Lebanese Red Cross member in Beirut, Lebanon. (Credit: redcross.org.lb)
BEIRUT — Several social media users are circulating a photo of a member of the Lebanese Red Cross (LRC) whom they allege is a harasser and are urging his victims to file a complaint.
LRC issued a statement Wednesday explaining that all appropriate precautionary measures were taken against their accused staff member and assured that an investigation is underway.
In a Twitter statement, LRC stated that “it strictly adheres to a zero-tolerance policy towards harassment, sexual harassment, discrimination, misuse of power, as well as exploitation and sexual assault, as well as any other unwanted physical contact or any form of violence or threats of physical harm.”
بيان صادر عن الصليب الاحمر اللبناني pic.twitter.com/MbAlFCK3sW
— Lebanese Red Cross (@RedCrossLebanon) August 2, 2023
“A comprehensive investigation is currently being conducted by a neutral and independent entity into all circulating allegations. Once the investigation is complete, appropriate decisions and follow-up actions will be taken based on the mentioned investigation's results, and in accordance with established policies and internal regulations," the statement said.
In December 2020, Lebanon's Parliament passed a landmark law criminalizing sexual harassment and approved amendments intended to strengthen the country’s existing law on domestic violence.
In its current form, the law punishes anyone who commits the crime of sexual harassment with one to 12 months in prison and/or a fine that ranges between three and 10 times the official minimum wage of LL675,000. If the crime is committed against either a juvenile or a person with special needs, the crime is upgraded from a misdemeanor to a felony punishable by two to four years in prison.
If the harassment is committed in a workplace, the penalty is a minimum of six months and a maximum of two years of imprisonment, or a fine ranging between 10 to 20 times the official minimum wage.
In most cases, the harassment must be a recurring behavior, not a one-time occurrence, to fall under the law.