Syria III

Thursday, February 10, 2011

Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
current situation: Syria is a destination and transit country for women and children trafficked for commercial sexual exploitation and forced labor; a significant number of women and children in the large and expanding Iraqi refugee community in Syria are reportedly forced into commercial sexual exploitation by Iraqi gangs or, in some cases, their families; women from Indonesia, Sri Lanka, the Philippines, Ethiopia, and Sierra Leone are recruited for work in Syria as domestic servants, but some face conditions of involuntary servitude, including long hours, non-payment of wages, withholding of passports, restrictions on movement, threats, and physical or sexual abuse.

tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - Syria again failed to report any law enforcement efforts to punish trafficking offenses in 2007; in addition, the government did not offer protection services to victims of trafficking and may have arrested, prosecuted, or deported some victims for prostitution or immigration violations; Syria has not ratified the 2000 UN TIP Protocol (2008)


Syria II


Yesterday, in a crowded market in Damascus, a girl approached to a guy next to me. The guy, around early 20s, was holding his mobile. “Are you taking images of me?” the girl says. I couldn’t believe my eyes, or ears. How come a stranger guy would take a picture for a girl walking peacefully in a market? My imagination took me a bit further for blackmailing, Arabic porno website, and sperms. The sexual harassment is very common here. This is not a solo situation. Almost every girl would receive while walking a huge amount of messages, words, and touches, they all are about sex.

Despite the relative open community, red lines are very tight. Virginity is on the top, which puts any female under big deal stress. As oriental mentality and man have a profound impact on girls’ action and behavior. I am not surprised for the deep influence of old style attitude, because the movement of culture was not accompanied by the freedom of the state. 

TEST

Wednesday, February 09, 2011
I can't open my blog in Syria.
The access is denied.
So, I wanna make sure I can post, even I can't see what I posted.