20/12/2023
Under the patronage of the Director General of the Internal Security Forces, Major General Imad Othman, represented by the Acting Commander of the Internal Security Forces Institute, Administrative Brigadier Bilal Al-Hajjar, and within the framework of the project “Strengthening Community Policing in Lebanon” funded by the European Union, and with the support of Caritas, it was launched on 12/14/2023. At the Internal Security Forces Institute – Aramoun / Barracks of Martyr Major Wissam Eid, a series of awareness videos on combating human trafficking.
The ceremony was attended by the Philippine Ambassador to Lebanon, representatives of the embassies of the European Union, the United States of America, Bangladesh, a delegation from Caritas and another from the Community Police Strengthening Project, in addition to a number of representatives of civil society bodies in Lebanon, local and international associations and organizations, and events. Interested people, and officers from the Internal Security Forces. On the occasion, I delivered several speeches, which were summarized as follows:
Speech by Major General Othman’s representative, Brigadier General Al-Hajjar:
Dear audience, what brings us together today at the Internal Security Forces Institute, the mother institute for security institutions, is an absolute faith in confronting one of the most complex crimes. The crime of trafficking in persons is not an ordinary, traditional crime, but rather it affects a person’s humanity and the human dignity inherent in him and legislated by all heavenly and earthly laws. Given the seriousness of this crime, the Internal Security Forces, since before the issuance of Law 164/2011 (Punishment of the Crime of Trafficking in Persons), introduced this concept within the legal, civil, and academic community, where our officers had the initial initiative and effective participation in producing several papers and documents related to the definition of the crime and its indicators. And the necessary strategies to combat it and respond to its repercussions. The necessary training curricula have also been prepared for our members.
Various ranks. Since the legal and security response alone is not sufficient, networking has been done with local and international civil society in order to ensure a multi-sectoral response so that we can provide shelter, health and psychological services to the victims of this crime. Caritas was one of the first partners in this field because of its long experience and high standards in providing shelter and providing various services to marginalized groups, especially migrant domestic workers. Our partnership with this ancient organization began more than a decade ago and included joint training in addition to technical committees that laid the foundations of the response applicable in our society. This long and strong partnership has increased in roots and successes recently, especially through the project to strengthen community policing, which was gratefully funded by the European Union, which included several activities related to training and raising awareness, leading to the production of awareness films, the subject of our meeting. The Internal Security Forces are not alone in the first line of contact to detect and identify the victims of this crime, and they are not alone in the battlefield and confrontation. Rather, the combined efforts of all sectors will inevitably lead to revealing every problem that society suffers from. Therefore, we call on everyone to join this battle to achieve a safer society.
Speech of the representative of the European Union Embassy:
The campaign, which we are launching through a collaborative partnership with Caritas and the Internal Security Forces, aims to raise community awareness to prevent human trafficking. The European Union is proud to support this project, which falls within a larger initiative to strengthen the rights-based approach in the Internal Security Forces to provide protection to victims of child labour, forced prostitution and other forms of violations in Lebanon.
Speech by the representative of the Community Policing Strengthening Project: Laia Castells:
The peculiarity of this campaign is that, following the community policing model, Caritas and the Internal Security Forces worked together in its design, establishing a collaborative partnership that will last beyond the duration of the project. In addition, the campaign will help improve public confidence in police work, by further highlighting the security forces’ commitment to promoting human rights and providing protection services to victims of child labour, forced prostitution and other forms of exploitation, and human trafficking.
Speech by Father Michel Abboud, President of Caritas:
Father Abboud began his speech with a famous saying of one of the thinkers, stating that “it is not only the evil ones who destroy the world, but rather it is those who stand by and watch that the world is destroyed,” stressing “the importance of citizens applying the campaign’s slogan, not turning a blind eye to any indicators or signs of human trafficking, and reporting The concerned authorities, led by the Internal Security Forces, will contribute to supporting the fight against this crime, thus protecting the victims and holding the perpetrators accountable.” Pointing out that “what the Lebanese need most today is security and peace, in light of their loss of social, health and even food security,” he stressed that “all people working in the field, from the Internal Security Forces and all the forces in Lebanon and even Caritas, must They enjoy economic protection, so that they can perform their role and protect citizens in the best possible way. Hence the importance of the continuity of projects that are not available in our country, which constitutes a guarantee of the continuity of the work of our employees, workers and volunteers with high ethics in accordance with international standards.”
As part of strengthening the principles of community policing and the ongoing cooperation between the Internal Security Forces and civil society, and upon the invitation of the “Al-Jawahir Al-Hassan Association in the Service of Humanity,” the Internal Security Forces participated in a sports event organized in the Al-Damm and Al-Faraz area in Tripoli on 03-05-2026, under the title “Run For Lebanon.” This event, which was organized with the support of several leading institutions and companies in the North, included artistic, sports, and recreational activities, prize distribution, and a 5 km running race, with the participation of nearly 1,000 male and female participants from various age groups, including school pupils, university students, civil society associations, sports and cultural clubs, as well as participants from the Orders of Engineers, Doctors, and Lawyers. The presence of the Internal Security Forces was represented by the participation of a number of female officers, who took part in line with the event’s objective “We run for Lebanon,” aiming to spread a meaningful and strong message against domestic violence, and as a step toward raising awareness among the components of Lebanese society to reduce various forms of violence-related crimes, and to encourage reporting such cases through the hotline 1745, with the goal of breaking the barrier of silence and strengthening citizens’ trust in the Internal Security Forces. This initiative was widely welcomed and appreciated by participants of all ages. This event combined a family-friendly atmosphere with purposeful sports activities, emphasizing that sports are a way of life and an investment in both mind and spirit, and that they promote the values of discipline and cooperation among different segments of society.
07/05/2026
As part of strengthening the principles of community policing and the ongoing cooperation between the Internal Security Forces and civil society, and upon the invitation of the “Al-Jawahir Al-Hassan Association in the Service of Humanity,” the Internal Security Forces participated in a sports event organized in the Al-Damm and Al-Faraz area in Tripoli on 03-05-2026, under the title “Run For Lebanon.” This event, which was organized with the support of several leading institutions and companies in the North, included artistic, sports, and recreational activities, prize distribution, and a 5 km running race, with the participation of nearly 1,000 male and female participants from various age groups, including school pupils, university students, civil society associations, sports and cultural clubs, as well as participants from the Orders of Engineers, Doctors, and Lawyers. The presence of the Internal Security Forces was represented by the participation of a number of female officers, who took part in line with the event’s objective “We run for Lebanon,” aiming to spread a meaningful and strong message against domestic violence, and as a step toward raising awareness among the components of Lebanese society to reduce various forms of violence-related crimes, and to encourage reporting such cases through the hotline 1745, with the goal of breaking the barrier of silence and strengthening citizens’ trust in the Internal Security Forces. This initiative was widely welcomed and appreciated by participants of all ages. This event combined a family-friendly atmosphere with purposeful sports activities, emphasizing that sports are a way of life and an investment in both mind and spirit, and that they promote the values of discipline and cooperation among different segments of society.
07/05/2026
The Internal Security Forces participated in the annual jobs and careers exhibition “Career Fair 2026,” organized by the Lebanese Canadian University (LCU) on 10-04-2026 at its campus in Aintoura – Keserwan, alongside a number of security institutions and companies. The exhibition was inaugurated in the presence of the Head of the Security Media Branch at the Public Relations Division, Major Mark El Ahmar, representing the Director General of the Internal Security Forces, Major General Raed Abdallah, in addition to representatives of participating security institutions and companies, as well as a large number of students and interested attendees. The Internal Security Forces set up a dedicated booth at the exhibition, which witnessed significant turnout from students and participants. Specialized personnel provided explanations about the missions and activities of the General Directorate, the available career fields, as well as recruitment and enlistment procedures. Copies of the magazines “Al-Amn” and “Fata Al-Amn,” along with security studies and various awareness publications, were also distributed, with the aim of enhancing awareness of the role of the Internal Security Forces and strengthening engagement with the youth.
07/05/2026
Issued by the General Directorate of the Internal Security Forces – Public Relations Division, the following statement: In cooperation between the Internal Security Forces and the General Directorate of Prisons, a Mass was held at Jbeil Prison on the occasion of Easter. It was presided over by the Maronite Archbishop of Jbeil, Bishop Michel Aoun, assisted by several priests, and attended by the District Commissioner of Jbeil, Ms. Natalie Mrei Al-Khoury, the Commander of the Jbeil Station, Lieutenant Colonel Antonio Yamin, the Commander of Jbeil Prison, Captain Suleiman Mudaffar, the Mayor of Yanouh and Hdineh – Jbeil, Mr. Roger Antoine Al-Baaini, and members of the executive committee of the “General Directorate of Prisons in Lebanon,” including the Head of the Central Public Relations Committee, Mr. Joseph Mahfoud, the Head of the Social Affairs Department, Ms. Jamal Shalhoub, Sister Maria Goretti, as well as prison staff and a number of inmates. In his sermon, Bishop Aoun focused on the meanings of the occasion, thanking all those concerned with the rehabilitation of prisoners and emphasizing the importance of giving inmates a second chance to reintegrate into society.
07/05/2026
