Ministers promise to curb child beggars in Lebanon

Interior Minister Marwan Charbel said on Wednesday that the first operation to curb the phenomena of child beggars led to the arrest of 61 beggars and 78 individuals who recruit these children. Charbel added that the judicial system will severely punish gangs and mafia members who recruit children for begging and profit from their exploitation.  

Charbel spoke during a joint press conference at the Interior Ministry’s headquarters dedicated to follow-up and assess the first phase of the operation to curb the use of children beggars with Justice Minister Shakib Qortbawi and Social Affairs Minister Wael Abou Faour.  

Qortbawi said that this issue needs to be thoroughly dealt with and mistakes made in phase one should be avoided, adding that the judiciary is taking a hands-on approach when it comes to trafficking children. Justice Minister said that children are being deferred to juvenile courts only to be sent afterwards to specialized social institutions.  

Abou Faour said that the case was not given enough importance in the past, adding that what matters is that this time around efforts should not be a knee-jerk reaction.  

“Efforts should be ongoing until children who fall victim to such mafias are all saved”, Abou Faour said.