19 December 2025 – Beirut, Lebanon the Lebanese Center for Human Rights (CLDH) held a full-day training on United Nations reporting mechanisms at the Radisson Blu Martinez Hotel in Beirut, funded by Oxfam. The training was led by Wadih Al Asmar, President of CLDH, and brought together human rights activists, civil society organizations, and journalists. Wadih Al Asmar brings extensive experience engaging with UN human rights mechanisms, including shadow reporting and advocacy before treaty bodies. The training aimed to strengthen the capacity of local actors to effectively interact with UN human rights mechanisms, enhance evidence-based reporting, and improve national advocacy efforts. Participants received an in-depth overview of the UN human rights architecture, including charter-based bodies and treaty-based mechanisms
The morning sessions focused on introducing key UN bodies, outlining reporting obligations, and clarifying the role of shadow reports in influencing international advocacy. A dedicated session provided a detailed exploration of Treaty Bodies—their mandates, reporting cycles, and monitoring tools—equipping participants with the knowledge needed to draft strong submissions and follow up on recommendations effectively
Additionally, the training addressed the Human Rights Council, the Universal Periodic Review (UPR), and Special Procedures, including how to engage with Special Rapporteurs, request country visits, and submit communications based on documented violations.
In the afternoon, attendees joined a practical session on strategic advocacy, learning how to translate UN recommendations into national action plans, advocacy initiatives, and monitoring frameworks. The day concluded with a group discussion on real cases, prioritization of human rights issues, and tools for strengthening coordination between civil society and diplomatic actors
“Strengthening civil society’s capacity to navigate the UN human rights system is essential to advancing justice and accountability in Lebanon,” said Wadih Al Asmar. “This training provides the tools needed to transform local documentation into international advocacy that drives meaningful change.”
CLDH remains committed to supporting civil society actors, journalists, and organizations in amplifying human rights concerns through international mechanisms and ensuring effective follow-up on recommendations.
About CLDH:
The Lebanese Center for Human Rights (CLDH) is a local non-profit, non-partisan Lebanese human rights organization. It was founded in 2006 in Beirut by the Franco-Lebanese Movement SOLIDA (Support for Lebanese Detained Arbitrarily). CLDH’s complementary components include advocacy, public mobilization, rehabilitation for victims of torture and families of enforced disappearances, the provision of pro-bono legal services for vulnerable groups regardless of nationality or status, and the organization of capacity building activities to key stakeholders in the human rights field.
www.cldh-lebanon.org
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