Beirut, 30th June 2022.
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has launched the publication of two pivotal guidebooks essential in the protection and promotion of human rights in Lebanon: ¨The Reference Guide of the NHRC including the Committee for the Prevention of Torture¨ and ¨The Complaints Handling Guide¨.
The launch of these guidebooks aims at increasing awareness and understanding, among state institutions, the security apparatus, academia and civil society, about the crucial role of the two leading independent Lebanese bodies enshrined with the protection and promotion of human rights and the prevention of torture.
In his speech, Mr Rein Nieland, Head of Cooperation at EU Delegation to Lebanon announced that “the European Union, as staunch defender of human rights, will continue to support Lebanon’s National Human Rights Commission, as well as the National Prevention Mechanism against Torture in pursuit of upholding democratic principles. The perquisite for hope and a better future in Lebanon is to have functioning oversight, independent bodies to ensure that human rights and democratic principles are upheld through fair treatment of its citizens”.
Consuelo Navarro Susino from- The International and Ibero-American Foundation for Administration and Public Policies – FIIAPP said: “In our Community Policing project, we are joining forces in our deep conviction that investing in human rights and democracy is essential in building healthy societies for present and future generations. And this is indeed what National Human Rights Commissions do worldwide. They check the health of Human Rights and freedoms in democracy; they check if the laws are being followed; and that people are being treated fairly. With the publication of these two guidebooks, the NHRC and NPM contribute to reach all sectors of the population and raise more awareness and understanding about their crucial role while conducting their work in accordance with the Paris Principles of pluralism, independence and efficiency.
The FIIAPP Human Rights Officer Laia Castells presented the range of support activities being implemented within the project, which are implemented with the National Human Rights Commission and civil society organizations, including empowerment, training, logistical support for visiting places of deprivation of liberty and other related activities. She added: “It is a tailored made program of support is being defined by the NHRC and NPM members with FIIAPP to respond to real needs to carry out their mandates to oversight Human Rights compliance and report against cases of Torture practices in Lebanon”.
For his part, the Secretary – General of the Arab Network of National Human Rights Institutions, Sultan Bin Hassan al-Jamali, thanked the Lebanese state for the good reception of the delegation coming from Qatar, which sought to strengthen cooperation, networking and support for the National Commission for human rights. He also stressed on “the importance of empowering the commission to play its role and join the Arab Network and the global coalition of National Human Rights Institutions, which is currently headed by Maryam Bint Abdullah Al-Attiyah, Chairman of the National Human Rights Committee in Qatar.”
The chairman of the National Human Rights Commission, Fadi Gerges, stressed on the importance of holding this assembly in conjunction with the commemoration of the International Day in support of victims of torture, which was launched by the United Nations and celebrated by all countries on the 26th of June every year.
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) is an independent body entrusted to monitor Lebanon´s compliance with human rights, and the National Prevention Mechanism (NPM) against Torture is also an independent body mandated to prevent ill treatment in centers of detention.
The adoption of a law establishing the NHRC and the NPM in 2016 represented a historical milestone in Lebanon´s path towards the adherence to the Paris Principles: a set of international standards which frame and guide the work of National Human Rights Institutions.
The publication of ¨The Reference Guide of the NHRC including the Committee for the Prevention of Torture¨ and ¨The Complaints Handling Guide¨ has been made possible thanks to the support of ¨Promoting Community Policing in Lebanon¨ an EU funded Project implemented by FIIAPP and CIVIPOL.