UPR of Lebanon – MRG’s submission
Minority Rights Group International has submitted a written contribution ahead of the third Universal Periodic Review (UPR) of Lebanon, scheduled for January – February 2021.
Our submission provides information and recommendations about the human rights of minorities and vulnerable groups in Lebanon, with a particular focus on religious minorities, non-believers, LGBT+ persons, persons with disability, refugees and migrant workers.
The full report can be accessed HERE.
MRG’s suggestions of recommendations include:
- Complete ratification of the ICPPED, CRPD and the two protocols to the CAT and CRC, and accede to the CMW, the Refugee Convention and the protocols to the ICCPR, the CESCR and the CEDAW.
- Establish an independent national human rights institution in line with the Paris Principles.
- Reform the system of personal status laws to end discrimination against religious minorities, non-believers and ensure that personal status rules and court proceedings to implement them are not discriminatory towards women and girls.
- Secure the human rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender persons by repealing Article 534 of the Lebanese Penal Code and by protecting lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender persons from discrimination in law and practice.
- Enhance the domestic legal framework to promote human rights, security and equality of non-nationals in Lebanon, in particular refugees and migrant workers.
- Ensure sufficient and non-discriminatory access to basic social services for vulnerable groups, including LGBT people, people with disabilities, refugees and migrant workers, and ensure that vulnerable groups have access to food, water, healthcare and other basic needs.
- Include vulnerable groups in all government plans and strategies which aim to address the current socio-economic crisis and involve them in the design of these plans.
- Ensure that the security forces, including the military, when peaceful demonstrations, are trained to apply and effectively respect the United Nations Basic Principles on the Use of Force and Firearms by Law Enforcement Officials, and are sanctioned and held accountable when they fail to do so.
- Launch a thorough, independent and effective investigation into human rights abuses committed during the protests.