Lebanese Republic National report submitted in accordance with paragraph 15 (a) of the annex to Human Rights Council resolution 5/1 General Assembly A United Nations

Human Rights Council

Working Group on the Universal Periodic Review Thirty-seventh session

18–29 January 2021

National report submitted in accordance with paragraph 15 (a) of the annex to Human Rights Council resolution 5/1

Lebanese Republic

1 The present document has been reproduced as received. Its content does not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the Secretariat of the United Nations.

United Nations A

General Assembly

Original: Arabic

I. Introduction

1. After submitting its second national report in 2015 under the universal periodic review mechanism, Lebanon examined the 219 recommendations issued by the Human Rights Council on that occasion, of which it accepted 128, took note of 89 and partially accepted 2.¹ Between the beginning of 2019 and the end of September 2020, Lebanon drafted its third national report on the actions it has taken to implement those recommendations.

2. The period of time covered by the present report can be divided into two stages.

During the first stage there were a number of political, legislative, operational and structural developments including presidential, parliamentary and municipal elections; the approval of budgets; and administrative, judicial, diplomatic, security and military appointments. The second stage was marked by political, financial, economic, social and environmental crises which led to a popular movement that arose in a number of areas on 17 October 2019 demanding a package of urgent reforms. Those crises have been made worse by the consequences of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic and the general mobilization required to deal with it.²

3. The completion of the report has coincided with the efforts made by the people of Lebanon and by the country’s administrative, judicial, security and military bodies to deal with the humanitarian tragedy caused by the explosion in the port of Beirut on 4 August 2020.

4. Despite everything, Lebanon has striven to meet the deadline for this report, which highlights the more notable features of the progress made in implementing the 2015 recommendations and in promoting human rights. Ultimately, it also reviews the decisive³ challenges the country is facing.

II. Methodology

5. The present report was drafted in the same way as the other national periodic reports Lebanon is required to submit under the human rights treaties to which it is a party. In fact, Decree No. 3268 of 19 June 2018 envisaged the establishment of “a national mechanism for preparing reports and following up on recommendations from international bodies”, which brings together representatives from State-run human rights agencies.⁴This is consistent with recommendation No. 75 from 2015.

6. The members of the mechanism participated in a number of workshops, run in cooperation with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) and civil society organizations, on the institutionalization of communication between human rights stakeholders with a view to drafting national reports and following up on the implementation of recommendations.

7. The State agencies concerned held consultations with one another across the different sectors of human rights. They also conferred with the civil society groups that prepared the mid-term report, which was the subject of a seminar held in the Chamber of Deputies on 25 November 2018.

8. During the years 2019 and 2020, at the invitation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Emigrants, which acts as the secretariat of the mechanism, public coordination meetings were held with representatives from the State agencies concerned. These were followed by private consultations across the different sectors of human rights.

9. On 28 August 2019 – in order to emphasize the participatory approach and in cooperation with the Parliamentary Human Rights Committee and OHCHR – the mechanism held consultations in the Chamber of Deputies with members of parliament and with representatives from the National Human Rights Commission and from civil society organizations.

10. Consultations were also held with the national committee responsible for preparing the voluntary national report on the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals.

III. Advances in national legislation

11. Acting on recommendations 62 to 64, the Chamber of Deputies is monitoring the implementation of the National Human Rights Plan 2014–2019⁵and has passed laws that accommodate the priorities enshrined therein.⁶

12. Acting on recommendations 218 and 219, and in view of the fact that Lebanon is on the front line in the fight against terrorism and violent extremism, on 24 November 2015 the Chamber of Deputies ratified Act No. 42 regarding declaration of the cross-border transportation of money and Act No. 44 on combating money laundering and the financing of terrorism.

13. Acting on recommendations 42, 45 and 56 to 60, on 27 October 2016 the Chamber of Deputies ratified Act No. 62 establishing the National Human Rights Commission including the Committee for the Prevention of Torture.

14. Acting on recommendations regarding the rights of women, on 14 September 2017 the Chamber of Deputies passed Act No. 53 to repeal article 522 of the Criminal Code, which envisaged the termination of prosecution proceedings or suspension of the enforcement of a judgment if a valid marriage contract is concluded between the perpetrator of an offence ...

and the victim.

15. Acting on recommendations 34 to 36 and 111 to 119, on 19 September 2017 the Chamber of Deputies passed Act No. 65 which aims to combat torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment and which includes a criminal definition of torture separate and independent from that contained in the Criminal Code.

16. Acting on recommendations 112, 121 and 122, on 9 July 2019 the Chamber of Deputies passed Act No. 138 whereby certain penalties are replaced with a penalty of unpaid social work. The initiative was aimed to reduce prison overcrowding.

17. Acting on recommendations 16 and 110, on 30 November 2018 the Chamber of Deputies passed Act No. 105 regarding missing and forcibly disappeared persons, which also contemplates the right of families and relatives to know the fate of their loved ones. The relevant penalties are set forth in section VI of the Act, which also envisages the formation of an independent agency for missing and forcibly disappeared persons.

18. Acting on recommendation 152, on 10 October 2018 the Chamber of Deputies passed Act No. 83 to combat corruption in the public sector and to establish a national anti- corruption agency. On 30 September 2020, amendments regarding “illicit enrichment” were introduced to Act No. 154 of 27 December 1999.

19. The Chamber of Deputies has endorsed the accession of Lebanon to:

• The International Convention for the Suppression of the Financing of Terrorism, on 13 February 2018;

• The Arms Trade Treaty, on 25 September 2018;

• The Paris Agreement on Climate Change, on 29 March 2019.

20. In 2018, Lebanon joined the global compact on refugees and the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration.

IV. Cooperation with the United Nations and other international organizations

21. Acting on recommendation 77, Lebanon has drafted national periodic reports on the promotion of human rights, which multidisciplinary delegations have then discussed before the following treaty bodies:

• In 2015, Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women;

• In 2016, Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination and Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights;

• In 2017, Committee against Torture and Committee on the Rights of the Child;

• In 2018, Human Rights Committee.⁷

22. With the creation of a national mechanism for preparing reports and following up on recommendations, Lebanon has been able to submit its periodic reports on time.

23. Lebanon continues to welcome special rapporteurs who request to visit the country.

They include:

• Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression, in 2017;

• Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders, in 2018.

24. The Lebanese State has always acted in the spirit of recommendations 67 and 73 and has pursued its partnership with the United Nations and other international organizations, each under its own mandate. Most of the programmes and activities detailed in the present report are results of that partnership.

25. The State also maintains a close and cooperative relationship with OHCHR through its regional office in Beirut.

V. Cooperation with civil society

26. The Lebanese State continues to cooperate closely with civil society organizations that operate in the country and draws on their professionalism and knowledge in the area of human rights. In fact, most of the programmes and activities detailed in the present report are the result of partnership between the State and civil society.

VI. Measures taken to implement the recommendations of 2015

A. General recommendations

Recommendations 42 to 54 and 56 to 60 regarding the establishment of the National Human Rights Commission including the Committee for the Prevention of Torture 27. Following the passage of Act No. 62 of 2016 establishing the National Human Rights Commission including the Committee for the Prevention of Torture, in 2018 the Council of Ministers appointed the 10 members of the Commission of whom 5 constituted the Committee against Torture.⁸They were sworn in before the President of the Republic in 2019.

28. On 15 October 2019, the Commission submitted drafts of its rules of procedure and financial regulations to the Secretariat of the Council of Ministers. The latter then referred them, accompanied by draft decrees relating to jurisdiction and headquarters, to the competent government bodies for them to express their opinion, prior to approval by the Council of Ministers.

29. On 15 January 2020, the Office of the Prime Minister issued circulars urging administrative, judicial, security and military bodies to cooperate with the Commission on human rights-related issues.

Recommendation 65 to develop institutional and human rights infrastructure, taking account of international humanitarian law

30. The creation of special administrative units in security and military agencies has helped to ensure that those agencies give greater importance to promoting human rights and combating torture in the course of their operations.

• In the Ministry of Defence, the functions of the Office for International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights, which was created in 2009, were extended and, in 2015, it became a Directorate with the same name;

• In the Ministry of Interior and Municipalities, a human rights section was set up in the Directorate General of Internal Security Forces while a department for human rights, organizations and migration was created in the Directorate General of Public Security;

• A department for international law and human rights was created in the Directorate General of State Security.⁹

31. The Directorate General of Internal Security Forces has adopted a strategic plan of action for 2018–2022, the aim of which is to ensure transparency, accountability, oversight, promotion of human rights and partnership with civil society organizations. In addition, the Directorate has developed a community policing initiative and has transformed a number of its units into model units that take account of international human rights standards in investigations, custody arrangements, the handling of complaints, the provision of assistance and services, and staff training. Five regional squads of the Beirut police have been transformed into “model squads” and the initiative is set to expand into other areas.

32. The Ministry of Defence and the Ministry of the Interior and Municipalities, via the Directorate General of Internal Security Forces and the Directorate General of Public Security, have adopted codes of conduct¹⁰setting forth the humanitarian, ethical and legal standards that security and military personnel must respect when carrying out law enforcement duties.

Recommendations 70 and 72 to train public sector personnel in human rights

33. Government agencies organize training courses on human rights issues for officials, judges, diplomats and security and military personnel. The courses are run whenever the necessary funding is available, in cooperation with donor countries, international organizations and civil society organizations.

34. In the Ministry of Defence – in addition to its training courses – modules on human rights and international humanitarian law¹¹have been incorporated into the curriculum of military academies of various levels, and two textbooks on those subjects have been prepared.

The Army Command verifies that this training is being effectively implemented in the course of its periodic inspections.

35. The Directorate General of Internal Security Forces¹²and the Directorate General of State Security¹³ are continuing to provide human rights training to their personnel, particularly vis-à-vis human trafficking, arrest and investigation methods, protection for refugees and the rights of the most vulnerable groups.

36. The Ministry of Social Affairs has run a number of intensive training courses to build human rights capacity and knowledge in staff at its headquarters, development service centres and regional units, specifically vis-à-vis the rights of children, women and older persons.¹⁴ 37. The Centre for Educational Research and Development runs training courses for teachers and educators across all areas of the country. The courses cover a culture of peace, child protection, the principles of citizenship, diversity management and conflict resolution.

38. Stakeholders, including the National Commission for Lebanese Women, are collaborating on campaigns to raise awareness about women’s rights as well as on training courses for persons working in the sectors concerned, such as gender focal points,¹⁵judges and officials working in municipalities, trade unions, the media and other fields.

Recommendations 218 and 219 to combat terrorism and provide security guarantees to citizens

39. The Lebanese State has adopted a bilateral approach that distinguishes between

“counter-terrorism”, which is a mechanism to address the dangers of current terrorist activity, and the “prevention of violent extremism”, which is a long-term development mechanism to immunize society against the perils of extremism. Each of these areas has a specific strategy.

40. Lebanon adopted its National Strategy for the Prevention of Violent Extremism in 2018. The Strategy arose out of coordination between ministries and consultation with civil society, the private sector and academia. The overall objectives of the Strategy are as follows:

• Developing long-term structural perceptions to prevent violent extremism at the national and local levels;

• Avoiding stereotyping any category, group, region or creed;

• Defining public policy principles with a view to addressing the root causes of extremism;

• Coordinating government action to prevent violent extremism;

• Establishing plans of action in all strategic areas.

41. The State has rolled out a number of practical measures and activities¹⁶to implement the different parts of the strategy:

• Dialogue and conflict prevention;

• Promotion of good governance;

• Justice, human rights and the rule of law;

• Civic development and the involvement of local communities;

• Gender equality and the empowerment of women;

• Education and skills-development;

• Economic development and the creation of job opportunities;

• Strategic communication, information technology and social media;

• Empowerment of young persons.

42. Efforts are currently being made to draft the National Strategy for the Prevention of Terrorism.

43. The Ministry of Justice contributes to efforts to combat terrorism and violent extremism by training members of the judiciary, preparing written answers to correspondence on those subjects from local, regional and international stakeholders and periodically participating in related activities, both in Lebanon and abroad.

44. Judicial, security and military bodies have reinforced communication and coordination with one another while security and military bodies have also strengthened their exchange of information with Arab and foreign intelligence agencies, and they have participated in intelligence-gathering operations, thereby boosting prevention capabilities and dismantling a number of terrorist cells and networks.

45. The Army meets the planning, equipment and training requirements of its special units that carry out operations against terrorist groups, especially in populated areas. In fact, since 2000 the Army has made advances against terrorism on the ground, including in Operation

“Fajr al-Jaroud” in 2017, which led to the liberation of Baalbek and Qa’ from the presence of terrorist groups.

B. Civil and political rights

Recommendation 159 regarding the need to safeguard the democratic nature of Lebanon

46. Since the election of Général Michel Aoun as President of the Republic in 2016, Lebanon has witnessed a gradual return to the regular functioning of its public institutions.

The first government of Saad Hariri was formed, which oversaw the parliamentary elections of May 2018.

47. The electorate was called to participate in municipal and mukhtar elections in 2016 and in parliamentary elections in 2018 when, for the first time, proportional representation was used, as well as a voting mechanism that enabled Lebanese emigrants to participate from their places of residence abroad.

48. Following the parliamentary elections, on 30 January 2019, a second government was formed under the leadership of Saad Hariri. That administration then took a number of important steps and approved a series of administrative, judicial, diplomatic, security and military appointments.

49. With the advent of the popular movement, on 29 October 2019 the second Saad Hariri government resigned and, on 21 January 2020, a new government was formed under Hassan Diab. That government also resigned, after the explosion in the port of Beirut. At the date of submission of the present report, the outgoing government is continuing to operate ad interim until consultations lead to the formation of a new government.

Recommendation 99 regarding the need to ensure that security forces and the military are governed, during peaceful demonstrations, by the Basic Principles on the Use of Force and Firearms by Law Enforcement Officials

50. The Army has drawn up guidelines regarding use of force and interaction with civilians. The guidelines, which are consistent with domestic law and international standards, are intended to be used by military units carrying out law enforcement duties, and are updated in the light of developing circumstances. On 20 January 2019, the Army adopted a code of conduct intended to strengthen controls and increase accountability during security operations. The code also covers principles on the use of force and firearms and the treatment of demonstrators and detainees.

51. The Directorate General of Internal Security Forces respects safeguards protecting freedom of expression and of peaceful assembly and does not restrict or impede those rights except in accordance with the law. Members of the Internal Security Forces are held accountable under a code of conduct, which was issued in 2012 and revised in 2016 and 2018.

52. Under the code of conduct of the Directorate General of Public Security, members of that body may not use force except in cases of extreme necessity. Such force must be commensurate with the risk being faced and can be used only after the exhaustion of non- violent means and in accordance with national law.

Recommendations 15, 16 and 110 regarding forcibly disappeared persons

53. Following the passage of Act No. 105 of 2018 regarding missing and forcibly disappeared persons, on 18 June 2018 the Council of Ministers appointed the members of the National Commission for Forcibly Disappeared Persons, who were sworn in before the President of the Republic on 15 July 2020.

54. The International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance is still under discussion, the Council of Ministers having referred a decree for its ratification before the Chamber of Deputies in 2007.

55. The Army¹⁷is pursuing the issue of missing military personnel and has set up a database containing pre-disappearance information for the persons concerned. This information is obtained from their families in the case of persons missing outside the context of military operations. The Army also documents the cases of persons who go missing during military operations. DNA samples from the relatives of the missing are held by the Directorate for International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights, which is the responsible body in this regard.

Recommendations 143 and 148 regarding the fight against human trafficking

56. Since the endorsement of Act No. 164 of 2011, which added a chapter to the Criminal Code to punish trafficking offences, the competent authorities have been pursuing their efforts to combat such crimes and to provide protection to victims. In that connection:

• The Ministry of Justice compiles an annual report containing the body of judgments and sentences handed down by the competent courts on matters related to human trafficking;

• The Army has provided training courses on human trafficking to officers in units deployed along the borders as well as to forensic officers involved in preliminary investigations. It has also set up a special committee to study ways to combat this offence, as it is often Army units that block human trafficking networks;

• The Directorate General of Internal Security Forces provides training for its members who work in the Office for Combating Human Trafficking and Protecting Morals. The training covers the investigative methods to be employed when dealing with women and children, and how to protect persons most exposed to the risk of trafficking;

• The Directorate General of Public Security has launched a campaign to raise awareness about trafficking among its staff. Weekly lectures take place to explain the legal framework and to illustrate evidence and indicators¹⁸that the offence might be taking place.

57. In 2014, the Directorate General of Internal Security Forces altered the name of the Office for Protecting Morals to the Office for Combating Human Trafficking and Protecting Morals. The functions of the Office were also expanded to include inquiring into cases of human trafficking using information received, under the oversight of the competent courts.

The Directorate also brought the Office’s custody facilities into line with legal standards for detention centres and, in cooperation with its other agencies, introduced new investigative methods. Moreover, on 25 September 2017, the Directorate issued general memorandum No.

339/204, which sets down the principles for handling and investigating offences of human trafficking and sexual assault and for providing support to victims.

58. The Directorate General of Public Security has set up an anti-human trafficking division as part of its human rights department and it has launched a mechanism to conduct investigations into human trafficking offences under the supervision of the competent courts.

Moreover, with the opening of a complaints hotline, the Directorate is collaborating with civil society organizations to provide services and protection to victims of trafficking through the “safe house” initiative. Under that scheme:¹⁹

• Immediate and prompt intervention takes place when potential victims of trafficking are present in a place where they may be subjected to ill-treatment. Acting on indications from the competent court, they are then placed in the safe house;

• Potential victims remain in the safe house for the required period, from the start of preliminary investigations by the Directorate General of Public Security until the conclusion of investigations by the competent court;

• Potential victims are given the opportunity to return to their home country, and a lawyer is allowed to supplement their case files before the competent court. In some cases, coordination takes place with the party who will provide shelter to the victims upon their return, particularly in cases involving female “artistes”;

• Prior to the investigation, potential victims are fully informed of their rights and duties, and they are told that the purpose of the investigation is to protect and assist not arrest or punish them.

59. In 2016, the Ministry of Social Affairs, in collaboration with other ministries, international organizations and civil society organizations, approved the Sectoral Plan on Child Trafficking in Lebanon. The Plan – which sets a framework for action to safeguard, protect and rehabilitate child victims of human trafficking and those at risk of being trafficked²⁰– is based on the National Strategy to Safeguard and Protect Children against All Forms of Violence Ill-Treatment and Neglect.

60. The implementation of Act No. 164 of 2011 has highlighted the need for supplementary steps, in particular to ensure that victims of trafficking receive sufficient protection and are not punished, specifically vis-à-vis the exercise of prostitution. On 24 May 2018, the Ministry of Justice presented the Council of Ministers with a bill for a separate law that takes account of all the provisions of the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime. The aim is to stimulate efforts against human trafficking, to establish a procedural mechanism for declaring persons as victims and protecting them, and to set up an independent national body.

Recommendation 152 regarding the fight against corruption and the promotion of transparency

61. Under the Criminal Code, all offences against the public administration – such as embezzlement, bribery, abuse of authority or abuse of office – are considered to be acts of corruption.

62. Following the enactment of Act No. 38 of 2008, which extended the powers of the Special Investigation Commission to include lifting bank secrecy and freezing assets resulting from corruption, the Chamber of Deputies passed a package of anti-corruption laws:

• Act regarding declaration of the cross-border transportation of money;

• Act regarding access to information; Decree No. 6940 regarding the implementation of the Act was issued on 8 September 2020;

• Act on combating money laundering and the financing of terrorism;

• Act on the exchange of information for tax purposes, which is applicable in cases of tax evasion and tax fraud;

• Act No. 175 of 8 May 2020 to combat corruption in the public sector and establish the National Anti-Corruption Commission;

• Act approving the establishment of the International Anti-Corruption Academy as an international organization;

• Act approving accession to the International Convention for the Suppression of the Financing of Terrorism.

63. As part of efforts to promote transparency and combat corruption, the Council of Ministers has issued a raft of decrees on matters such as financial auditing and immediate measures for the recovery of assets arising from corruption or theft.

64. On 12 May 2020, the Council of Ministers approved the National Anti-Corruption Strategy,²¹which was the outcome of a consultative drafting process that involved the office of the Minister of State for Administrative Reform, a number of members of parliament, other ministries, international organizations and civil society groups. The Strategy effectively constitutes a national roadmap for the period from 2020 to 2025 and is consistent with the State’s obligations under the United Nations Convention against Corruption.

65. On 28 May 2020, the Guide on International Cooperation with the Lebanese Republic to Recover Proceeds of Corruption was issued, under the supervision of the Ministry of Justice and with the support of the United Nations Development Programme.

66. The National Anti-Corruption Commission and an auxiliary technical committee were created in 2011. Subsequently, in 2012, the office of the Minister of State for Administrative Reform was set up along with a smaller technical committee to prepare national reports under the Mechanism for the Review of Implementation of the United Nations Convention against Corruption. In 2017, the Minister’s office established a national team with responsibility for activities related to the Conference of the States Parties to the United Nations Convention against Corruption. The team participates in meetings and conferences regarding the implementation of the Convention.

67. The Ministry of Justice has also organized meetings and conferences in this connection, in particular with a view to strengthening the role of judicial bodies in the fight against corruption, with the participation of representatives of other ministries and international organizations. At the regional level, between 2013 and 2016 the Ministry of Justice headed the Arab Anti-Corruption and Integrity Network and its non-governmental group, which included both governmental and non-governmental Lebanese members.

68. The Ministry of Justice launched its updated website in 2017, thereby enabling citizens to access information directly and reducing their direct interaction with officials. The Ministry is also working on a project to create a “single window” and to automate the commercial register and all associated judicial and administrative transactions.

69. The Directorate General of State Security records offences related to the squandering of assets and corruption, which it refers to the central inspectorate, and it provides support to public inspectors from the inspectorate as they carry out their oversight duties in offices of the public administration. The Directorate has set up a hotline where citizens can report cases of extortion or other violations they might have suffered while undertaking administrative transactions of any kind, so that the necessary measures can be taken in coordination with the relevant regulatory bodies and the competent courts.

Recommendations 34 and 36 and from 111 to 122 regarding the fight against torture

Criminalization of torture

70. Act No. 65 of 2017, which aims to combat torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, contemplates the concept of psychological torture and its possible consequences, and it grants the courts the possibility of ordering rehabilitation and/or compensation for victims. Furthermore, the Act establishes that statements made under torture are to be considered invalid and it prohibits preliminary investigations from proceeding in cases where a complaint of torture has been received. In order to ensure

impartiality and objectivity, inquiries into cases of alleged torture can be conducted only by an investigating judge.

71. Parliamentary committees are currently discussing amendments to the Act.

Improved conditions in places of detention

72. The Ministry of Justice – through judges and officials of the Directorate of Prisons – conducts regular inspections of places of detention, particularly prisons and custody facilities, where it examines inmates’ conditions and listens to their stories. At the conclusion of a visit, the Ministry of Justice submits a report to the Ministry of the Interior and Municipalities, the Office of the Public Prosecution at the Court of Cassation, the Office of the Public Prosecution at the Court of Appeal (if necessary) and the governor of the prison or custody facilities concerned. This process helps in the development of mechanisms to address shortcomings and protect the rights of prisoners and their families.

73. The Ministry of Justice is working to build the capacity of staff at the Directorate of Prisons and to improve living conditions for inmates. It is intensifying rehabilitation programmes, seeking to address the growth of the phenomenon of violent extremism inside prisons and strengthening its partnership with civil society and with academia. In 2019, the Ministry of Justice signed a memorandum of understanding with the European Union the purpose of which is to improve the system of legal aid. The Ministry has also signed a memorandum of understanding with a local group known as Restart, under which a forensic and psychological medical centre has been opened at the Palace of Justice in Tripoli to help identify victims of torture.

74. The Army has integrated Act No. 65 of 2017 into its own guidelines which have been circulated among military personnel. In addition, it has made the Act part of the training it provides to its investigators and detention centre staff. The Army is also working to make detention conditions consistent with international standards, to which end it is conducting the necessary inspections while Army Command is seeking solutions to problems that arise, particularly logistical problems. Moreover, Army Command periodically monitors the places of detention under its responsibility and prison doctors are required to submit quarterly reports on prisoners’ state of health with practical suggestions as to how to cure any diseases they may have contracted. In 2018 military guidelines on the management of prisons were amended to bring them into line with the United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners (the Nelson Mandela Rules) after which standing instructions were drafted for prison governors and prison doctors, which also cover the rights of prisoners.

75. The human rights section of the Directorate General of Internal Security Forces oversees the Directorate’s prisons as well as providing advice and conducting studies about how to improve those prisons in line with international standards. Across the country, the Directorate has set up special custody facilities where women and children can be held separately and it has organized training courses for officials who manage such facilities, in partnership with international donors.

76. The Directorate General of Public Security provides ongoing training to persons who work in detention centres with a view to building their capacities in areas related to detention and investigation, in line with the United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners. The duties of Directorate General of Public Security officials in detention centres are described in detail in a chapter entitled “Inmates in detention centres” in the Directorate’s code of conduct.

77. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Defence (Army Command), the Directorate General of Internal Security Forces and the Directorate General of Public Security have put practical measures in place in all detention centres in order to reduce the risk of the disease spreading among staff, prisoners, detainees or their families.

78. The Committee for the Prevention of Torture, which was set up under Act No. 62 of 2016, began making visits to prisons and detention centres once Army Command, the Directorate General of Internal Security Forces and the Directorate General of Public Security had issued service notes to facilitate such visits – either periodic or unannounced – by Committee members and experts.

79. Under a protocol it signed with the Lebanese State, the International Committee of the Red Cross visits detention centres and conducts private interviews with prisoners to learn about the conditions they face and to verify any human rights violations. In the same way, prisons run by the Directorate General of Internal Security Forces are open to visits by local and international organizations, and dozens of rehabilitation, educational and training programmes are currently being provided, especially in facilities that house women or juveniles. The Directorate General of Public Security also cooperates with international organizations and civil society organizations in monitoring the conditions of inmates in places of detention, and it gives visiting and access rights to service providers.

Monitoring mechanisms and a complaints system for torture allegations

80. Army Command set up a committee one of the tasks of which was to verify the validity of allegations of torture or of any other form of violation. Those duties were then taken up by the Directorate for International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights, which makes periodic visits to places of detention to ensure due compliance with the principles governing the rights of prisoners. In 2018 Army Command set up a complaints mechanism inside its prisons, under which prisoners can place their grievances in special boxes, using a form with which they are provided. The complaints are then sorted and addressed by the competent authority and the prisoner concerned is contacted and informed of the outcome.

No member of prison staff can see the contents of the complaints, particularly if they concern cases of torture or other forms of ill-treatment. Prisoners can also submit complaints to inspectors without the prison governor or guards being present, or directly to Army Command or the competent courts.

81. Officials of the Committee against Torture in the Directorate General of Internal Security Forces make unannounced visits to detention centres and prisons, their aim being to develop policies and services with a view to improving conditions and holding security personnel to account for any failings. The Directorate has adopted a system whereby prisoners can submit complaints directly to its human rights section, without the knowledge of prison officials.

82. The Directorate General of Public Security has a committee that visits detention centres at least twice a month where it conducts inspections, asks randomly selected inmates about the conditions they face and ensures that prisoners are able to enjoy their rights to nutrition, health, hygiene, water and communication with the outside world. The committee also verifies that detainees are being well and humanely treated and that they are not being subjected to torture or degrading and inhuman treatment. The Directorate has installed a hotline complaints system and has set up an administrative unit to receive those complaints, either directly or via email.

83. The Directorate General of State Security monitors its own investigative mechanisms and places of detention in order to identify and punish any human rights violations. The Directorate’s department for international law and human rights continues to carry out periodic unannounced inspections in places of detention to ensure that they are abiding by international standards.

84. The Committee for the Prevention of Torture, which was set up under Act No. 62 of 2016, has the right to obtain information from the competent authorities and to examine the contents and the progress of complaints, allegations and defence submissions before courts or disciplinary or administrative tribunals, which involve allegations of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.

Addressing the phenomenon of overcrowding in places of detention

85. The Army has formed committees to address the phenomenon of overcrowding in its places of detention. Moreover, military courts have intensified their weekly sessions and issue orders of acquittal, release, limitation of duration of detention or fines as an alternative to detention, all of which helps to alleviate overcrowding.

86. A ministerial committee²²has been set up to coordinate and submit proposals to resolve the phenomenon of overcrowding in custody facilities run by the Directorate General of Internal Security Forces. The committee brings together representatives of the Directorate, the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Defence and the Directorate General of Public Security.

87. The Directorate General of Public Security has established a temporary detention centre that is consistent with international standards for protecting and respecting the rights of detainees.

88. An automated system has been introduced into criminal courts of cassation, and that process will continue until it has been introduced into all palaces of justice. The number of judges enrolled in the Institute for Judicial Studies has been increased thanks to competitive entrance exams, which will contribute to the acceleration of criminal trials. Moreover, Act No. 138 of 2019 whereby certain penalties are replaced with the penalty of unpaid social work is also expected to reduce prison overcrowding.

Recommendation 123 regarding the discontinuance of unlimited detention on remand, which Lebanon noted

89. The term of pretrial detention is set down in the Code of Criminal Procedure. Any extension to that term without legal warrant or justification constitutes a violation of human rights and has to be promptly rectified, in accordance with the obligations Lebanon has under the international treaties to which it is a party.

90. Through its Directorate of Prisons, the Ministry of Justice is working to understand the reasons behind the high rate of preventive detention and to try and reduce it. To this end, studies are conducted and reports published regarding high detention rates and their consequences, on the basis of which solutions can then be proposed. Report cards with the names of detainees and convicted prisoners who have not been summoned to appear before the courts for a certain period (six months or a year) are sent to the Minister of Justice and the Ministry’s central inspectorate. Instances where the case file has been lost or where there has been undue delay in issuing and communicating a sentence are referred to the competent authorities for follow-up.

Recommendation 149 regarding the improvement of conditions for fair trial by introducing reforms to limit the jurisdiction of military tribunals and enhancing the independence of the judiciary, which Lebanon noted

91. On 30 September 2020, the Chamber of Deputies endorsed an amendment to article 47 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, under which persons facing proceedings in the criminal justice system are ensured the necessary guarantees including an obligation for a lawyer to be present during questioning, including before the judicial police.

92. The Code of Military Justice (Act No. 24 of 1968) regulates the work of military tribunals and defines their jurisdiction in terms of territory and subject matter. Any amendment to the Code or the repeal of any of its provisions is a matter for the Chamber of Deputies. There are currently a number of bills and proposals to do away with the military tribunals and to restore jurisdiction over a number of offences to the ordinary courts.

93. A number of members of parliament have made a proposal for a law to enshrine the independence of the judiciary. Ministerial statements from successive governments have long been emphasizing the need to realize the independence of the judiciary as a bulwark of the democratic system.

Recommendations 2 to 4 and 101 to 109 regarding the death penalty, which Lebanon noted

94. Lebanon continues to uphold its voluntary commitment to a moratorium on capital punishment although domestic laws do still envisage the death penalty for certain very serious offences.

95. Several attempts have been made in Lebanon to abolish the death penalty altogether and replace it with hard labour for life.

C. Economic, social and cultural rights

Recommendations 165 and 166 regarding the right to work

96. As part of its efforts to harmonize relations between workers and employers and to reconcile them with international labour standards, on 2 April 2017 the Ministry of Labour,

the General Confederation of Lebanese Workers and the Association of Lebanese Industrialists signed the National Programme for Decent Work in Lebanon 2017–2020, in cooperation with the International Labour Organization (ILO). The purpose of the programme is to strengthen cooperation between the three parties involved in the production process with a view to analysing labour legislation, identifying shortcomings and challenges in the light of the needs of the labour market and proposing solutions. The programme stresses the interrelation between policies to improve working conditions; the activation of inspection systems; the creation of job opportunities for young persons; the improvement of social security; the rationalization of governance, regulatory frameworks and implementation mechanisms; and social protection for all workers, including migrants.

97. While continuing its tripartite sectoral consultations with trade unions and employers, the Ministry of Labour has been collaborating with partners in the implementation of a technical assistance project to support and promote social dialogue.

98. During 2018 and 2019, the Central Bureau of Statistics conducted its largest specialized survey entitled “Labour Force and Household Living Conditions in Lebanon”,²³ which constitutes an important point of reference for the development of economic and social policies.

Recommendations 166 and 172 regarding the right to health

99. As part of its efforts to ensure access to health-care services for persons without insurance, the Ministry of Health took a number of regulatory measures that subsequently evolved into a three-tier strategy: rationalizing public sector hospitalization contracts, improving the quality of outpatient and the equality of access thereto, and reducing direct payments that impoverish families.

100. The Ministry of Health continues to cooperate with health centres belonging to civil society organizations with a view to expanding health-service coverage across all regions, to the extent possible. Among the practical steps it has taken, in 2016 the Ministry made mental health care part of the package of services offered by certain health centres. Currently, the national primary health-care network includes 239 health centres, of which 117 are part of the “accreditation programme”. Visits to the network by low-income Lebanese citizens increased to 300,000 in 2019; i.e. more than 3.5 visits for each citizen not covered by health insurance. This is in addition to 650,000 visits by displaced Syrians.

101. Between 2016 and 2019 the number of persons without health insurance and who have health coverage from the Ministry of Health increased from 158,048 to 243,248.

102. Between 2016 and 2017 the Ministry of Health adopted a charter of ethical standards for the distribution of medicines as well as a system of barcodes and traceability. In addition, the Ministry has been working to facilitate access to medicines at affordable prices – and in particular medicines for chronic conditions – for poor persons who do not have health insurance. It has also developed a system for the distribution of costly medicines using depositories run directly by the Ministry.

103. In order to enhance transparency, the Ministry of Health has launched a website with information on doctors, medicines and clinics. It has also developed a mobile app via which users can consult the cost of medicines, and it has opened the way for complaints to be submitted via a telephone hotline or the website.

104. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Ministry of Health has coordinated with international organizations to ensure that, in the shortest possible time, State-run hospitals are adequately equipped to treat persons affected by the disease. These efforts have been supported by a national fundraising campaign.

105. Since 2011 the health sector has been suffering the consequences of the displacement of Syrian citizens, with the ratio between hospital beds and inhabitants falling from 3.1 per cent in 2004 to 2.1 per cent in 2019.

106. Through contracts it has signed with civil society organizations in all regions, the Ministry of Social Affairs is able to provide a number of affordable health services, including medicines and vaccinations. During the course of 2018 some 102,000 persons from the most vulnerable categories benefited from these services.

107. Since 2015, the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Economy and Trade have worked together on several large-scale campaigns across all regions to monitor the activities of food and hospitality outlets. The purpose is to ensure that the goods provided to customers comply with food safety and health standards, and to take action against violators.

Recommendations 120, 139 and 173 to 182 regarding the right to education

108. The Chamber of Deputies has passed a number of laws reaffirming the right to education. These include Act No. 686 of 1998 regarding free and compulsory primary education and Act No. 105 of 2011 regarding free and compulsory basic education without distinction between the sexes in State-run schools. Furthermore Act No. 211 of 2012 allows the Ministry of Education and Higher Education to distribute books free of charge to children in State-run kindergartens and in basic education.

109. The Ministry of Education and Higher Education has established a committee to follow up on the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and, in particular, Goal 4: ensure inclusive and equitable quality education for all.

110. The Ministry has embraced the concept of pupil-friendly schools and is committed to developing policies to protect children in the school environment by promoting a violence- free educational culture, taking a preventive approach vis-à-vis the most vulnerable groups and intervening early in cases of violence in schools. The implementation of this approach is monitored by the guidance unit of the Directorate General for Education, which makes periodic visits to State-run schools and holds educational meetings. In addition, the Centre for Educational Research and Development runs activities to publicize the approach and trains teachers in how to apply it to best advantage.

111. In 2018 the Ministry developed a policy to protect pupils in the school environment.

This involves training educational counsellors to monitor at-risk pupils, setting up a complaints system and referring any cases to the child protection system run by the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Social Affairs for them to take appropriate protective measures.

112. A gender perspective committee was set up in the Ministry of Education and Higher Education in 2013. Its purpose is to integrate gender into ministerial policies and to organize training sessions and dialogue for officials, administrative and educational bodies, pupils and parental committees. Moreover, the Centre for Educational Research and Development has conducted studies in which it analyses the educational curriculum from a social perspective.

113. The Ministry of Education and Higher Education undertakes to guarantee an education for all children, including the offspring of Lebanese women and foreign fathers. In that regard, it has adopted a number of practical measures; for example that of applying a single fee for Lebanese students and students of Lebanese mothers at the National Higher Music Conservatoire.

114. The Ministry of Education and Higher Education implements an informal accelerated learning programme, which qualifies non-Lebanese pupils to enrol in State-run schools. The programme provides education to persons who are aged between 7 and 17 and who have been out of school for more than 2 years, and it prepares them for reintegration into formal education.

115. On 9 January 2020 the Centre for Educational Research and Development launched a project to develop new educational curricula with a focus on the use of technology, interactive learning, digital resources and electronic platforms, within a secure digital environment.

116. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, and despite the challenges posed by the lack of resources, the Ministry of Education and Higher Education has organized distance- learning courses for pupils and students, as well as end-of-year exams at certain universities.

Recommendations 170 and 171 regarding the fight against abject poverty

117. The Ministry of Social Affairs provides families registered in its National Programme to Support the Poorest Families²⁴with the “Hayat” card and a package of educational, health and nutritional services:

• Insurance benefit differentials for treatment in public and private hospitals under contract to the Programme are paid by the Ministry of Health, social security or civil

servants’ cooperatives, for all the family members who are registered in the Programme. A total of 116,321 persons had received hospital treatment as of the end of 2018;

• Free medical treatment is provided at the development service centres run by the Ministry of Social Affairs, for members of families who are registered in the Programme. This includes medical consultations, medication for chronic conditions and dental services;

• Free registration in State-run schools and vocational schools is guaranteed. This covers treasury, enrolment and parental committee fees as well as the cost of books.

As of 2019, a total of 160,149 children had benefited from these services;

• A total of 15,265 families – or 86,464 individuals – had received an e-food card as of July 2020.

118. As of July 2020, a total of 237,958 Lebanese citizens from 42,935 registered families had benefited from the National Programme to Support the Poorest Families.²⁵Thanks to the services the Programme provides, school dropout rates have fallen and children’s health has improved.

119. In 2016 the Ministry of Social Affairs rolled out a winter programme under which 24,601 poor families received cash payments via an e-card system, thereby covering the needs of 71,796 children during the winter months.

120. In September 2018 the Ministry of Social Affairs adopted a pilot programme on

“graduating out of poverty”. The programme, which targeted 675 of the 10,000 poorest families holding an e-food card, provided support for the launch of economic activities as well as training on technical and life skills, financial literacy and the links between microfinance services and improved management of income and savings.

121. During the course of 2018 the Ministry of Social Affairs launched an initiative aimed at finalizing a social protection plan for Lebanon. It carried out a study on its own social safety net programmes and services and held a workshop to draft a national social protection plan.

122. In order to mitigate the impact of the crisis caused by the displacement of Syrians into Lebanon, the Ministry of Social Affairs has been providing basic services to poor Lebanese citizens who have been affected, via the Lebanon Crisis Response Plan 2017–2020 which brings together multiple partners. The Ministry rolls out assistance programmes for a certain proportion of the poorest and most needy Lebanese citizens, whose names are drawn from the database of the National Programme to Support the Poorest Families. This takes place following a set criteria of 14 per cent of all aid offered to displaced persons in 2014, a figure that had fallen to 5 per cent by 2017.

123. As the cost-of-living crisis has worsened during the course of 2020, the Ministry of Social Affairs, in collaboration with international organizations, has continued to make emergency cash payments to most families holding an e-food card.

124. Specialized Army units are contributing by building roads and irrigation projects for agricultural development in order to help farmers reclaim land and continue their activities on the country’s northern and eastern borders. The Army also distributes relief supplies to citizens in conditions of extreme poverty and, to the extent possible, seeks to improve health conditions in areas most in need.

125. Until 2018 the Public Corporation for Housing continued to provide financial loans, under particular conditions, to help citizens with modest and limited incomes find decent housing. Although housing loan applications have declined as a result of a support package rolled out by the Central Bank, the resolution of this crisis remains a priority.

D. Rights of the most vulnerable persons

Recommendations 79, 80, 82 to 87, 126, 129, 160 and 161 regarding the rights of women

Ending discrimination against women

126. Since 2015, apart from Act No. 53 of 2017 to repeal article 522 of the Criminal Code, the following steps have been taken:

• The Commercial Code has been updated with new provisions envisaging equality between men and women in cases of bankruptcy (articles 625 to 629);

• Act No. 46 of 2017 has been passed, raising the minimum wage and giving married female functionaries the right to work on a half-time basis for a maximum of three years during their term of service. A year spent on a half-time basis is to be counted as half a year of effective service for the purpose of promotion, severance pay and pension.

127. Other competent bodies, such as the Ministry of Justice and the National Commission for Lebanese Women, have submitted bills, some of which have been endorsed by the Parliamentary Woman and Child Committee:

• A bill to amend certain provisions of the Social Security Act with a view to ensuring gender equality in benefiting from payments from the National Social Security Fund;

• A bill to criminalize sexual harassment in the workplace and in public places.

128. A circular has been published to include the names of the children of divorced women on the latter’s civil registry records. In addition, a decree has been issued requiring the name and surname of the mother to appear on the passports of her children as well as another decree requiring applications for candidacy as a member of local and legislative councils to include an indication of gender.

Promotion of women’s participation in public life

129. Act No. 61 of 2017 amended the Municipalities Acts with the addition of a clause regarding the right of married women whose personal status records have, by virtue of their marriage, been transferred to another municipality to stand as candidates for the municipal council where they were registered on the electoral rolls prior to their marriage. Moreover, it is no longer possible to revoke a woman’s membership of a municipal council following her marriage.

130. In the municipal elections of 2016, 680 women were successful out of 1,485 female candidates, thereby increasing the proportion of women on municipal councils to 5.6 per cent, up from 4.7 per cent in 2010. Moreover, 57 female mukhtars were elected in 2016 as compared with 39 in 2010.

131. In the parliamentary elections of 2018, there were 113 women among the 976 candidates, the highest proportion in history. Of them, six were elected to serve in the Chamber of Deputies.

132. As concerns the number of female ministers:

• The Government formed on 30 January 2019 included 4 female ministers out of a total of 30 ministers. Among them was the first ever female Minster of the Interior and Municipalities in Lebanon or the Arab world;²⁶

• The Government formed on 21 January 2020 included 9 female ministers out of a total of 19 ministers. Among them was the first ever female Minster of Defence in Lebanon or the Arab world. She is also the first woman to hold the position of Deputy Prime Minister.

133. Over recent years, in addition to a gradual increase in female representation in public service, the judiciary and the diplomatic corps, an increasing number of women have been volunteering for the Army and the Directorate General of Internal Security Forces, the Directorate General of Public Security and the Directorate General of State Security where they occupy a variety of leadership, operational and military positions.

134. Through its network of gender focal points,²⁷the National Commission for Lebanese Women is continuing its efforts to encourage the public administration, parties and trade unions to integrate the concept of gender into their organizational structures and operations, update the relevant laws and develop strategies in that connection.

135. The Ministry of Social Affairs launched a project on the participation of women in local government and development in order to promote women’s involvement in public life and decision-making. A national campaign was held in the run-up to the parliamentary elections of 2018 aimed at encouraging political parties to put up female candidates, raise awareness in society about the involvement of women and promote cooperation between the sexes with a view to ensuring better representation for women in the Chamber of Deputies.

Empowerment of women

136. The Ministry of Social Affairs has rolled out programmes aimed at building public sector workers’ capacity to integrate the concept of gender into programmes and policies. It has also organized courses aimed at developing the ability of women to run small and medium-sized businesses and so participate in the growth of their local communities. The Ministry provides vocational and professional training at its development service centres and it runs projects to support food manufacturing cooperatives run by women, assist entrepreneurs in setting up companies and help small and medium-sized economic enterprises.

137. In order to support working women, the Ministry of Social Affairs provides day-care nursery services at a symbolic cost in some 24 associations across all regions.²⁸

Protection of women from domestic violence

138. Since the passage of Act No. 293 of 2014 on the protection of women and other family members from domestic violence, officials at the Ministry of Social Affairs, the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Labour have been receiving training on how to address domestic violence and its consequences.

139. Having received training, personnel of the Directorate General of Internal Security Forces continue to handle complaints of domestic violence, which come in via the hotline.²⁹ Protection orders are periodically issued by the competent courts.

140. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the National Commission for Lebanese Women has cooperated with the Directorate General of Internal Security Forces to adopt a number of practical measures to address the increase in domestic violence that has resulted from quarantine restrictions.

141. Certain judges have drawn attention to the existence of legal loopholes as a result of which court rulings have periodically given an overly broad interpretation to Act No. 293 of 2014. As a result, the Ministry of Justice – in cooperation with the National Commission for Lebanese Women, the KAFA organization and others – has submitted proposals to amend certain provisions of the Act. These are intended to increase protection for women from domestic violence by broadening the concept of family. The amendments also envisage a new clause introducing criminal penalties for moral and economic harm, allowing minors to apply for protection orders independently and without a guardian and authorizing judges of summary affairs to turn directly to the security forces to implement a protection order.

Strategies and plans of action concerning women

142. The National Strategy for Gender Equality 2017–2030 has been adopted, which is based on the National Strategy for Women in Lebanon for 2011–2021,³⁰along with their respective plans of action,³¹as well as the National Strategy to Combat Violence against Women and Girls.

143. A national consultative meeting took place in 2019 under the title “Unifying visions and coordinating efforts on women’s issues”. The meeting was held at the Presidential Palace, in the presence of the President of the Republic.

144. In 2019 the National Commission for Lebanese Women launched an online database containing international treaties, national laws and legal jurisprudence regarding the rights of women.³²

145. The Council of Ministers has approved a national action plan for the implementation of Security Council resolution 1325 (2000), which began to be rolled out in 2020.

Recommendations 30, 32, 81, 88, 127, 128, 132, 155 and 156, all of which Lebanon noted

146. Each religious community in Lebanon continues to apply its own personal status law.

In 2017 the Druze community amended its personal status laws to allow women to obtain a full share of inheritance in the absence of a male heir. The amendments also set the value of dowries and raised the age of custody from 7 to 12 for males and from 9 to 14 for females, with visiting rights for parents.

147. There are currently a number of bills and proposals to amend the Nationality Act so as to allow Lebanese women married to foreigners to transmit their nationality to their children.

Recommendations 11, 12, 55, 133 to 137, 140 to 142, 150, 151 and 195 regarding the rights of children

Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the involvement of children in armed conflict

148. In 2014 the Ministry of Social Affairs, in collaboration with other ministries, drew up a national action plan for the protection of children caught up in armed violence in Lebanon.

The plan included provision for a legislative review to study the possibility of ratifying the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the involvement of children in armed conflict. It also envisaged the creation of mechanisms for coordination, awareness- raising and capacity-building as well as the proposal of child rehabilitation and reintegration programmes. The Ministry has also carried out a number of educational activities focusing on the Optional Protocol.

Aligning national laws with the Convention on the Rights of the Child

149. The Higher Council for Childhood, which is part of the Ministry of Social Affairs, has carried out a study to compare domestic laws with the Convention on the Rights of the Child.

As a result of the study, a number of bills have been put forward that seek to bring the law into line with principles governing children’s rights.

Protection of children

150. The Ministry of Social Affairs provides a package of specialized services for children and young girls who are victims of violence. The package includes psychological support, primary health care, social and economic empowerment and rights awareness.

151. The Ministry runs an internal and external referral system for the early identification of children who are victims or are at risk of violence, in order to ensure a prompt and timely response.

152. In 2016 the Ministry of Social Affairs launched a unified child protection policy for civil society groups working with children. Its purpose is to help build safe child protection systems within these groups through the application of recruitment standards, codes of conduct for employees and guidance for interacting with children, in order to identify, report and respond to allegations of abuse.

153. The Ministry of Social Affairs has launched a national campaign to shield children against misuse of the Internet and to raise public awareness about the impact such misuse can have on child safety and development.

154. In 2018 the Ministry of Social Affairs rolled out a national anti-vagrancy programme, which included a nationwide campaign against the exploitation of street children.³³The Ministry continues to enter into contracts with civil society organizations for the rehabilitation of street children by imparting skills and vocational education to help reintegrate them into society.

155. In the same year the Ministry of Health published a brief entitled “Supporting child protection efforts in the health sector in Lebanon”.