Report

Policy report: Stockholm’s Sunset: New horizons for justice in Europe

Fair Trials International has published this major report reviewing the achievements of the Stockholm Programme, and looking ahead to the future of fair trial rights in the EU. Link to Report

Intervention: Cándido González Martin and Plasencia Santos v. Spain

This report documents the third party intervention to the European Court of Human Rights in the case of Gonzalez Martin v Spain. The case challenges Spain’s use of the secreto de sumario regime, which allows all or part of the information regarding the criminal charges and investigation to be kept confidential from the defendant and [...]

Interim report of the Special Rapporteur of the Human Rights Council on Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment

This report highlights a number of general principles to help to guide States to re-evaluate and minimize the use of torture and, in certain cases, abolish the practice of solitary confinement. Link to Report

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 the capacity and funds to improve legislation, enforce laws, and report to the United Nations (UN) properly. With regard to [...]

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 Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the equivalent to more than a quarter of Lebanon’s resident population. The international community [...]

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 who have not registered with the UNHCR since the Lebanese government has temporarily suspended new registration of refugees as of [...]

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 Lebanese rose to the streets in protest. A campaign that gained international fame called You Stink was thought to be [...]

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, [...]

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 and children, spread out over 1,200 locations in Lebanon. Most of the Syrian refugees live in the Bekaa valley and [...]

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 revealed that there is rampant arbitrary detention in Lebanon. Suspects are routinely held in police stations or courthouse holding cells [...]