The Lebanese National Human Rights Commission, which includes the Committee for the Prevention of Torture (NHRC-CPT), has officially submitted its contribution to the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in response to the call for input by the Open-ended Intergovernmental Working Group tasked with exploring a draft optional protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child.

This UN initiative, stemming from Human Rights Council Resolution 56/5 (adopted on 10 July 2024), aims to advance the right to education by recognizing early childhood care and education as a fundamental human right and by mandating free access to public pre-primary and secondary education for all children. It also emphasizes the importance of international cooperation in achieving these goals.

The NHRC-CPT’s five-page submission offers a comprehensive analysis of Lebanon’s legal and policy frameworks, identifies structural barriers impeding access to free education, and highlights the challenges faced by marginalized and vulnerable children across the country. It also proposes actionable recommendations, innovative funding mechanisms, and examples of promising practices to support the full realization of children’s right to education in Lebanon and beyond.

“Our submission reflects the Commission’s unwavering commitment to upholding children’s rights in Lebanon, particularly their right to inclusive, equitable, and quality education from early childhood onward,” said the NHRC President. “We hope our contribution will enrich the global discussion on this landmark initiative and lead to stronger protections for children everywhere.”

The full text of the NHRC-CPT submission will be made publicly available on the OHCHR website.

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