Since 2022, the NCHR has worked with the Lebanese Foundation for Permanent Civil Peace (LFPCP) to raise awareness among judges and lawyers about Lebanon’s human rights obligations, fostering collaboration among different courts and engaging with civil society, academia, and parliamentarians.
Regular roundtables are among the project’s key activities, each time with a new topic. These sessions allow for important discussions and to keep track of progress in line with the Road Map for Human Rights, agreed upon by the six largest courts in 2023. Recent roundtable topics include Rights of the Child and Equality and Women’s Rights.
The roundtable meeting on “The Principles and Processes of Litigation at the Christian-Islamic Religious Courts” included discussions of a more general character and participants emphasized the necessity of reassessing existing legal frameworks to enhance human rights and justice in both Christian and Islamic courts.Many called for procedural reforms aimed at protecting vulnerable groups and ensuring equitable access to legal representation. Discussions included potential reforms like gender equality initiatives in divorce proceedings and the need for promoting judicial modernization through digital tools.
Despite a challenging year in Lebanon so far, NCHR’s long-term partners continue the important work. In October, a regional conference will be organized in Beirut, with participating judges from several countries.
