Enforced Disappearances and Lebanese Detainees in Lebanon, Syria and Israel

Several hundreds Lebanese residents abducted in Lebanon are still detained in Syrian and Israeli jails. Despite attempts by their families to seek changes in their situation, and despite the efforts of human rights organisation, the situation has remained unchanged.

Torture, Ill Treatment, Arbitrary Detention and the Right to a Fair Trial

Human rights organisations have identified numerous cases of arbitrary detention following unfair trials and the victims of these violations are still being detained in Lebanese prisons. 
Recently, detainees arrested following the violent demonstrations of the 5th February 2006, were reportedly beaten in jail by the Lebanese Security forces. On 30th March 2006, students who were
celebrating their victory after university elections, were violently arrested by soldiers.

Unfair trials in respect of which allegations of torture have been made are currently not reviewed by an independent tribunal. And an in-depth reform of the Lebanese judicial system is needed.

Women's Rights

Following her visit to Lebanon in September 2005, the UN's Special Rapporteur on trafficking in persons expressed concerns about trafficking practices reported in Lebanon and in particular about violations of the right of migrant women working as domestics or in the sex industry.

In addition, human rights organisations regularly express deep concern about acts of violence perpetrated against women, especially in the family environment. Crimes of honour are regularly reported in Lebanon, where sentences for those convited of such offenses are reduced.

Rights of Migrants, Refugees and Asylum Seekers

In Lebanon, refugees and asylum seekers are the targets of severe discrimination as well as arbitrary and prolonged detention. In addition, there have been reports of people who had been persecuted in their country of origin being deported, which is a threat to their right to life, thus violating the
principle of non-refoulement.

The 404,170 Palestinian refugees in Lebanon live in a desparate humanitarian situation. More than half of them live in 12 refugee camps where their fundamental rights are severely hampered and they are the targets of systematic discrimination. A further 5000 Palestinian refugees reportedly have no identification papers because they are not registered neither with UNRWA, nor with the Lebanese government.

 Human Rights Defenders and Freedom of Association

Numerous violations of the rights of human rights defenders and of the right to freedom of expression and association are reported in Lebanon. Human rights defenders face allegations, slander and death threats by non-state armed groups and regularly face arbitrary charges before the courts.