Exploitation and trafficking in women

KAFA’s Anti-Trafficking and Exploitation Unit addresses two forms of exploitation that specifically target women: sexual exploitation and trafficking and forced domestic work, through two programs dedicated to these two groups of women: exploited in prostitution and migrant domestic workers.

The Unit also calls for providing legal and social protection for women and girls who are victims of exploitation and trafficking, and for changing the discriminatory social mentality prevailing against these two groups of women.

Intervention is made on several levels to reach these goals, such as:

- Advocacy for long-term legal and societal change, particularly concerning the abolition of the Kafala/sponsorship system and the inclusion of domestic workers in the Labor Law, as well as the adoption of an abolitionist approach to prostitution by decriminalizing and supporting women exploited in prostitution and punishing sex buyers, pimps, and traffickers

- Prepare research to constantly increase knowledge and update information, and to design evidence-based interventions with victims

- Awareness activities and campaigns to fight misconceptions and stereotypes about these problems

- Capabilities building with the concerned groups of women themselves. Plus, training the Internal Security Forces, General Security Forces, and service providers on how to intervene with these two groups

- Provide comprehensive services to victims through:

• A 24/7 hotline for domestic workers and women exploited in prostitution
• Providing social and psychosocial support and developing a comprehensive intervention plan with the social worker
• Providing psychological follow-up with a psychologist and a psychiatrist
• Providing legal service through legal advice, accompanying the victim during investigations, representing and pleading, and assisting the victim to file complaints, and following up the legal file related to the case
• Providing a safe shelter belonging to the organization targeting women who are victims of trafficking for sexual exploitation or forced domestic work. This center provides temporary accommodation for these women, accompaniment, social, health, psychological and legal support. It also provides women with opportunities for empowerment and a safe return to their homeland if they are immigrants.