International Instruments

The United Nations Committee against Torture’s report confirms shared concerns amongst Lebanese civil society organizations (CSOs) on the occurrences of torture and ill-treatment in Lebanese detention facilities. Together, Lebanese CSOs present methods to prevent and combat this serious human rights violation.

Beirut, October 20, 2014   The United Nations Committee against Torture’s report confirms shared concerns amongst Lebanese civil society organizations (CSOs) on the occurrences of torture and ill-treatment in Lebanese detention facilities. Together, Lebanese CSOs present methods to prevent and combat this serious human rights violation.   On 7 October 2014, the UN Committee against [...]

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 government. Today, the judicial system is subject to the whimsical decisions of statesmen and is constantly hijacked by opposing forces, [...]

ALEF-Act for Human Rights call on the Lebanese authorities to make every effort to banish the practice of torture in Lebanon.

Beirut, June 26, 2013 – to commemorate the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture, ALEF-Act for Human Rights call on the Lebanese authorities to make every effort to banish the practice of torture in Lebanon. As a signatory of the United Nations Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or [...]

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 states. The HRC periodically reviews the performance of the 192 UN member states in regards to their implementation of human [...]

Towards an Effective UPR Process

PAX To promote civil society input to the UPR process To document the experience of Lebanon through the UPR cycle To advocate for recommendations to be adopted by the Human Rights Council 2010 PAX – Netherlands Pax Christi International […]

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, independent and impartial court established by law. This allows for military investigators to torture suspects, force suspects into arbitrary detention, [...]

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 worked to apply international and national regulations within the framework of the Lebanese constitution, requiring them to undertake a series [...]

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 STL has jurisdiction over persons responsible and in connection to the attack that caused the death of former Lebanese Prime [...]

Torture Prevention and Monitoring in Lebanon II

Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Lebanon Strengthen efforts towards prevention of torture and ill treatment in Lebanon as well as the effective monitoring and reporting of torture allegations. 2009 - 2011 During the implementation of the “Torture Prevention and Monitoring in Lebanon” (TPML) project in 2008, ALEF noticed that [...]

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 resulted from the forced displacement of almost one fourth of the population; where thousands of families sought safe havens in [...]