The undersigned organisations call upon the Lebanese authorities to adopt a comprehensive policy that will seek to foster accountability for crimes of torture by engaging in serious and impartial investigations that will put an end to the culture of impunity. Such policies need to be accompanied by strong preventive mechanisms such as the National Prevention Mechanism (NPM) and competent judicial and executive institutions able to ensure effective remedies such as rehabilitation, compensation and guarantees of non-repetition.

The undersigned organisations reaffirm the need to criminalize torture in accordance with the obligations set forth in the United Nations Convention against Torture and its Optional Protocol; and wishes to highlight the role of independent human rights organizations in monitoring places of deprivation of liberty within the aim of preventing torture and engaging in a nationwide awareness-raising and capacity-building efforts targeting the general population, armed forces and law enforcement alike. On the other hand, the undersigned organizations insist that, in its fight against terrorism, the Government of Lebanon should still uphold its commitment to universal human rights and abide by its obligations under international law. Finally, the prevention of torture is not only a cornerstone of legal protection, but it is also a common value and moral principle shared by all parties in the Lebanese society, as inherent to the dignity of all human beings.

Alkarama Foundation (ALK), Saadeddine Shatila, Country Officer, s.shatila@alkarama.org
ALEF-act for human rights (ALEF), George Ghali, Program Officer, george.ghali@alefliban.org
Association Justice et Misericorde (AJEM), Pere Hadi Aya, President and Founder,
Lebanese Centre for Human Rights (CLDH), Wadih Al-Asmar, Secretary General, walasmar@cldh-lebanon.org
Khiam Rehabilitation Center for Victims of Torture, Mohamad Safa, Secretary General, info@khiamcenter.org
Ruwad Frontiers (FR), Farid Kamar, Board Member, advocacy@frontiersruwad.org
Restart Centre for Rehabilitation of Victims of Violence and Torture , Suzanne Jabbour, Director, info@restartcenter.com

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For more information or an interview, please contact:
- Alkarama's Office in Lebanon: s.shatila@alkarama.org (+961 3 217 949 or +961 1 653)
- Alkarama's Media team: media@alkarama.org (+41 22 734 1 810 or +41 79 129 79 15)

The Alkarama Foundation is a Geneva-based, non-governmental human rights organisation established in 2004 to assist all those in the Arab World subjected to, or at risk of, extra-judicial execution, enforced disappearance, torture and arbitrary detention. Acting as a bridge between individual victims in the Arab World and the United Nations human rights mechanisms, Alkarama works towards an Arab world where all individuals live free, in dignity and protected by the rule of law. In Arabic, Alkarama means 'dignity'.