PILOT RESEARCH ON PROTECTION RISKS OF DOM REFUGEE WOMEN IN AKKAR/LEBANON

PILOT RESEARCH ON PROTECTION RISKS OF DOM REFUGEE WOMEN IN AKKAR/LEBANON


LEBANESE DEVELOPERS
SEPTEMBER 2023


Research Team
Research Lead: Aslı Saban
Report Writers: Aslı Saban, Dr. R. AGNATIOS
Researcher: Roushan Al Khalaf
Quality Assurance Expert -Editor: Oladunni Taiwo
Last Reading-Editing: Leyla Karayılan
Graphic Design: Kurtuluş Karaşın

This publication is considered public Domain and there is no requirement to obtain permission from Lebanese Developers however, the report requires referencing when used. This report was created by Lebanese Developers, and they bear full responsibility for its content. The expressions within the report represent the opinions of Lebanese Developers themselves.

TABLE OF

Context 5
Dom Community background 5

CONTENTS

Dom community in Lebanon 5

Citizenship status of Nomads in Lebanon 6
Impact on Dom and bedouin groups: 6
Limited legal status refugees and
Asylum seekers in Lebanon and Akkar district 7
Introduction 8
Scope and Methodology 10
Key informant interviews (KII) 10
Survey: 11
Focus group discussion (FGD): 11
Social and economic background of the surveys/FGDs’ participants 11
Types of income generation activities in Syria and Akkar 12
Limitation of pilot research 13
1. Summary findings 14
Research Questions 14
1.1 Key findings 14
2. Being a Dom and refugee woman in Akkar 15
2.1 Marriage in the Dom community 15
3. Gender-based violence, protection risks among
Dom women, adolescent girls and children 16
3.1 Physical violence 16
3.2 Understanding of gender -based violence 16
3.3 Gender-based violence experience 16
3.4 Sexual violence 16
3.5 Commercial sexual exploitation & prostitution 17
3.6 Involuntary work: Dom women dancing in private parties 18
3.7 Forced commercial sexual exploitation of adults 18
3.8 Commercial sexual exploitation (CSE) of children 18
3.9 Lack of Inclusion in Decision-Making and Socio-Economic Violence 19
3.10 Lack of electricity creates a safeguarding problem for
Dom women and adolescent girls in their informal tented settlements 19
4. Key barriers to improve women’s empowerment in the Akkar district 20
4.1 Understanding gender norms in the Dom society is essential 20
4.2 Having specialized skills and combating stereotypes against the Dom community are key for economic empowerment 20
4.3 Lack of awareness of and access to services in Akkar 21
4.4 Establishing a relationship of trust is important 21
Recommendations 22
Conclusion 24
References 25


ANCRONYMS
FGD Focus Group Discussion
GBV Gender-Based Violence
LD Lebanese Developers
MSNA Multi-Sector Needs Assessment
IPV Intimate Partner Violence PSS Pyscho-Social Support SRH Sexual Reproductive Health

LIST OF TABLES

Table 1: Number of Key Informant Interviews according to the sector and gender
Table 2: Distribution of the female surveys according to the age range and marital status.
Table 3: Distribution of Focus Group participants according to gender and age range.

CONTEXT
Dom Community Background

Dom Community in Lebanon
 The Dom community is an ethnic minority living across several Middle Eastern countries, including Lebanon, Jordan, the occupied Palestinian territory, Turkey, Iraq, and Iran. Like gypsy communities in Europe, historians believe the Dom are descendants of traveling performers who migrated westwards from India centuries ago. Accurate statistics are lacking; thus, the population of the Dom community in the wider MENA region is not known. While the term Dom means “man” in Domari, the local Arab population throughout the Middle East calls Dom people ’Nawar,’ which is a derogatory term associated with poor hygiene, laziness, begging, and questionable morality. The essence of this nickname conditions interactions between the Dom and non-Dom people throughout the Middle East. It prevents understanding or kinship between the Dom and other ethnic and religious groups.
Domari is the primary language spoken by the Dom Community. Working as iron smith, tinsmiths, tanners, basket makers, agriculture workers, informal dentists, circumcisers, musicians, and fortune tellers, the Dom community are not dependent on regular income or usually beneficiaries of a state welfare system or public services, with limited access to education and healthcare in most cases. Moreover, it has been observed that Dom individuals face discrimination and often receive lower wages than their Arab counterparts. Although many have managed to secure work as seasonal agricultural workers, a significant portion of the Dom community faces unemployment due to stereotypes and their traditional means of employment becoming obsolete.

 No reliable data estimates the total number of Dom living in Lebanon ever made available – nor were the Dom accounted for in any conducted Lebanese census surveys. According to an assessment by the Swiss NGO Terre des Hommes, the estimated size of the Dom population in Beirut and South Lebanon is around 3,112. In Lebanon, the Dom remain isolated from urban areas or are based near poor, marginalized areas, such as Palestinian refugee camps.
Although a 1994 Lebanese naturalization law gave the Dom community inhabiting Lebanon increased access to public services, education, and healthcare, it has been recognized that available but limited data, from the findings of the joint research report of TDH and Insan Association, that an estimated 68% of Dom children have never completed schooling. Despite the legal frameworks introduced, the wider Dom community is exposed to extreme poverty and social marginalization, with minimal access to health, education, formal employment, and adequate housing. This demonstrates that the 1994 law has yet to be implemented fully and requires further attention and regulation.
Having led a nomadic life until the mid-to-late twentieth century, the Dom population is now largely sedentary throughout the MENA – except for Syria, where migration took place once again, fleeing a now decade-long Civil War. Many of the Doms who fled from Syria live among refugee communities in informal tented settlements on the border of Lebanon. They are considered as “other” or “forgotten” refugees from Syria, mirroring the situation in the country they migrated from in their home country. This study explores the possibilities of enduring challenges of discrimination and adversity the Dom community faces, as well as their legal status and integration into the Lebanese legal system.

Citizenship Status of Nomads
in Lebanon

Impact on Dom and Bedouin Groups

 The historical context and the events described in Lebanon regarding the legal statuses of Muwatana and Jinsiyya, as well as the impact of the 1932 Census and subsequent naturalization mechanisms, are interconnected and have significant implications for citizenship and statelessness issues in the country. There is a very brief difference between the two types of legal rights mechanisms, with huge implications practically. The Muwatana represents
a legal status that grants individuals equal access to civil, political, social, and economic resources within Lebanon. It implies full citizenship rights. On the other hand, however, Jinsiyya provides little more than a legal certificate of Lebanese identity without granting the same comprehensive rights as
Muwatana. Thus becoming a point of urgent action and complete update under international laws and regulations.
Being granted Jinsiyya can have many negative implications, particularly for its female members and children. While women members have faced many difficulties, such as forced prostitution and Domestic violence, children are not given the fundamental right to education, often becoming a household income
source. A lack of an efficient legal status weakens the chances of Dom members
seeking legal rights, thus increasing crime rates. Additionally, male members of the Dom community are also prone to exploiting their labor rights, are often underpaid, and work long hours.
In observance of the various legal statuses, we can see a set of laws, decrees, and regulatory frameworks that have attempted to resolve these issues:
Presidential Decree No. 5247 (1994):
This decree was a pivotal moment in Lebanon’s citizenship policies. It granted “Jinsiyya” or citizenship to over 100,000 people, a significant number compared to country residents.
The controversial aspect of this decree was the government’s attempt to address statelessness by naturalizing individuals. However, it was seen by some as a partial or temporary solution, as it did not grant full “Muwatana” status.
The 1932 Census:
The 1932 Census played a crucial role in shaping the issue of statelessness in Lebanon. Many residents living in Lebanese territory, such as Syrian
and Palestinian refugees and Dom and Bedouin groups, were excluded from the census. Those excluded from the census were classified as having “undetermined nationality,” which rendered them stateless on legal grounds.


 Dom and Bedouin groups were particularly affected by the 1932 Census and subsequent citizenship policies. They could not meet the residency requirements stipulated by Decree number 8837, which hindered their inclusion as Lebanese citizens. In the 1994 naturalization mechanism, many of these groups had an opportunity to acquire Lebanese citizenship, thus resolving their statelessness issues.
In summary, the connection between these events lies in Lebanon’s complex history of citizenship and statelessness. The distinction between Muwatana and

Jinsiyya, the 1932 Census, and the 1994 naturalization mechanism all contribute to understanding the evolving legal status of individuals within the country, particularly those previously stateless or excluded from full citizenship rights. The government’s efforts to address these issues have been met with controversy and have evolved to include more people under the umbrella of Lebanese citizenship.


Limited Legal Status Refugees and Asylum Seekers in Lebanon and Akkar District

 Lebanon is not a signatory to the UN 1951 Refugee Convention; hence, refugees and asylum seekers in Lebanon do not possess legal documentation and protection and cannot apply for citizenship in Lebanon. The registration of Syrian refugees by UNHCR in Lebanon was suspended by the Government in 2015. While UNHCR continues to update data on the previously registered population, it also advocates resuming registration activities to manage needs and responses in Lebanon better. For asylum-seekers with nationalities other
than Syrian, UNHCR continues to conduct refugee status determination (RSD) to identify international protection needs and durable solutions.
In particular, UNHCR and Siren Associates initiated a mapping of statelessness in the Akkar District. This study found that 71% of the stateless individuals identified in Akkar have Bedouin or Dom origins, the only two minorities in Lebanon with nomadic roots. Consequently, these groups are at a higher risk
of statelessness. The demographic mapping conducted during the research estimated that approximately 850 stateless persons with Dom origins constitute at least 24% of Akkar’s stateless population.
The Syrian Dom communities in Lebanon face significant challenges regarding their legal status, often being either stateless or possessing limited legal recognition throughout the country. Consequently, their access to fundamental services, employment opportunities, and the ability to register births with UNHCR is greatly restricted, mirroring the legal status difficulties experienced by other Syrian refugees in Lebanon.

INTRODUCTION

 The Dom community is one of many marginalized minority groups in

Lebanon. After the civil war in Syria, the Dom community of Syria migrated to Lebanon. The Syrian Dom community mainly obtained the status of ‘asylum seekers’ or ‘refugee’ in Lebanon while resettling into the Lebanese Dom settlements or as Palestinian refugees. Several also established informal camp- based settings, primarily in the North of Lebanon, close to the Syrian border and among the Syrian Dom community in Tripoli, Sidon, Beirut, the Bekaa Valley, and Jubayl.
The Dom community, including the current refugee Dom community in Lebanon, has faced severe socio-economic inequalities such as accessing appropriate shelter, clean water, decent job opportunities, education, and health services due to their lifestyle, legal status, and ethnic identity in Lebanon.
While Dom people are subjected to discrimination, the challenges for women are far more severe than men as traditional gender roles and practices have led to gender discrimination and often push them to the margins of their societies. Like Romani women in Europe, Dom women face the additional burdens of sexism due to their ethnic identity. In Lebanon, they are often employed as dancers or resort to begging on the streets. Certain customs and traditions are degrading
to Dom’s women within Dom’s society. In Arab cultures, the Dom community is often stigmatized as embodying unacceptable qualities for women. While
conventional notions of femininity for Arab women emphasize traits like privacy, modesty, and decency, the term ‘Nawarriya’ (referring to woman ‘Nawar’) is used to label Dom women as ‘promiscuous,’ sexually available, and lacking in shame. As anthropologist Bochi sheds light on the sexual objectification of Dom women, attributing it to their line of work, which typically involves activities like begging and dancing. These occupations thrust the woman’s body into the public gaze, contributing to the negative perceptions surrounding them. These practices have a forceful tendency and often put these women in a humiliating position, according to The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), adopted in 1979 by the UN General Assembly.
Moreover, the woman movement is restricted as Dom communities generally believe in traditional roles for men and women, with men as head of the household and women occupying Domestic positions. Although Dom women engage in family income-generating activities, often working in agriculture and farming, within Dom households, men usually have total control of the allocation of financial resources despite women’s contribution. Furthermore, when Dom women attempt to enter employment, they face several barriers to accessing fair jobs. They are often paid less than men, taking minimum, below minimum, or daily rate jobs. Surveyed Dom women participants often reported that employers do not like to hire Dom women due to the lack of literacy skills and specialized sectoral skills required by employees. Furthermore, employers are often distrustful of Dom people, influenced by prevalent stereotypes that depict them as thieves who lack etiquette.
Dom women are highly susceptible to forced prostitution, trafficking, abuse, violence, early marriage, and pregnancy, making them a highly vulnerable component of Lebanese society. Moreover, most Surveyed Syrian Dom participants reported they were stateless and lacked legal documentation in Lebanon. According to a prior study, Lebanese Dom people usually hold Lebanese nationality. However, Palestinian and Syrian Dom members predominantly reside in Lebanon without official identification documents, including (non-ID, UN Refugee Status Cards ).
Regardless of status, reports and case studies on gender discrimination, needs, and women’s issues in the Dom community are highly under-researched.
Lebanese Developers conducted this pilot study to increase awareness of protection risks facing women and identify the barriers to Dom women when accessing fair labor and employment. Lebanese Developers also hopes to identify the pressing needs of Dom women and provide an exploration of gender norms within the Dom community in the Akkar district (where the only surveys were held) as well as other parts of Lebanon. Furthermore, it strengthens the organizational understanding of barriers and obstacles of gender norms in the Dom community.
This report further highlights the importance of extensive research on gender norms, socio-economic evaluations, and protection concerns among Dom women and girls in Lebanon’s Akkar district and other parts of Lebanon. It also intends to present findings and recommendations to stakeholders to develop comprehensive social inclusion strategies to empower marginalized Dom women throughout Lebanon and the wider MENA region.
Lebanese Developers has recently undertaken a small-scale livelihood initiative to empower 40 women beneficiaries through an environmental project funded by Beyond Plastic Med and the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation in the Akkar district. The organization directly oversees the project’s specific activities. The project’s objective is to combat plastic pollution in the Lebanese sea and shoreline and raise awareness among fishermen about the hazards of plastic.
The project also involves recycling plastic waste in the port of Abdeh-Akkar. Within the project’s framework, all beneficiaries have conducted awareness- raising initiatives for fishermen in their area. Lebanese Developers has extensive programming that focuses on the Dom community and possesses unique knowledge and experience about the protection risks and gender norms within the community.
This initial research includes project beneficiaries and Dom women living in the Dom informal camp-based settlement. This report follows a structured format, concluding with recommendations for specific actions to be formulated using empirical data gathered in the field.

SCOPE AND METHODOLOGY

 The research utilized a mixed-method approach consisting of qualitative and quantitative data collection methods. Lebanese Developers (LD) and the research team developed the data collection tools, and one woman researcher collected primary and secondary data to interpret the main findings. Data analysis was conducted by researchers, protection experts, and LD staff.
The Dom community, being semi-nomadic and tightly-knit, is largely inaccessible. Thus, surveyed participants were identified through the Lebanese Developers Organization’s networks in the community. Surveyed participants were selected from LD’s ongoing and former project beneficiaries for this pilot research.
The primary data collection encompassed 40 surveys conducted with Dom women, three focus group discussions involving 15 Dom women who were beneficiaries of the project, one focus group with 5 Dom men, and four key informant interviews featuring LD’s staff (2) and two protection experts from different organizations. Due to a lack of research and information about the Dom community in Lebanon, a secondary desk review was also conducted.
Data collection occurred over four days between July 25th and July 29th, 2023. The methodological approach adhered to a rights-based framework and the ‘Do No Harm’ principle throughout the pilot research’s implementation. Sensitive questionnaires addressing forms of abuse were utilized, and open-ended questions/Survey Participants were provided information on the aims of the pilot research and filled out a consent form before project activities. Due to a lack of literacy skills among surveyed Dom women, the consent form was explained to them by the researcher.
Delving into specific details or further clarifications about types of abuse was intentionally avoided to prevent the inadvertent resurgence of traumatic experiences among participants.
It’s important to note that the findings do not represent the entire Dom population
of the country.


Key Informant Interviews (KII)

 Four Key Informant Interviews featuring Lebanese Developers’ staff and two protection experts from different local organizations were conducted. The gender and sector segregation of KIIs is shown in Table 1.

Table 1. Number of Key Informant Interviews according to the sector and gender


Number Gender Sector
1 Man Livelihood
1 Woman Livelihood
2 Women Protection

Survey

Focus Group Discussion (FGD)
Social and Economic Background of the Surveys / FGDs’ Participants

 Individual surveys were carried out with 40 females aged between 16 and 55: 22 Dom women were married, eight were single, and the remaining ten comprised adolescent respondents (Table 2). None of the participants stated that they had any disability.

Table 2. Distribution of the female surveys according to the age range and marital status

Number of Participants Age Range Marital status
10 35-55 10 married
10 25-34 10 married
10 19-24 2 married, 8 Single
10 13-18 10 single


 Four focus group discussions took place, comprising 5 participants per session. In each FGD, adolescent girls, women, and men were segregated according to gender and age (Table 3).
Three FGDs targeted women, whereas the 4th targeted men in the same camp.

Table 3. Distribution of Focus Group participants according to gender and age range.

Number of Participants for FGDs Gender Age Range
5 Female 26-35
5 Female 19-25
5 Female 13-18
5 Male 30-55


 Education-Literacy
All participants indicated they needed literacy skills and were not enrolled in Lebanon or Syria’s formal or informal educational systems.
 ID type
Beneficiaries relayed that they were not formally registered as refugees or asylum seekers in Lebanon. All participants originated from Syria and possess no identification documents in Lebanon.

Types of Income Generation Activities in Syria and Akkar

 The Dom1, often commonly known as the gypsy communities in the MENA region, endeavor to preserve their peripatetic way of life, which includes various occupations such as craftsmanship and waste collection, to varying degrees
in different countries.” Especially in countries like Jordan, the existence of the nomadic Bedouin/ Bedewi Arabs allowed room for some Dom communities still maintaining nomadic life as traveling ironsmiths, musicians, and traditional dentists. Most of the community adapted to new professions and markets, working as seasonal agricultural workers or engaging in small trade between countries. For instance, before the Syrian Civil War, Syrian Dom communities traveled between the Syrian-Lebanese borders to work as agricultural or daily workers in the Lebanese market.
Simultaneously, Lebanese and Palestinian Dom communities traveled to Syria relatively easily for daily-basis jobs (agriculture, musicians, dancers). Dom men worked as agricultural workers or informal dentists without official diplomas, and Dom women were also involved in the agriculture sector inside Syria. According to surveyed participants, Dom men primarily began working as shoe cleaners and beggars after migrating to Lebanon. Dom women also found employment as beggars, cleaners, or dancers in private parties.
According to focus group discussions with male participants, Syria offered job opportunities before the war due to its expansive agricultural sector.
However, Dom men have needed more job opportunities after moving to Lebanon. Lebanese agricultural employers preferred hiring Syrian refugees who possessed specialist skills in agriculture rather than Dom men who lacked this specialization, creating a barrier to Dom people in the farming sector in Akkar District.
Additionally, the Syrian Dom Community in the Akkar District lacks legal identification or refugee status, which poses additional hurdles when they attempt to access or assert their legal rights. With a tendency to exploit this situation, some employers withhold salaries from Dom Community members. The Syrian Dom people cannot file complaints or pursue their legal rights due to fear of deportation by Lebanese authorities.
Discussions with respondents revealed that Dom individuals need consistent family income or monthly wages. As a result, they are usually forced to beg to meet their household needs. Dom members’ income ranges between 10000LL and 50000LL daily, respectively, equivalent to 0.1 and 0.5 cents in $US according to exchange rates in 2023. Their lack of adequate income has been exacerbated by Lebanon’s economic crisis, which has diminished their small income.
Lebanon’s compounded socio-economic and health crisis has hit vulnerable Lebanese and refugee families the hardest. Preliminary findings from the 2021 Vulnerability Assessment of Syrian Refugees in Lebanon (VASyR) reveal a dire situation, with nine out of ten Syrian refugees still living in extreme poverty. In 2021, most refugees continued to resort to negative coping strategies to survive, such as begging, borrowing money, not sending their children to school, reducing health expenses, or not paying rent. This predicament poses a challenge for both
(http://www.kirkayak.org/download/discrimination-isolation-and-social-exclusion-syrian-Dom-asylum-
seekers-in-the-crossfire/)

Dom and non-Dom Syrian refugees. This challenge arises from the fact that the Dom society can not generate as much income in the begging sector as before, given the increased participation of Syrian refugees2.


Limitation of Pilot Research

 A significant limitation of this research study was the need for more women- friendly safe spaces in informal tented settlements. Moreover, when women participants were asked questions centered around protection and Gender Based Violence (GBV), many did not feel comfortable responding openly in their setting, preferring to provide their responses outside their settlements for fear of retribution from other community members. Thus, all interviews were conducted under challenging circumstances, making it hard to form a complete picture of gender norms within their community.

Lebanon’s compounded socio-economic and health crisis has hit the most vulnerable Lebanese and refugee families the hardest, The preliminary findings of the 2021 Vulnerability Assessment of Syrian Refugees in Lebanon (VASyR), released today, reveal a dire situation, with nine out of ten Syrian refugees still living in extreme poverty.

1
Summary

 This pilot research has found severe gender empowerment, economic, education, protection, and psycho-social needs for Dom women and men in the Akkar district. The study is based on the key research questions centered around challenges that Dom women and girls face and the main barriers to accessing decent jobs for women and adolescent girls. The research questions are listed below:


1.1 Key Findings
 The absence of legal recognition for the Dom people in Lebanon presents significant obstacles, preventing them from requesting their legal and labor rights out of fear of potential retaliation from their employers.
 All surveyed Dom individuals, including women, men, and adolescent girls, have difficulties accessing essential services such as legal aid, protection assistance, electricity, and clean water. Access to basic necessities like sanitary products and appropriate clothing is also limited for women and adolescent girls.
 Key informant interviews highlighted the importance of creating livelihood opportunities, implementing literacy programs for Dom women and men, and providing skill development training for both genders as crucial steps to empower the Dom community in Akkar district.
 Dom women live with feelings of insecurity both within and outside informal camp-based settlements. They often experience harassment or violence from employers, customers, and men within their society while working outside their homes or in these informal settings.
 Dom women and adolescent girls have limited knowledge regarding the definition of physical violence, other types of gender-based violence (GBV), and various forms of aggression. Consequently, their awareness of their rights and entitlements is also restricted.
 In the informal camp-based settings of the Dom community, there is

a marked absence of designated spaces for women. Many female beneficiaries report nighttime bathroom access as risky due to the lack of electricity, leading most to use facilities only during daylight hours.
 Surveyed Dom women revealed that their children face various forms of abuse within and outside their settlements. It is strongly recommended that a comprehensive child protection study be conducted involving Dom adults and children in the Akkar district to facilitate the implementation of appropriate psycho-social support and mental health services.


2
Being a Dom and Refugee

 Northern Lebanon comprises the North and Akkar governorates and is one of the most deprived regions. “Out of a population of 1.164 million people, 532,000 live in poverty: 341,000 of these are Lebanese alongside 140,000 Syrian refugees, and 51,000 Palestinian refugees as well as 150,000 stateless or unregistered persons. Akkar is also home to many Dom families living under challenging conditions, with many residents being denied their fundamental
rights for decades. Adding to the traditional hardships, the recent financial crisis,

Woman in Akkar

the COVID-19 pandemic, and the impact of the August 4 Beirut Blast have

contributed to a massive deterioration in socio-economic conditions.
Syrian refugee women and girls feel this the most and continue to face pervasive and systematic gender inequality in Lebanon, alongside economic burdens.
This inequality has resulted in limited access to resources, services, and opportunities, exposing them to higher risks of violence, abuse, and exploitation across Lebanon. Likewise, Dom women also face similar inequalities due to their status as an ethnic minority, lack of legal status, and employment as street dancers, further contributing to their marginalization.

2.1 Marriage in the Dom Community
 Combining various factors such as discrimination, job scarcity, deep poverty, and economic crises increases the susceptibility of Dom women and girls to social exclusion, exploitation, human trafficking, and violence.
Additionally, traditional family roles further contribute to their social exclusion. Although polygamous and early and forced marriages weren’t strongly evident during researchers’ visits, further investigation must be conducted on this matter.
Based on focus group discussions (FGDs) with women participants, marriage is considered obligatory in Dom society. While some Dom women and adolescent girls may resist marriage, they generally face pressure to marry within their community and among their relatives. FGDs with male participants also reinforced this viewpoint.
The belief that sexual maturity threatens a girl’s virginity is a driving force behind early marriages in the Dom community, as attested by both men and women during FGD discussions. Consequently, early and child marriages, coupled with early pregnancies, continue to be prevalent among Dom girls and boys.

3
Gender-Based
Violence, Protection Risks Among Dom Women, Adolescent
Girls and Children

3.1 Physical Violence
 The most common types of GBV in Lebanon appear to be Domestic violence and Intimate Partner Violence( IPV); some estimates suggest rates of Domestic violence are as high as one in three households, and an estimated one in two individuals know someone subjected to Domestic violence. Among families reported in the MSNA that women and girls feel unsafe in their community, approximately 5% indicated that they feel unsafe in their homes3.
In particular, TDH (Terre des Hommes) and the Insan Association conducted a comprehensive research study on the Dom community and their children in Lebanon; this research yielded findings related to GBV and protection risks experienced by Dom children in Lebanon. However, there is a lack of specific and detailed studies or research focusing on gender-based violence and the
ensuing protection risks experienced by Dom women and children in Lebanon. This absence of research makes it challenging to obtain accurate data regarding the prevalence of GBV within the Dom and refugee communities.

3.2 Understanding of Gender-Based Violence
 While conducting the survey, their knowledge and understanding of Gender- Based Violence, 30% of married surveyed Dom women aged 20-25 reported that they do not possess any information about the definition of GBV and could not identify its typology. Additionally, only 40% of married Dom women aged 20-30 recognized physical beating as a form of GBV. 60% of married Dom women aged 30-35 lacked knowledge about GBV typology. All Adolescent Dom girls aged
15-18 identified only physical violence as GBV but weren’t clear on its typology,
including whether beating was considered GBV.

3.3 Gender-Based Violence Experience
When asked if they had directly experienced GBV, all Dom women and adolescent girls faced physical violence from their husbands or other men on the streets when working.

3.4 Sexual Violence
Civil society representatives in Lebanon confirm that sexual violence is pervasive and consistent, with some instances being particularly prevalent in camps and overcrowded spaces, where tensions can escalate (). Prior research by Plan International reveals that adolescent girls and young women frequently encounter catcalling, stalking, inappropriate touching, and rape in public spaces. Consequently, they often avoid walking alone or at night, voluntarily or due to family restrictions. Furthermore, the data from UN Women and OCHA’s Multi- Sector Needs Assessment (MSNA), conducted in regions including Akkar, North, Baalbek-El-Hermel, Mount Lebanon, and the South, reveals that one out of every

(3 https://reliefweb.int/report/lebanon/gender-based-violence-lebanon-secondary-data-review-2018-2022-
january-2023)

three households expressed worries about the safety of women, particularly in the Akkar district. About 49% of households mention that women and girls avoid specific areas due to safety concerns in the Akkar district.
Echoing those findings, all Dom women and adolescent girl participants revealed that they feel unsafe in the Akkar district. Moreover, all women participants disclosed that they had encountered incidents of sexual assault and harassment both within their camp-based settlement and on the streets of the Akkar District.”
One Dom woman participant also stated that:
“We constantly feel unsafe everywhere in the Akkar district as men often try to exploit us.” Dom woman, Akkar district.

3.5 Commercial Sexual Exploitation & Prostitution
According to the 2023 Trafficking in Persons Report, adults and children among Lebanon’s estimated 1.5 million Syrian refugees are at high risk of sex and labor trafficking. Additionally, Restrictions on Syrians’ ability to work legally in
Lebanon and the enforcement of residency permit laws increase this population’s vulnerability to trafficking. The Dom community faces a heightened risk of human trafficking due to their limited access to job opportunities and legal protections. Dom women and adolescent girls who participate in street dancing and begging find themselves in precarious environments, exposing them to the grave risks of forced prostitution and commercial sexual exploitation. To address these concerns within the Dom community, it is imperative to conduct thorough research with the involvement of specialized experts, delving into the complex issues of forced prostitution and commercial sexual exploitation among Dom women and children. No available data provides information on the number of Dom women and adolescent girls involved in the sex industry in Lebanon.
In this pilot research, in alignment with the ‘Do no harm principles,’ it is crucial to understand the difficulties encountered by women engaged in street dancing and the motivations behind their choice to work as a dancer. This knowledge
is fundamental for comprehending the complexities of forced prostitution and commercial sexual exploitation within the Dom community studied. In this section, separate questionnaires were asked to Dom women and adolescent girls engaged in dancing in private parties.
Dancer Demographic Information
Among individuals aged 18-35, 12 Dom women (35% of the total surveyed participants) were involved in street dancing. In the group of surveyed girls aged 16-18, 8 Dom individuals (20% of the total surveyed participants) worked as dancers and beggars on the streets.

3.6 Involuntary Work: Dom Women Dancing in Private Parties
All Dom woman dancers reported that their family members compel them to dance at private parties, even when they do not wish to. They also endure physical abuse if they refuse.
Regarding inquiries about the difficulties female dancers face when discussing these issues with other women who do not dance, 30% of Dom women admitted they lacked awareness of the challenges dancer women face. Additionally, 40% of Dom women expressed that dancer women are coerced into performing
in public spaces due to the absence of rights allowing them to decline such engagements.” 30% of Dom women did not prefer to answer this question.
All woman Dom dancers also disclosed that they must work daily in specific locations within the Akkar district, which is exhausting and offers them no respite or breaks from their relentless work schedule. Dancer women also reported being fully responsible for all main household tasks and caring for their children simultaneously.

3.7 Forced Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Adults
All Dom women who work as dancers revealed that they are forced into prostitution by family members or community leaders. This coercion stemmed from a lack of employment opportunities for both Dom women and men and the pressing issue of insufficient monthly income. These factors pushed them into engaging in prostitution while pursuing their private dancing activities in the Akkar District. In addition, all Dom dancer women, including adolescent girls, reported feeling compelled to dance even during their menstrual periods or having poor health conditions. Additionally, many women who resisted this pressure revealed that they eventually yielded, often due to social and physical forces exerted by men within their communities.”
One participant, an adolescent girl (16 years old), reported, “We sometimes wish we weren’t considered beautiful, as we bear the burdens associated with our beauty while working as dancers because men do not want to sit and watch us while dancing.”

3.8 Commercial Sexual Exploitation (CSE) of Children
As mentioned previously, in addition to examining the risks and experiences of forced commercial sexual exploitation among Dom children in Lebanon, international humanitarian aid organizations like “Terre Des Hommes”, in
collaboration with the “Insan Association”, conducted a comprehensive research study on protection risks faced by Dom children throughout Lebanon in 2011.
While various publications by international and civil society organizations have highlighted challenges affecting stateless communities, including the Dom community, and issues concerning children’s health being, it remains imperative to expand the scope of research to undertake a comprehensive study specifically focused on Commercial Sexual Exploitation (CSE) within the Dom Community.

This is especially crucial in Lebanon’s escalating economic crisis and the aftermath of the Beirut explosion, as during this research, eight women reported distressing instances during interviews where their daughters were coerced into engaging in sexual activities with adults on the streets.

3.9 Lack of Inclusion in Decision-Making and Socio-Economic Violence
Dom women and girls frequently need inclusion in household consultations and decision-making. Dom men and societal leaders often determine family income- generating activities, while financial control remains exclusively with Dom men. Dancer women and girls report not receiving any income; FGD discussions with women and adolescent girl participants reveal that they are obliged to give their earnings to husbands or fathers. Sometimes, they keep a small amount for
personal needs without informing men, risking violent retaliation. All (100%) Men FGD participants admit hiding financial information from women and retaining control over their earnings.
Dom women face a complex interplay of discrimination, limited opportunities, gender norms, and lack of financial autonomy, placing them in vulnerable positions within their communities.

3.10 Lack of electricity creates a safeguarding problem for Dom women and adolescent girls in their informal tented settlements
The energy crisis in Lebanon has escalated dramatically since the devastating Beirut port explosions in 2020 and the subsequent economic collapse. It has now surpassed the severity experienced during the initial years of the civil war in the 1970s4. The crisis is especially dire in informal settlements where Syrian refugees have taken shelter. Residents depend on solar panel systems in these settlements to meet their electricity requirements. However, acquiring these systems presents a significant challenge due to their limited availability and high costs, making it difficult for them to cover their electricity expenses. Among these settlements,
the Dom refugee camp-based communities are significantly affected. The Dom community faces difficulties covering their electricity costs due to low incomes and meager wages. Consequently, Dom refugees in these areas lack access to dependable electricity and cannot afford solar panels to meet their energy
needs. This absence of lighting and private toilets raises serious safety concerns, especially for Dom women and children who reside in these areas.
According to FGDs with women and adolescent girls, the absence of electricity in the camps and the lack of private toilets present a significant challenge. Many of them cannot access toilets or meet sanitary needs during nighttime hours, and this lack of access makes them feel unsafe. Consequently, they must wait until
morning to use the restrooms, as leaving their homes at night puts them at risk of sexual assault.

Although Dom women and adolescent girls are aware of challenges in their life, they do not have knowledge on how to access services or their legal rights. As Dom women and adolescent girls predominantly work as beggars and dancers they further lack knowledge on how best to protect themselves. All surveyed Dom women and adolescent girls revealed that they have limited information about existing services and programs for seeking assistance.

4.1 Understanding Gender Norms in the Dom Society is Essential
Limited studies and programs currently exist that explore family roles, gender norms, and the patriarchal order within Dom’s society. Consequently, comprehending the barriers hindering the empowerment of Dom women
becomes essential when formulating appropriate strategies for empowerment through relevant institutions. It is crucial to initiate specialized research on gender norms and family roles within the Dom community.
Currently, there is a lack of awareness among Dom men about prevailing gender norms. Many erroneously believe that Dom men possess the privilege to exert control over Dom women in all aspects of life. Surveys conducted among Dom women have revealed instances where male heads of households compel them to undertake involuntary jobs. Hence, targeting and involving Dom men and boys in women’s empowerment programs and services is imperative to enhance gender equality within Dom society.
According to Key Informants (KII) statements, ‘Our project provided financial management training (FMT) for Dom women to manage their households, some nutrition awareness and livelihood activities. However, after distributing some unrestricted cash to Dom women, their husbands took control of the money, highlighting the dominance of Dom men over financial resources. We know that including Dom men in women’s empowerment activities is crucial.
This helped us recognize that Dom men lack awareness of Dom women’s
experiences and the gender norms affecting them.”

4.2 Having Specialized Skills and Combating Stereotypes Against the Dom Community are Key for
Economic Empowerment
Regarding the economic empowerment of Dom women in the Akkar district, it is noteworthy that all Dom women expressed a common need: access to literacy and livelihood activities that can lead to decent job opportunities. The survey findings indicate that these women and girls possess limited literacy skills and lack specialized skills such as carpentry, computer usage, business management, and money management skills. These skill gaps and their
association with the Dom community present significant barriers to accessing decent employment opportunities. All Dom women, men, and adolescent girls surveyed have reported that employers disrespect them due to their ethnic identity. As a result, they often face difficulties in securing employment.

A third (KII) stated:”We aim to train Dom women to access job opportunities across Akkar province. Recently, we trained 40 Dom women to provide awareness sessions to fishermen on reducing plastics in the sea and coast. However, resistance from some fishermen due to the community’s lack of recognition hindered the efforts, and they refused to participate and receive any awareness sessions from Dom women because they don’t respect Dom society because of their ethnic identity”.

4.3 Lack of Awareness of and Access to Services in Akkar
According to OCHA’s report, many humanitarian actors operate in the North and Akkar, particularly in health, shelter, water, social stability and livelihoods, education, protection, and basic assistance. Both Dom men and women indicated their lack of knowledge about the services available in the Akkar district. They stated that when they encounter issues, they usually reach out to
the Lebanese Developers organization for assistance, primarily because of their established and trustworthy relationship with the organization. Therefore, it is crucial to expand the outreach activities of service providers, including reaching out to the Dom informal camp-based settlements.
According to KII, ‘’While some organizations aim to provide clean water assistance to the Dom community in Akkar district, their support remains limited. Our organization actively seeks to connect Dom women, in particular, with healthcare facilities operated by other organizations to provide support.

4.4 Establishing a Relationship of Trust is Important
Building trust poses a significant challenge when implementing projects within the closed Dom community, with differences among Dom groups further complicating matters. Some Dom communities in Lebanon outright reject participation in any programs or projects. This unwillingness hinders numerous local and international organizations from effectively engaging with the Dom community, primarily due to a need to understand how to reach them. To overcome these barriers and promote inclusivity in projects involving the Dom community, it’s crucial to establish a social behavior change strategy.
This strategy should include working closely with Dom community leaders and mapping their settlements. By addressing stereotypes and establishing trust, relevant actors can ensure that outreach activities are successful and avoid victimizing the Dom community.



RECOMMENDATIONS

 Research and case studies on the Dom society in Lebanon need to be expanded, highlighting the need for more specialized research. Such studies should delve into various aspects, including but not limited to gender norms, family roles, gender-based violence (GBV), and early and forced marriage within their community. These studies are crucial to gaining a deeper understanding of the challenges that hinder the integration of
Dom women and adolescent girls into humanitarian and social inclusion programs. Therefore, there is a pressing need to expand research efforts into the gender norms prevalent within the Dom society.
 Humanitarian organizations should conduct a multi-sector needs assessment (MSNA) to understand how the Dom society’s essential needs, such as accessing electricity and clean water, could be met by relevant stakeholders and assess how their needs differ from the broader community.
 In terms of eliminating harassment or abusive behavior against Dom children, implementing child safeguarding and child protection activities play crucial roles in the Dom informal camp-based settings; child protection organizations and networks could also extend their activities and services in the Dom community.
 Gender empowerment projects and programs should be designed to encompass and engage Dom men. By involving Dom men in these initiatives, there is an opportunity to facilitate a shift in their perspectives
regarding gender norms within their communities. This inclusive approach can contribute significantly to promoting gender equality and challenging traditional gender roles within the community.
 Local organizations and relevant stakeholders should expand their awareness-raising activities targeting Dom communities and provide legal and protection assistance to Dom society. Thus, Dom society could be aware of existing services in the Akkar district.
 International humanitarian organizations should actively seek cooperation and collaboration with local organizations that have established networks within Dom society. This approach would enable INGOs to effectively engage with the Dom community, establish trust, and build meaningful relationships with their target audience.
 NGOs and INGOs can expand their outreach and information dissemination efforts by explicitly targeting the Dom community. This proactive approach ensures that the Dom community has a better chance of being informed about the existing programs and opportunities available to them.
 Dom women and girls do not have any access to women-friendly spaces, including Sexual Reproductive Health Services(SRH), inside and outside of informal camp-based settings. International and national women’s rights organizations could include Dom women and adolescent girls in their women-friendly space activities across the Akkar district or establish
women-friendly space areas in Dom informal camp-based settlement areas.
 Local and International Human rights organizations should extend their evidence-based advocacy activities to include the Dom community in their programming.
 Gender studies, relevant university institutions, and women’s rights organizations should include Dom women and adolescent girls in their research, including Dom women with disabilities visibility.
 Dom women and adolescent girls who are forced into activities such as dancing and prostitution require access to mental health support from various institutions.
 There is no knowledge of access to Sexual Reproductive Health Services( SRH) by Dom women and adolescent girls in the Akkar district. Therefore, it is essential to conduct thorough research on their accessibility to SRH services and the subsequent provision of additional appropriate services to Dom Community.
 Service providers could develop special livelihood activities and strategies for Dom women and men to increase the accessibility of decent and fair job opportunities in the Akkar region.



CONCLUSION

The results of this pilot research have revealed pressing gender empowerment, economic, educational, protection, and psycho-social needs within the Dom community, covering both women and men residing in the Akkar district. This study strategically aimed at understanding the countless challenges faced by Dom women and girls and identifying the primary barriers hindering their access to decent employment opportunities. This preliminary investigation inclusively involved Dom women and men residing in the Dom informal tented settlement. The resulting report is meticulously structured, concluding in a set of actionable recommendations based on practical data collected directly from the field.
It is crucial to underline that while these findings provide valuable insights into the specific needs of the Dom population in the Akkar district, they do not represent the entirety of the Dom community across the country. Therefore, there is a urgent call for further, in-depth studies, with a particular focus on the
Dom population, especially women and children, to gain a more comprehensive understanding of their unique challenges and needs, ultimately informing targeted interventions and policies to address these pressing issues effectively.


24 PILOT RESEARCH ON PROTECTION RISKS OF DOM REFUGEE WOMEN IN AKKAR/LEBANON

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