided so participants know where to seek protection, medical, legal, and psychosocial help.

For the project to be a better success, a group of men who are also domestic workers, were also given one session so that to enlighten them about the dangers of GBV and how they can contribute to making things better for their families.