News: In a powerful commemoration of the World Day Against Trafficking in Persons, the Heinrich Boell Foundation - Palestine and Jordan office (hbs) and the Royal Film Commission (RFC) collaborated to present a special screening of the acclaimed film “Capernaum” (2018), directed by Nadine Labaki. This event, held under the Labor Migration and Human Trafficking Program in Jordan, aimed to raise awareness and inspire action against human trafficking, with a particular focus on child trafficking.
This year’s global theme, “Leave No Child Behind in the Fight Against Human Trafficking,” highlighted the urgent need to address the exploitation of children, who make up one in three victims of human trafficking worldwide. These children face various forms of exploitation, including forced labor, criminal activities, begging, illegal adoption, recruitment into armed forces, and online and sexual abuse.
The root causes of child trafficking are complex, involving factors such as poverty, inadequate support for unaccompanied children amidst rising migration and refugee flows, armed conflicts, dysfunctional families, and lack of parental care. Identifying and protecting child victims remains a significant challenge due to underreporting, insufficient resources for victim support services, and a general lack of awareness.
The event, held on Tuesday, July 30, 2024, at 8 PM, was a resounding success, with full house attendees. Following the screening of “Capernaum,” a discussion was held with Mr. Omar Meqdad, Legal Aid Unit Attorney at Adalah, providing an opportunity for public engagement and interaction.
“Capernaum,” a 126-minute drama in Arabic and French with Arabic and English subtitles, tells the story of a 12-year-old Lebanese boy who, after running away from his negligent parents and committing a violent crime, sues his parents in protest of the life they have given him. The film has received widespread acclaim, winning 39 awards, including the Jury Prize at the 71st annual Cannes Film Festival in 2018, and was nominated for 55 awards, including Best Foreign Language Film of the Year at the 91st Academy Awards.
This impactful event not only raised awareness about the critical issue of child trafficking but also provided a platform for meaningful discussion and action.
