20 October 2014

The United Nations Committee against Torture’s report confirms shared concerns amongst Lebanese civil society organisations on the occurrences of torture and ill-treatment in Lebanese detention facilities

Beirut, 20 October 2014

On 7 October 2014, the UN Committee against Torture (CAT) publicized the summary of the inquiry on the practice of torture in Lebanon conducted between May 2012 and November 2013. Describing torture in Lebanon as a "pervasive practice that is routinely used by the armed forces and law enforcement agencies," the report shows the systematic occurrence of such practices in Lebanon in accordance with Article 20 of the Convention against Torture. The report has set off alarm bells on the human rights situation and the conditions of detention in Lebanon in particular the safeguards of protection of people deprived of their liberty. Ad hoc and stand-alone interventions taken by the Lebanese authorities have proven to be inefficient and unsuccessful in prohibiting and preventing the practice of torture in the country.

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, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
ALEF-act for human rights (ALEF), George Ghali, Program Officer, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Association Justice et Misericorde (AJEM), Pere Hadi Aya, President and Founder,
Lebanese Centre for Human Rights (CLDH), Wadih Al-Asmar, Secretary General, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Khiam Rehabilitation Center for Victims of Torture, Mohamad Safa, Secretary General, iThis email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Ruwad Frontiers (FR), Farid Kamar, Board Member, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Restart Centre for Rehabilitation of Victims of Violence and Torture , Suzanne Jabbour, Director, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.


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For more information or an interview, please contact:
- Alkarama's Office in Lebanon: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. (+961 3 217 949 or +961 1 653)
- Alkarama's Media team: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. (+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'.

Lebanon - HR Instruments

International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR)

ICCPR: Accessed on 03.11.1972
Optional Protocol: No

State report: Overdue since 21.03.2001 (3rd)
Last concluding observations: 05.05.1997

Convention against Torture (CAT)

CAT: Accessed on 05.10.2000
Optional Protocol: Yes
Art. 20 (Confidential inquiry): Yes
Art. 22 (Individual communications): No

State report: Overdue since 03.11.2001 (1st)
Last concluding observations: N/A

International Convention for the Protection of all Persons from Enforced Disappearance (CED)

CED: Signed on 06.02.2007

Universal Periodic Review (UPR)

Last review: 11.2010 (1st cycle)
Next review: 2015 (2nd cycle)

National Human Rights Institution (NHRI)

No