The National Human Rights Commission, including the Committee for the Prevention of Torture (NHRC-CPT), has announced the appointment of Michelle Charbel Fares and Elena Hassanein Ibrahim as Human Rights Researchers following the issuance of Decision No. 3/2026 of 23 July 2026, declaring the results of the Commission’s open competition for the recruitment of Human Rights Researchers and Investigators.
The appointments form part of the Commission’s ongoing efforts to strengthen its institutional capacity by recruiting highly qualified legal and research professionals, thereby reinforcing its ability to fulfil its mandate to promote and protect human rights and to carry out its responsibilities as Lebanon’s National Preventive Mechanism (NPM) under the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture.
A Transparent and Merit-Based Recruitment Process
The Commission conducted an open competition in accordance with the principles of transparency, equal opportunity, merit, and professional competence. The selection process comprised three successive stages:
- A written examination assessing language and drafting skills (coefficient: 4);
- A written examination on research, investigation, and documentation in the field of human rights (coefficient: 6);
- An oral examination evaluating professional competencies and personal aptitude (coefficient: 10).
Following the calculation of the final weighted scores, the results were as follows:
First Place – Michelle Charbel Fares
Final Score: 14.10/20
- First written examination: 12.75/20
- Second written examination: 16.00/20
- Oral examination: 13.50/20
Second Place – Elena Hassanein Ibrahim
Final Score: 13.75/20
- First written examination: 14.00/20
- Second written examination: 14.00/20
- Oral examination: 13.50/20
Based on these results, the Commission has initiated the contractual recruitment procedures for the two successful candidates ranked first and second.
Michelle Fares: Legal Practice and Access to Justice
Michelle Fares holds a Bachelor of Laws from Al-Hikma University and a Diploma of Advanced Studies in Business Law. She brings extensive professional experience in litigation, legal counselling, legal research, and access to justice programmes.
Since 2023, she has practised as an Attorney-at-Law before the Court of Appeal, representing clients before courts and judicial authorities, providing legal opinions, and drafting and reviewing contracts to ensure legal compliance.
She has also worked as a legal researcher and contributed to legal aid programmes implemented in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), UN Women, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the Lebanese Center for Human Rights (CLDH), and the Tripoli Bar Association. Her responsibilities included legal case management, beneficiary support, and the organization of legal awareness activities.
Her professional profile is further strengthened by specialized training in international humanitarian law, legal aid, child protection, domestic violence, cybersecurity, privacy and data protection, legal technology, and artificial intelligence in legal practice.
Elena Ibrahim: International Academic Background and Human Rights Research Experience
Elena Ibrahim holds a Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) and a Master of Laws (LL.M.) from the Lebanese University. She is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Human Rights Diplomacy at the Catholic University of Lyon (France), where she has successfully completed all academic requirements of the programme and is expected to fulfil the remaining graduation requirements in accordance with the University’s academic regulations.
She has developed professional experience in legal research and human rights through her work as a Research Intern at the Arab Center for Education on International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights (ACIHL). She also served as a Legal Assistant at YAZCONSULT, where she contributed to legal research, contract drafting, litigation preparation, legal case management, and the follow-up of civil and criminal proceedings. In addition, she played a role in developing the use of artificial intelligence applications within the firm’s legal practice.
Reserve List Maintained
In accordance with Decision No. 3/2026, the Commission confirmed that the contractual rights of the four successful candidates placed on the reserve list will be preserved according to their ranking:
- Nadine Tony Nasrallah – Third Place (13.55/20)
- Lara Farid Zougheib – Fourth Place (13.25/20)
- Adham Assad El-Khoury – Fifth Place (13.03/20)
- Jad Kamaleddine Houdroj – Sixth Place (13.00/20)
These candidates will remain eligible for recruitment should the necessary financial appropriations become available through the Commission’s 2027 budget or should any of the positions become vacant beforehand. The results of the competition shall remain valid until the reserve list is exhausted or a new competition is launched.
The Commission reaffirmed that transparent and merit-based recruitment is a fundamental pillar in building an independent, effective, and credible National Human Rights Institution capable of fulfilling its constitutional and international responsibilities while strengthening public confidence in fair and competitive public recruitment processes.
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