NGO in Mount Lebanon Closed Down for Endangering Children
In a shocking turn of events, a nongovernmental organization (NGO) in Mount Lebanon has been closed down due to its involvement in activities that pose an “imminent danger” to children. The Village of Love and Peace, which claimed to provide protection and accommodation to abandoned and at-risk children, has been accused of committing crimes against Lebanese and Syrian children.
Lawyer Diana Assaf took to social media to expose the NGO’s alleged wrongdoings. In a video clip on her Instagram page, Assaf revealed that sexual harassment had been documented within the organization. However, the most disturbing revelation was the crime of human trafficking committed by the NGO’s director. Assaf claimed that the director deliberately sold a child to a family in exchange for money, forging hospital and other documents in the process. Such actions are considered human trafficking under the penal code.
The Village of Love and Peace was responsible for the care of several girls, ranging from newborns to 17-year-olds. Judge Joelle Bou Haidar conducted initial investigations and issued a report stating that the NGO’s director, Norma Saeed, had engaged in human trafficking. Saeed misled families into believing that the infants in her care could be adopted without involving the court. She forged documents with the help of a village headman and a hospital, receiving monetary payments in return.
The report also revealed that Saeed had allowed two minors under her care to be sexually harassed by an individual named Jebran. Jebran not only encouraged sexual activity and drug use among the minors but also formed a romantic relationship with one of the girls. The girl expressed her despair, as Jebran was already married and could not be with her. Shockingly, Saeed took no action against Jebran and failed to inform the relevant court about his actions.
Furthermore, the report highlighted other disturbing incidents. Saeed took minors to a nightclub to celebrate her birthday, allowing them to consume alcohol excessively. One of the girls attempted suicide without any known reason. Saeed also threatened the minors with imprisonment if they reported the NGO’s activities to the court. She used abusive language and insults against them, even taking some of the girls to her house without permission and forcing them to do cleaning work.
The investigation also raised suspicions about the NGO’s collaboration with fake organizations to obtain donations and financial support. This matter is currently being investigated by judicial authorities, as it falls within the framework of combating corruption that affects children.
The report emphasized that the NGO failed to provide basic human rights, such as physical, mental, and health safety. The organization lacked minimum cleanliness standards, further compromising the well-being of the children under its care.
Judge Bou Haidar had been investigating the NGO for some time, and it was revealed that the suffering endured by the children had been ongoing for three years. As a result, Bou Haidar arrested the NGO director and her suspected accomplices for human trafficking. The allegations of sexual harassment against Jebran are still under consideration by the public prosecution.
In response to the severity of the situation, judges across Lebanon have been instructed to remove all children from the care of the Village of Love and Peace. The organization has been deemed a “source of imminent danger” to the children, and they have been transferred to another organization for their safety.
The case involving the Village of Love and Peace is just one of several recent scandals related to child abuse in Lebanon. Another case involved abuse at a private nursery, resulting in the arrest of a manager and an employee. Additionally, there have been instances of infants being abandoned on the streets, highlighting the urgent need for stricter regulations and increased protection for vulnerable children in the country.
The closure of the Village of Love and Peace serves as a reminder of the importance of thorough investigations and oversight in the operations of NGOs. It is crucial to ensure that organizations claiming to protect and care for children are held accountable for their actions. The well-being and safety of children should always be the top priority, and any violations must be met with swift and decisive action from the authorities.