The Lebanese Center for Human Rights (CLDH) and Anti-Racism Movement organized on Saturday 23 March 2013, on the occasion of the International Day for the elimination of discrimination, a press conference entitled: “Children and Youth Speak Up Against Discrimination”.
The secretary general of CLDH, Wadih Al-Asmar, introduced the press conference underlining how serious were the acts of discrimination perpetrated in Lebanon, from discrimination due to the skin’s color to the one based on the social condition - or the one facing the Lebanese women who cannot transmit their nationality to their children born to a foreign father. He also denounced the “kafala” system governing the residency in Lebanon of foreign domestic workers, which paves the way for modern slavery.
A videoconference by Skype was held, allowing Natacha, a French student of Congolese origin, to speak about the discrimination based on the skin color she lived and observed during one and a half year she spent on Lebanon.
Then, one by one, Tanisha, Lynn, Amal, Baptiste, Maria and Hiba, whose parents are from India, USA, Lebanon, France, Philippines and Sudan, expressed each one in his/her own way their refusal of racism and discrimination that prevail in Lebanon.
“I feel at home in Lebanon, but I notice how racism affects the Bengali lady who works at my parents’ house. The Lebanese should open themselves to other cultures” said Tanisha, an Indian student in Lebanon.
“I am being refused the Lebanese nationality although I am born in Lebanon to a Lebanese mother. I feel betrayed”, denounced Lynn, 12 years old, whose father is American and mother Lebanese.
“My mother works in the houses, and I am so proud of her. I am asking all the Lebanese to respect the foreigners”, pleaded Amal, a young Philippine-Sudanese girl, 12 years old.
“We are insulted in the streets because we are black, but we are like you” explained Maria and Hiba, two Sudanese young ladies. “We are afraid to go out because we don’t have legal papers, although we were born in Lebanon”, they added.
This press conference was made of moving testimonies by young Lebanese and foreigners, who are building today’s Lebanon, and will probably change tomorrow’s.
