News and Stories

July 30th 2021 marks World Day against Trafficking in Persons.  Still today, many of the victims of trafficking end up in the circle of “Modern Slavery”, a  practice that has changed over time, but which is still widespread globally. Slavery still exists in many heterogeneous forms that the ILO (International Labor Organization) defines as “situations of exploitation that a person cannot refuse or leave because of threats, violence, coercion, deception, and/or abuse of power”. Forms of modern slavery include sexual exploitation, domestic servitude and forced labor in construction or agriculture. In this regard, the head of WeWorld‘s international programs department, Stefania Piccinelli explains:  “Women and girls are mostly affected by forms of modern slavery, accounting for 77% of victims globally. One of the major manifestations of their exploitation is domestic servitude, of which most of the victims are girls under the age of 16. In most cases, it is the direct consequence of forced marriage, which involves nearly 16 million people worldwide. Child brides are forced by their partners to live in conditions of semi-slavery and to take care of housework, children they often have prematurely and dependent elderly parents. Education is a fundamental factor that protects people from these forms of exploitation. Investing in education for girls is the strongest tool we have to tackle modern slavery.”  The pandemic and the recession increase the phenomenon of modern slavery The economic recession caused by the pandemic and the health crisis have certainly had a negative impact on family poverty, outlining a risk factor for children and adolescents.  The forced closure of schools and the consequent social isolation due to the spread of Covid-19 – especially in the first phase – have greatly increased the risk for under 18s of becoming victims of trafficking and sexual or labor exploitation. Going to school is indeed a fundamental protective factor, which can hinder these forms of exploitation.  According to the latest data available from the UNODC (United Nation Office […]

“I have been here in Ventimiglia with my 1-year-and-8-month-old daughter Precious for a few days and I would like to go to France to join her father, who lives in Marseille. I have already tried to cross the border three times , always by train, but I was always denied entry. Once I wore a […]

We World Statement 15th June, Milan – In March of this year, We World marked the 10-year anniversary of the Syrian conflict, stressing the urgent need to address acute issues still facing Syrian men, women and children both in Syria and abroad. That in 2021, a health crisis spurred on by the COVID-19 pandemic, food shortages […]

We joined the community in Tanzania to commemorate the Day of the African Child to raise awareness of children’s rights and child protection education to create an Africa fit for all children.

Enabling women and girls to reach their full potential Gender equality is a long-standing priority for WeWorld policy. WeWorld is working in 27 countries with a gender mainstreaming and interesectionality approach, focusing on the promotion of the rights of all women and girls. therefore we are also working to ensure that women and girls are […]

The ceasefire in Gaza is welcomed by We World, but we must NOW continuously ensure that all parties strictly adhere to International Humanitarian Law (IHL), including the principles of distinction, proportionality and the taking of precautions in attack. According to We World CEO Dina Taddia, “In Gaza the population lives on the edge, suffering from […]

It was precisely at 18:09:40 on August 4th 2020, when a massive explosion originated from a warehouse storing tons of ammonium nitrate at the port of Beirut, and sent shockwaves throughout the city. Antoine remembers it vividly as it was at this exact time that one of the wall clocks broke down, freezing the moment […]

Eight refugee families living in Sheikh Jarrah, East Jerusalem, are at imminent risk of forced eviction. Their houses would be assigned to Israeli settlers.  This is not an isolated case in East Jerusalem. According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, around one thousand Palestinians (almost half of whom are children), are […]

The agricultural sector in shambles Despite contributing in a derisory way to the overall GDP, agriculture plays a significant role in some of the poorest regions of Lebanon. In Akkar and North Bekaa, where the climate is moderate, the soil rich, and water resources abundant, agriculture-related activities account for up to 80 percent of the […]

More than one year out of school Students in Lebanon are feeling the consequences of the pandemic, just like their peers from all over the world. Unlike the others, however, in Lebanon, children and young people at school age have to face an even more dramatic situation characterized by multiple crises. Even before the COVID-19 […]

A snapshot of rural reality in Lebanon For the past couple of years, a combination of economic, political, financial, security and sanitarian crisis is testing the capacities of the Lebanese society as a whole. Following the government decision to introduce new taxes, on 17 October 2019 peaceful protests sprung up across the country with tens […]

In the world, 7 out of 10 victims of unexploded devices are civilians, more than half of them being boys and girls. This is why – on International Day for Mine Awareness and Action Against Mines – we want to reiterate that the action of mine clearance of the areas affected by past and present […]