The Use of Force in Lebanon
Overview of the Enforced Legal Framework Monitoring and Analyzing the Human Rights Violations Committed during the Past Five Years The image of police officers is often associated with the exercise of force, though most police [...]
Improving Protection of Syrian Refugees and Mitigating Social Tensions in Lebanon through Effective Durable Solutions
Twelve years since the start of the conflict in Syria in 2011, the humanitarian crisis resulting from the massive flow of Syrian refugees to Lebanon goes beyond an emergency that can be addressed through relief [...]
Peacebuilding and Social Stability Challenges Faced by Municipalities within a Context of Ongoing Crises in Lebanon
In order to better understand the challenges faced by local governments, at the frontlines of community relations, ALEF conducted series of semi structured interviews with various stakeholders from municipalities across Lebanon to assess the current [...]
Informal Dialogue Meetings with Religious Leaders to Contribute to Freedom of Religion and Belief
ALEF - Act for Human Rights and Dialogue for Life and Reconciliation – Lebanon (DLR), launched a series of informal dialogue meetings that would engage religious leaders in contributing to freedom of religion and belief, [...]
In the Name of Religion: Women’s unequal rights in Lebanon
Freedom of religion or belief must not be used for ends that conflict with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights or other applicable human rights instruments. In Lebanon, religion has a significant impact on the social, [...]
Brussels Conference VI: Local Organizations’ Brief
Amidst an unprecedented economic crisis, a pandemic and political turmoil in Lebanon, local non- governmental organizations are facing an array of challenges that are impeding their missions. The Working Group for Persons Affected by the [...]
Refugee Protection Watch – Annual Report 2021
This research concludes that Syria is still not a safe destination for return, and that conditions within Syria are further deteriorating. At the same time, living conditions within Lebanon continue to deteriorate severely, and pressure [...]
Diversity & Citizenship: A selective teaching of notions
Lebanon has been going through a long series of crises since the end of summer 2019. From a financial collapse to socio-economic hardships coupled with a political deadlock, civil unrest, and a massive explosion that [...]
Brussels 5 SitRep – Migration and Freedom of Movement
This brief has been produced by the Persons Affected by the Syrian Crisis Working Group (PASC WG) ahead of the Brussels V Conference on Supporting the Future of Syria and the Region. The PASC WG [...]
Brussels 5 SitRep – Documentation and Deportations
This brief has been produced by the Persons Affected by the Syrian Crisis Working Group (PASC WG) ahead of the Brussels V Conference on Supporting the Future of Syria and the Region. The PASC WG [...]
Brussels 5 SitRep – Eviction and Social Tension
This brief has been produced by the Persons Affected by the Syrian Crisis Working Group (PASC WG) ahead of the Brussels V Conference on Supporting the Future of Syria and the Region. The PASC WG [...]
Brussels 5 SitRep – Child Protection and SGBV
This brief has been produced by the Persons Affected by the Syrian Crisis Working Group (PASC WG) ahead of the Brussels V Conference on Supporting the Future of Syria and the Region. The PASC WG [...]
State of Emergency: Challenges to human rights obligations
ALEF- act for human rights is deeply concerned with the extensions of the state of emergency in Beirut. Following years of raising the alarm about a shrinking civic space, this decision can lead to more [...]
August 4 Blast: Concerns on Investigative and Accountability Capacities
This short brief explores from ALEF's perspectives and experience the concerns with respect to the inquiries and prosecutions related to the August 4 - Beirut Port Blast. ALEF- act for human rights is particularly concerned [...]
Lebanon’s Political rights and Freedoms: A submission to the Universal Periodic Review
The following report highlights Lebanon’s improvements and setbacks in a series of most pressing human rights issues throughout the implementation phase of the second cycle following Lebanon’s Universal Periodic Review (UPR) in 2015. The country, [...]
Conditions of Syrian Refugees in Lebanon: Submission to the UN Universal Periodic Review
The deterioration of the financial and socio-economic situations in Lebanon, coupled by the Lebanese protests and the COVID-19 pandemic, will require much humanitarian and development support to respond to the needs of refugees but as [...]
Conditions of Detention in Lebanon: Submission to the UN Universal Periodic Review
In Lebanon, prisons and detention centers are chronically overcrowded. The World Prison Brief ranks the Lebanese prison and detention system as the 34 most overcrowded in the world. Severe overcrowding in prisons and detention centers [...]
The Situation of Civil Rights in Lebanon: A Joint Submission to the UPR
Lebanon has ratified most of the international human rights conventions including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), the international Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (2000) [...]
Threats to Civic Space: Submission to the UN Universal Periodic Review
This submission is presented for consideration as part of the Universal Periodic Review Stakeholder Report. It includes a summary of the human rights conditions in Lebanon along with recommendations on how the Lebanese government can [...]
Access to Education: Submission to the UN Universal Periodic Review
This submission is presented for consideration as part of the Universal Periodic Review Stakeholder Report. It includes a summary of the human rights conditions in Lebanon along with recommendations on how the Lebanese government can [...]
Threats to Right to Work – Brussels IV Advocacy Brief
This brief has been produced by the Persons Affected by the Syrian Crisis Network (PASC) ahead of the Brussels IV Conference on Supporting the Future of Syria and the Region. PASC is a network of [...]
Threats to Forced Evictions – Brussels IV Advocacy Brief
This brief has been produced by the Persons Affected by the Syrian Crisis Network (PASC) ahead of the Brussels IV Conference on Supporting the Future of Syria and the Region. PASC is a network of [...]
Threats to Deportations – Brussels IV Advocacy Brief
This brief has been produced by the Persons Affected by the Syrian Crisis Network (PASC) ahead of the Brussels IV Conference on Supporting the Future of Syria and the Region. PASC is a network of [...]
Taking on the Triple Crisis: Civil society perspectives on supporting Lebanon in its response to the concurrent Syria, economic and health crises.
Close to ten years into the Syria crisis, Lebanon is more fragile now than ever before, reducing its immediate ability to provide asylum space to refugees. The likely deterioration of the economic situation in Lebanon [...]
Child Protection – Brief
This brief has been produced by the Persons Affected by the Syrian Crisis Network (PASC) ahead of the Brussels IV Conference on Supporting the Future of Syria and the Region. PASC is a network of [...]
The Human Rights Implications of Quarantine Measures to Address COVID-19
This policy brief builds upon and supports the National Human Rights Commission’s statement on the need to respect human rights in the response against COVID-19. As the National Emergency Task Force for COVID-19 plans to [...]
Annual Report 2018
The Situation of Human Rights in Lebanon In 2018, the Lebanese government took some positive steps towards promoting human rights and showed willingness to comply with certain human rights matters. However, it clearly lacked the [...]
Towards Increased Protection for Migrant Domestic Workers in Lebanon – Protection Framework
The current system of recruiting and employing migrant domestic workers (MDWs) in Lebanon generates abuse, inefficiency, and injustices. ALEF – Act for Human Rights has therefore produced this Protection Framework to analyze the problems and [...]
Progress on the Recommendations of the Second Cycle of Lebanon’s Universal Periodic Review: the Rights of Migrants and the Prohibition of Slavery and Trafficking
Migrant domestic workers in Lebanon face widespread human rights violations and poor protection caused by the sponsorship system, among other violations, that transforms the status of migrant workers to victims of trafficking as well as [...]
Prohibition of slavery and trafficking: Following up on commitments of Lebanon’s 2015 Universal Periodic Review
Lebanon is a destination country for internationally trafficked persons, primarily women. Women from different countries of origin travel to Lebanon, in the belief that they will work as domestic workers and have reportedly been forced [...]
Promotion and Protection of Rights of Migrant Domestic Workers: Following up on commitments of Lebanon’s 2015 Universal Periodic Review
Although Lebanon has supported, and hence committed to several UPR recommendations to improve the situation of MDWs, their situation remains unchanged. In response to these shortcomings, this paper presents the first results of a Monitoring [...]
Migrant Domestic Workers and Human Trafficking Indicators: A Guidebook to Measurement and Implementation for CSOs in Lebanon
In 2015, Lebanon expressed its support to several Universal Periodic Review recommendations to improve the situation of migrant domestic workers, combat trafficking, and support its victims. Although this means that the State commits to undertaking [...]
The Situation of Human Rights in Lebanon -2017
In 2017, Lebanese Parliament amended and passed several laws that improve human rights in Lebanon and reaffirm the realization of several efforts by Lebanese civil society in areas concerning elections, transparency, women’s rights, and torture [...]
Rights to a future: Threats to legal and physical safety (2017)
Currently, Lebanon hosts over 1.5 million Syrians and 500,000 registered Palestinian refugees1, amounting to the highest number of refugees per capita in the world. Even though the Syrian refugee crisis is in its sixth year [...]
Alternative Report to the Committee against Torture
In March 2016, the Government of Lebanon submitted its initial Report to the Committee against Torture (CAT) which reviews the situation of torture in Lebanon between 2001 and 2015, a period during which many changes [...]
Nahr el Bared – Displacement and Return Monitoring
This report is the the outcomes of the Displacement and Return Monitoring Unit (DRMU). The mandate of the DRMU is to: Monitor the respect of human rights, especially those of vulnerable groups, inside new displacement [...]
Addressing the Protracted Refugee Crisis
This paper seeks to analyse and present policy options for long term solutions to the Syrian refugee crisis in Lebanon. These options stem from rights standards, and take into account the political, social, and economic [...]
Policy Brief: Addressing the Protracted Refugee Crisis (October 2017)
This paper seeks to analyse and present policy options for long terms solutions to the Syrian refugee crisis in Lebanon. These options stem from rights standards, and take into account the political, social, and economic [...]
Rights to a future: Threats to material safety (October 2017)
Currently, Lebanon hosts over 1.5 million Syrians and 500,000 registered Palestinian refugees1, amounting to the highest number of refugees per capita in the world. Even though the Syrian refugee crisis is in its sixth year [...]
Reinforce human rights as an essential element in cooperation between the EU and Lebanon
In the coming months, the EU and Lebanon will agree on more detailed plans for the implementation of their partnership for the coming years. On the 17th of July, the EU-Lebanon Association Council will convene, [...]
ALEF Annual Report 2016
As in previous years, the Lebanese government has taken some positive steps towards promoting human rights in 2016, but has missed several opportunities to uphold the country’s international obligations, and failed to address major protection [...]
Establishing the Primacy of Human Rights in Security Sector Reform in Lebanon
Foreign donors and security agencies are multiplying their efforts to reform the security sector in Lebanon. In such context, ALEF advocates for a security sector reform (SSR) approach that promotes human rights compliance in addition [...]
LEBANON Joint shadow report – Submitted to the UN Commitee Against Torture
Lebanon’s first periodic report (CAT/C/LBN/1)[1] was submitted to the Committee against Torture on 9 March 2016, and will be reviewed by the Committee at its 60th session. Although this effort is a step forward, the [...]
ALEF Submission to the UN Committee Against Torture – 60th Session
In March 2016, the Government of Lebanon submitted its initial Report to the Committee against Torture (CAT). Although this effort is a step forward, the Report had been overdue for 15 years, and contained no [...]
Perceptions of Security Among Syrian Refugees and Lebanese Host Community – Al Marj Bekaa
With more than one million Syrian refugees in Lebanon, the country has reached the highest rate of refugees to residents in the world today1. This reality presents, without a doubt, a very serious challenge to [...]
Child Friendly Report on the Right of the Child in Lebanon 2016
The Child led Data Collection (CLDC) methodology engages young researchers in gathering evidence of children’s situations and child rights violations. The methodology is child friendly and produces qualitative and quantitative evidence of everyday needs and [...]
Findings Report: Child Led Data Collection – 2016
The Child led Data Collection (CLDC) methodology engages young researchers in gathering evidence of children’s situations and child rights violations. The methodology is child friendly and produces qualitative and quantitative evidence of everyday needs and [...]
Guarantees during Court Proceedings, Detention and Appeal
Through the adoption of contemporary international procedures, the Lebanese legal system in theory guarantees due process and fair trials. The justice system now allows for civil lawsuits without recourse to the Sharia, the right to [...]
Guarantees during Arrest and Investigation
The principles of a fair trial are preserved by a wide array of international agreements and conventions that apply to citizens as well as the state. The most significant of which are the Universal Declaration [...]
Exceptional Courts
In Lebanon, the concept of a fair trial is directly challenged due to the presence of several exceptional courts. Their presence creates a form of justice that is outside the scope of ordinary law, allowing [...]
Annual Report 2015
The following report highlights Lebanon’s improvements and setbacks of the most pressing human rights issues in 2015. The Lebanese government has shown a willingness to comply with certain human rights matters, however it clearly lacks [...]
Trapped in Lebanon: The alarming human rights situation of Syrian refugees in Lebanon
This report analyses the human rights and human security situation of refugees from Syria and their impact on the Lebanese society. Since the beginning of the conflict in Syria, Lebanon has received ever-increasing numbers of [...]
Solutions to the Syrian Refugee Crisis
Lebanon has the highest concentration of refugees per capita and specifically, the highest number of Syrian refugees in the world. As of November 11th, 2014, over a million Syrian refugees were registered with the United [...]
Municipalities in the Protection of Human and Refugee Rights
There are currently over one million Syrian refugees situated in Lebanon, seriously impacting its society and political system. However, this number does not cover the total amount of Syrian refugees in Lebanon. There are many [...]
Waste Management Demonstrations Documentation of Main Human Rights Violations Committed
In the summer of 2015, Lebanon’s streets were lined with trash. Sukleen, a trash company’s, contract was up and parliament could not decide who would be replacing it. The smell became so unbearable thousands of [...]
Annual Report 2013
Lebanon’s 20th century civil war not only destabilized Lebanon, but also devastated the country’s development and protection of human rights. Its domestic legal order is now dysfunctional and often does not operate independently from the [...]
Two Years On: The Syrian Refugee Situation in Lebanon
According to the UNHCR, by the end of September 2013, there were over 700,000 registered Syrian refugees in Lebanon, and more than a million on Lebanese territory. Three quarters of the refugee population are women [...]
Guilty Until Proven Innocent
Lebanon’s crippling, fifteen-year civil war and corrupt political system have created pitiable law enforcement practices and inadequate legislation that do not protect the rights and freedoms of the suspect, accused or convicted. Today, research has [...]
The Human Rights Dilemma in Electoral Laws
The continuous search of the Lebanese polity for a proper electoral law able to achieve the simple tasks of any electoral law has failed repetitively. There have been nine different electoral laws for fourteen different [...]
ALEF Comment on ISF CoC
Following the release of Internal Security Forces Code of Conduct in 2012, ALEF underwent a review of the CoC identifying shortfalls and gaps to be addressed by the ISF. The commentary focused on the below [...]
Alternative Report: Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment and Punishment
Since 2005, Lebanon has been experiencing increased political instability. While the overall level of human rights protection has improved, this improvement depends on the political priorities of individual ministers rather than coherent policy decisions. It [...]
Situational Update on the Occurrences and Trends of Torture in Lebanon Torture Prevention and Monitoring in Lebanon
In the years following ALEF’s first report on torture in June of 2008, the Lebanese government has taken on several projects towards the protection of their citizens from torture. The most important of which is [...]
The Universal Periodic Review of Lebanon’s Experience
The Universal Period Review (UPR) is a human rights mechanism developed in March, 2006, by the General Assembly Resolution 60/251. This resolution established the Human Rights Council (HRC), a body made up of 47 member [...]
Socio-Political and Cultural Contexts of Violence and Their Impact on the Acceptance of Torture in Lebanon
Since 1991, Lebanon’s society has been unstable. War, occupations and state corruption have left its political system and social programs weakened and tensions high amongst religious groups. The effects of Lebanese politics on the state [...]
Right to Health
Lebanon has adhered to a number of human rights treaties that address health-related rights, and guarantee to protect the health of its population. Lebanon has a strong private health sector, nevertheless, there are vast regional [...]
Military Tribunal: A Breach in the Integrity of the Judicial System
The Military Tribunal raises several concerns in regards to human rights and the rule of law in Lebanon. Its current jurisdiction allows for the tribunal to transgress the right to be tried before a competent, [...]
Delays in Reporting
Lebanon is party to six core international human rights treaties, and is therefore obligated to submit periodic reports to the treaty body tasked with monitoring the implementation of each international convention. The Lebanese government has [...]
The Special Tribunal for Lebanon
The Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL) was established by an agreement between the United Nations and the Lebanese Republic pursuant to the Security Council resolution 1664 of March 29th, 2006. According to its statute, the [...]
The Painful Whereabouts of Detention
In 2000, Lebanon rati?ed the United Nations Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment. As of February 2008, Lebanon has signed, but not yet rati?ed, the optional protocol to this [...]
The July War from a Human Rights Perspective
In August of 2006, a violent armed clash erupted between Hezbollah, a Shiite Muslim armed group based in the south of Lebanon, and the State of Israel. Initially the conflict started in early July when [...]
International humanitarian law violations in the current conflict opposing Hezbollah (Lebanon) to the state of Israel (August 2006)
In the midst of the military operation that ravaged Lebanon in July-August 2006, most of the international and national NGO as well as other CSO were mobilized to respond to the acute humanitarian crisis that [...]
Youth Organizations in Lebanon (2003)
The decree contradicts basic Human rights principles and violates most of the international instruments: -Universal Declaration of Human rights - 1948. -International covenant on civil and political rights - 1966. -International covenant on economic and [...]
Annual Report 2002
Even if it is extremely hard to generalize a comparison between the current situation of Human Rights in Lebanon to its past, we still consider that some few points are comparable. Certain violations reflect the [...]
Censorship in Lebanon (2002)
This report seeks to provide an understanding of Lebanon's scope of censorship, its application and oversight mechanisms. Full Report: Report Censorship English - Rapport sur la censure au Liban 2003 - Francais
The Human Rights Situation in the Formerly Occupied Area of South of Lebanon (2001)
Ce rapport a pour objectif de braquer la lumière sur la situation des droits de l’Homme dans la région évacuée par l’armée israélienne en mai 2000. Il ne couvre donc pas tout le Liban Sud, [...]
Observations on the Legislative Elections Held in the Year 2000
This report aims at showcasing the practices and violations documented during the parliamentary elections of the year 2000. Full Report: Rapport sur les elections legislatives libanaises - 2000 -Fr
The Status of the Palestinian Refugees in Lebanon (1999)
L’objectif de ce rapport est de relater la situation des droits de l’homme au sein de la Communauté palestinienne résidant au Liban. Préparé conjointement par la Fondation des droits de l’homme et du droit humanitaire [...]
A shadow report on Civil and Political rights in Lebanon – 1997
Ce rapport examinera les libertés individuelles (surtout politiques et juridiques) dans sa première partie, les droits collectifs (socio-économiques) dans la seconde, alors que la troisième partie traitera de l’environnement. Full Report: Rapport sur les droits [...]