To the Minister of Labor: We Urge you to End this Mistake

The Ministry of Labor has worked covertly, in coordination with owners of recruitment agencies, on a draft Standard Unified Contract and has excluded from the discussions the domestic workers and the NGOs who have a long experience in this context.

Urgent Action Needed to Hold the Kenyan Consulate in Lebanon Accountable to Kenyan Citizens in the Country

Since the 6th of January 2022, Kenyan women have been holding a sit-in along with protests in front of their Consulate in Lebanon, demanding repatriation and adequate support from the Consular Staff.

Lebanon Civil Society Submission to the 104th Session of the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination

The Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) commenced its 104th session on August 9, 2021 for which the Lebanese delegation submitted a report that veers off-topic in most sections.

No Herd Immunity Without Vaccines for Migrant Workers

Whose life matters and whose life is expendable? Who gets to cut the queue and who can be made to wait an indefinite period of time? Whose work is valued and whose labor is erased and made invisible?

Sri Lankan Workers Trapped in Lebanon, Cannot Afford Repatriation

The following letter was sent by the Anti-Racism Movement and 60 organizations (list of signatories at the end) and collectives in Lebanon and Sri Lanka to urge the Sri Lankan government to fund the evaluation of all Sri Lankan workers stranded in Lebanon under a worsening economic crisis.

Statement Of “My Work My Rights” Network On The Standard Unified Contract

The Ministry of Labor issued a new Standard Unified Contract (SUC) for migrant domestic workers, in collaboration with the International Labor Organization (ILO).

Anti-Racism Movement

Working with migrants for racial, labor, and gender justice in Lebanon.

About ARM

Anti-Racism Movement (ARM)

The Anti-Racism Movement (ARM) was launched in 2010 as a grassroots collective by young Lebanese feminist activists in collaboration with migrant workers and migrant domestic workers, following a racist incident at one of Beirut’s most well-known private beach resorts (Sporting Club).

ARM activists, using a hidden camera, filmed the administration’s blatant acts of discrimination and segregation. The video quickly spread online, and ARM’s efforts to bring this issue to light were lauded by many. Interest grew in this small volunteer-based movement, members increased, and our projects grew in scope and scale. In 2012, ARM became a registered NGO with full and part-time staff in order to increase its capacity to carry out more projects to fight racist discrimination and abuse in Lebanon.

Building on our philosophy that recognizes the importance of community-building work, ARM created the Migrant Community Centers (MCCs) which grew from one small center in 2011 in Beirut to centers in three major cities by 2016, in addition to a Sunday educational space.

Get In Touch

(+961) 01 - 788 - 025

About MCC

Migrant Community Center

In 2011, ARM established the Migrant Community Centers (MCC) where migrant workers meet, organize, build alliances, and access information, resources, and direct assistance. MCC’s mission is to improve the quality of life of migrant workers, build their capacity to self-advocate and fight for their rights, and to contribute to a strong and powerful migrant community with women as leaders of change.

The spaces are centered around the needs of the migrant community (especially women migrant domestic workers) and serve as a hub for WMDW-led initiatives, advocacy, and activism. Up until 2020, MCC operated awareness, education, capacity-building, and community-building programs, which were either suspended or transitioned online after the centers were closed due to Covid-19.

Our News

Advocacy

One of the main focus areas since ARM was founded has been advocating on the ground with migrant workers and migrant domestic workers against the Kafala (Sponsorship) system. Our advocacy efforts and campaigns often complement our casework and aim to both react to urgent issues impacting migrants and address long-term matters that need to change in order to bring about radical and systemic change and justice for migrants.

Over the years, ARM organized several campaigns both online and offline, calling for the abolishment of Kafala, for reversing racist policies targeting migrants and refugees, and aiming to instigate societal change alongside migrant activists, MCC members, and non-migrant allies such as Lebanese activists and organizers and alternative media and journalists.

To inquire about this statement and the context, contact us at media@armlebanon.org Or fill out this form.

Our Casework

Casework

ARM casework team provides case management to migrant workers facing labor violations (unpaid wages, exploitative working conditions, violence from employer/sponsor/agency), forced labor, trafficking, legal status issues and asylum claims.

The casework team’s primary role is to support migrant workers in accessing necessary information and resources, through direct legal interventions (administrative, filing complaints before relevant entities, trial) or providing legal information. For other types of needs, ARM works in collaboration with a number of NGOs that provide GBV, health, mental health, shelter and legal support to migrant workers. When needed, referrals to embassies, consulates and governmental institutions are facilitated.

Our News

Advocacy

Every Friday, we publish a comprehensive weekly roundup of all events and media coverage related to migrants and refugees. The news reports are also posted on our social media channels, and sent to journalists and allies by email.

Abolish Kafala

To the Minister of Labor: We Urge you to End this Mistake

The Ministry of Labor has worked covertly, in coordination with owners of recruitment agencies, on a draft Standard Unified...

Case Advocacy

Urgent Action Needed to Hold the Kenyan Consulate in Lebanon Accountable to Kenyan Citizens in the Country

Since the 6th of January 2022, Kenyan women have been holding a sit-in along with protests in front of...

General Advocacy

Lebanon Civil Society Submission to the 104th Session of the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination

The Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) commenced its 104th session on August 9, 2021 for which...

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OurNews

News

Our media monitoring efforts complement our advocacy work for the purpose of spreading accurate information on migrant workers and refugees to tackle misinformation, and to shift the dominant discourse that either portrays them either as helpless victims with no agency or demonizes them in scapegoating campaigns under Lebanon’s ongoing crisis.

Our communication work to that end entails giving interviews alongside MCC members to the media and to researchers, publishing a weekly news report that rounds up everything related to migrants and refugees, as well as a regular Racism Monitor in collaboration with MCC members and Akhbar Alsaha.

We strongly believe in the power of migrants to tell their own stories and influence the dominant narratives themselves.