By Najla Chahda

 1994: CLMC’s inception  Social counseling, follow up, legal assistance inside and outside prisons  150,000 migrants assisted each year  Orientation seminars on rights and responsibilities to 30,000 migrants, refugees and asylum seekers.  Awareness sessions for over 18,000 Lebanese persons on migrants’ rights and responsibilities.

 Great vulnerability of migrants due to lack of awareness on their rights and sources of assistance.  Reinforcement of CLMC’s network of partners in countries of origin to provide prevention and protection to migrant workers through the migration process.  Country-specific Pre-Departure Orientation Sessions to reinforce knowledge of rights, where to seek assistance if/when needed, what are the risks of irregular migration channels.

 2009: close collaboration with local NGO Pourakhi in Nepal  June 2010: Lebanon-specific curriculum for pre- departure orientation sessions (PDOS) and Training of Trainers sessions with Pourakhi's staff.  2010 – 2011: collaboration with Caritas Bangladesh and Bangladeshi grassroots NGO OKUP and adaptation of the Lebanon-specific pre- departure orientation curriculum to the Bangladesh context  2012: Trainers of Trainees with OKUP’s trainers and launching of PDOS.

 EU-funded program “Initiating a global approach in supporting and empowering migrants throughout the migration cycle and asylum-seekers and refugees in Lebanon”: ◦ to contribute to the protection and defense of the rights of asylum- seekers, refugees and women domestic migrant workers throughout the migration cycle in Lebanon and countries of origin ◦ to foster their socio-economic development  CLMC is part of a consortium gathering Caritas Luxembourg and Austria, and partners from Ethiopia and Bangladesh.

 3 specific objectives: ◦ to contribute to the protection and defense of the rights of the target group in Ethiopia, Bangladesh, the Philippines, Sri Lanka and Nepal, ◦ to contribute to the promotion and protection of refugees’ and migrants’ rights, the rule of law and the implementation of ways to combat trafficking in human, ◦ to foster the socio-economic development of the target groups in Lebanon, Ethiopia and Bangladesh.

 Tailor-made (individual) comprehensive protective assistance: ◦ migrants and refugees needing assistance are interviewed by social workers as soon as they are referred or come to Caritas centers or other project partners  Tailor-made (individual) reintegration assistance: ◦ individual reintegration plans for returnees according to their needs and those of their communities. ◦ aims to ensure sustainable support and qualitative services  Sustainable livelihood approach : o vocational training and seed grants to build economic resiliency, sustain livelihoods, and contribute to community development over the long- term

 Empowerment approach: ◦ Target groups develop a sense of independence and financial autonomy to act according to their own interests and needs  Network-based approach /case-management: ◦ will create seamless services and strengthen protection across borders ◦ will enhance the existing networks and cooperation between NGOs and governmental institutions in the respective countries  Participative approach/community based approach: o Migrants and communities play an active role in building economic resiliency, defending their own rights to the maximum possible, and planning for long-term development.

 Addressing structural causes of rights’ violations with advocacy and networking at national, regional and international levels: ◦ all consortium actors actively and directly involved and within advocacy networks in expressing their first hands-on experience together with structured analysis towards national governments and their relevant ministries, embassies of countries of origin, international organizations and other relevant stakeholders.  Objectives to be addressed : o Reforming the sponsorship system in Lebanon, o Reducing time in retention, o Protecting refugees and asylum seekers against retention or deportation

◦ Capacity building of management staff and officers of relevant Ministries (Social, Justice), o Lobbying with NGO-Networks.  Means to address these issues: o Lobbying with countries of origin and international donors in United Nations (Human Rights Commission),

 Coordination between Europe, Lebanon, and countries of origin for advocacy and awareness raising efforts,  Celebration of worldwide events: International Migrants Day, International Domestic Workers Day, and World Refugee Day: o Opportunities to reach the public, decision-makers, and other participating stakeholders, o They provide a forum to distribute advocacy materials and studies

 Events will be primarily used for raising awareness and advocating specific issues of migration between Lebanon and countries of origin  Focus on issues of the gender dimension of migration, the dignity of domestic laborers, and cultural attitudes  Joint decisions for common themes and advocacy agendas,  Slogans, logos, graphic design, and messages will all be coordinated across all the partners through teleconferences

 Advocacy agenda with one or two key demands will be developed in coordination between all partners each year  Invitation of supportive embassies, international organizations, media, and NGOs to attend with a view to mobilizing them to join in advocacy efforts  Different intended audiences and expected results of the advocacy events from one country to another but same goal: o To raise awareness on the cross-border nature of migration and the need to ensure that migrants have their rights upheld through the migration process

 Preventive measures: ◦ Adaptation of the PDOS to the culture and specific contexts of migrant workers’ homeland ◦ Modules:  Rights and responsibilities in Lebanon  Basic Arabic phrases  Lebanese culture  Where to seek assistance if needed  Trafficking and irregular migration  Presentation of household work in Lebanon ◦ Visual and oral techniques and interactive means to increase their understanding  Referral among partners in Lebanon and countries of origin ensuring a holistic approach throughout the migration cycle

 Better coordination among UN Agencies and Civil Society Actors  Promote the ratification and implementation of existing international instruments to protect migrants.

 advocate for a humanitarian space, distinct from authorities, which will enable National Societies to address the migrants’ needs  strengthen cooperation among NS from countries of origin, transit and destination(bilateral agreements).

 adopt a dual track approach on migrant women - implement projects addressing specific vulnerability of women - sensitize the public to the specific vulnerability of women (decision-makers, media. politicians, public at large)  advocate the rights and protection of children and advocate for creation of specific programmes tailored to the needs of children