Yimer Banchi, Birhanu Tsigereda, Ankrah Francisca, Asfaw Debora, Taleb Omar, Diab Jasmin Lilian
Egna Legna Besidet, Beirut, Lebanon.
Institute for Migration Studies, School of Arts and Sciences, Lebanese American University, Beirut, Lebanon.
Front Sociol. 2025 Apr 11;9:1486769. doi: 10.3389/fsoc.2024.1486769. eCollection 2024.
This study investigates the barriers to legal access faced by Ethiopian migrant domestic workers (MDWs) in Lebanon, highlighting the legal violations they endure. The research encompasses all phases of criminal cases, from initial investigations to trial and verdict issuance. Utilizing a diverse methodology, the study draws on a sample of judgments from Egna Legna Besidet's Legal Program, qualitative interviews with 66 Ethiopian MDWs, and insights from 10 key informants and five legal experts. Ethical considerations, including a trauma-informed approach and thorough anonymization, were paramount. Findings reveal that MDWs encounter systemic injustices and insurmountable barriers within the Lebanese legal system, exacerbated by societal prejudices, exorbitant recruitment fees, language barriers, and limited legal awareness. The Kafala sponsorship system and restrictive immigration policies further hinder their legal navigation. Discriminatory attitudes, lack of legal safeguards, and inadequate support from embassies and consulates perpetuate a cycle of exploitation and abuse. The initial investigation stage is fraught with coercion and procedural violations, while trials and verdicts often lack fairness and adequate evidence. The study calls for comprehensive legal reforms, better enforcement of existing laws, accessible information, legal aid, and multi-stakeholder collaboration to dismantle these barriers and ensure justice for MDWs.
本研究调查了埃塞俄比亚移徙家庭佣工在黎巴嫩面临的合法获取途径的障碍，突出了他们所遭受的违法行为。该研究涵盖刑事案件的所有阶段，从初步调查到审判和判决发布。本研究采用多种方法，借鉴了埃格纳·莱格纳·贝西德特法律项目的判决样本、对66名埃塞俄比亚移徙家庭佣工的定性访谈，以及10名关键信息提供者和5名法律专家的见解。包括创伤知情方法和彻底匿名化在内的伦理考量至关重要。研究结果表明，移徙家庭佣工在黎巴嫩法律体系中遭遇系统性不公正和无法逾越的障碍，社会偏见、过高的招聘费用、语言障碍和有限的法律意识使这些障碍更加严重。卡法拉担保制度和限制性移民政策进一步阻碍了他们的合法维权。歧视性态度、缺乏法律保障以及大使馆和领事馆的支持不足，使剥削和虐待的循环持续存在。初步调查阶段充满胁迫和程序违规行为，而审判和判决往往缺乏公正性和充分的证据。该研究呼吁进行全面的法律改革、更好地执行现有法律以及提供可获取的信息、法律援助和多利益相关方合作，以消除这些障碍并确保移徙家庭佣工获得公正。
