As part of its participation in the General Assembly of the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions (GANHRI), the National Human Rights Commission of Lebanon, including the Committee for the Prevention of Torture (NHRC-CPT), conducted an official visit to the Permanent Mission of Lebanon to the United Nations in Geneva, where it met with the Head of Mission, Ambassador Caroline Ziadeh, in the presence of Ms. Rana El Khoury, First Secretary at the Mission.
The Commission’s delegation included Dr. Fadi Gerges, President of the Commission, and Mr. Bassam Al Kantar, Commissioner for International Relations. During the meeting, discussions focused on strengthening cooperation and coordination between the Commission and the Mission across various issues related to the international human rights system, particularly within the framework of the Human Rights Council and its treaty and non-treaty mechanisms.
The meeting also addressed the Commission’s accreditation file with GANHRI, with the delegation presenting an overview of the progress achieved and emphasizing the importance of completing the accreditation process to enhance the Commission’s international standing and ensure its compliance with the Paris Principles.
Both sides underscored the importance of sustained coordination between the Mission and the Commission, as it contributes to strengthening Lebanon’s presence in international human rights fora, supports national efforts to protect fundamental rights and freedoms, and enhances compliance with international obligations.
This coordination is of particular importance given the central role played by the Permanent Mission of Lebanon to the United Nations in Geneva in following up on the various tracks related to the international human rights system, particularly the mechanisms of the Human Rights Council, including treaty bodies and non-treaty mechanisms such as special procedures and the Universal Periodic Review. In this context, close cooperation between the Mission and the National Human Rights Commission constitutes a key pillar for ensuring coherence in national positions and for conveying an accurate and credible picture of the human rights situation in Lebanon to international fora, reflecting both progress made and existing challenges.
Such coordination also contributes to enhancing the effectiveness of Lebanon’s participation in Human Rights Council sessions by providing the Mission with data, reports, and analyses issued by the Commission, thereby improving the quality of official statements and supporting the follow-up and implementation of international recommendations at the national level. Furthermore, this cooperation enables the development of an integrated approach between diplomatic engagement and independent human rights monitoring, strengthening Lebanon’s compliance with its international obligations and reinforcing the role of national human rights institutions as essential partners within the international human rights system.
This visit comes within the framework of the Commission’s commitment to strengthening its institutional relations with various national and international stakeholders, thereby enhancing its effectiveness in carrying out its mandate under Law No. 62/2016, particularly in promoting and protecting human rights, monitoring violations, and engaging with United Nations mechanisms.
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