Committees of the National Human Rights Commission
Specialized Committees for the Protection of Rights and the Monitoring of Violations
The National Human Rights Commission, including the Committee for the Prevention of Torture, operates through specialized committees responsible for monitoring, receiving complaints, conducting inquiries, protecting victims, and following up on the implementation of relevant international conventions, while safeguarding the Commission’s independence.
Integrated National Protection System
The committees of the National Human Rights Commission constitute a specialized institutional framework for addressing human rights issues in Lebanon, particularly the prevention of torture, respect for international humanitarian law, the protection of child victims of violations, the protection of the rights of persons with disabilities, and combating trafficking in persons.
These committees operate on the principles of independence, protection, confidentiality, effective monitoring, and the submission of recommendations to the competent authorities.
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Receiving Complaints
Receiving complaints and notifications from victims, their representatives, or third parties.
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Investigation and Case Handling
Examining complaints, conducting inquiries into them, and addressing them without delay.
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Judicial Referral
Recommending the referral of substantiated violations to the competent judicial authorities.
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Independent Cooperation
Cooperating with relevant stakeholders without compromising the Commission’s independence.
Committees and Their Mandates
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Committee for the Prevention of Torture
Responsible for examining and monitoring the situation of persons deprived of their liberty in places of detention, with a view to strengthening their protection against torture and other cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment.
Conduct regular or unannounced visits to places of detention without hindrance.
Obtain information relating to detainees and their conditions of detention.
Conduct confidential interviews with persons deprived of their liberty.
Submit observations and recommendations to improve conditions of deprivation of liberty.
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International Humanitarian Law Committee
Works to ensure respect for the conventions, protocols, and relevant customary rules of international humanitarian law to which Lebanon is a party.
Monitor and document violations of international humanitarian law.
Provide opinions on relevant legislative and administrative texts.
Promote awareness of international humanitarian law and its implementation mechanisms.
Exchange information and expertise with relevant stakeholders.
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Committee for Complaints by Child Victims of Violations of Children’s Rights
Serves as the national complaints mechanism for child victims of violations of children’s rights, and bases its work on the principle of the best interests of the child and respect for the child’s views.
Receive complaints from children, their parents or guardians, or third parties.
Examine, process, and decide on complaints without delay.
Promote the Convention on the Rights of the Child and its Optional Protocols, and monitor their implementation.
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Committee for the Protection of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
Serves as the national mechanism for the protection of the rights of persons with disabilities, while respecting the mandates entrusted to the competent authorities.
Receive complaints relating to violations of the rights of persons with disabilities.
Conduct inquiries, examine complaints, and contribute to their resolution.
Take action on its own initiative when violations come to its attention.
Promote the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and its Optional Protocol.
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Committee to Combat Trafficking in Persons
Responsible for combating trafficking in persons and ensuring the protection of victims and witnesses, while respecting the mandates entrusted to the competent authorities.
Receive complaints and reports concerning trafficking in persons.
Refer complaints to the competent judicial authorities.
Raise awareness of mechanisms for identifying and reporting trafficking in persons.
Monitor the implementation of relevant laws and international conventions.
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Shared Mandates of the Committees
The committees share responsibilities relating to victim protection, monitoring, complaint handling, hearings, recommendations, and follow-up on the implementation of international standards.
Protect victims, witnesses, and other persons concerned.
Organize hearings and invite parties and experts.
Submit recommendations to the Commission’s Council and the competent authorities.
Safeguard the Commission’s independence in all forms of cooperation.
Committee for the Prevention of Torture under OPCAT
The Committee for the Prevention of Torture has special powers enabling it to carry out its mandate, particularly access to information concerning persons deprived of their liberty, the freedom to choose the places it wishes to visit and the persons it wishes to interview, and communication with the Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture.
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Access to Information
Access to information on the number of persons deprived of their liberty, places of detention, and their locations.
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Freedom of Visits
Freedom to choose the places the Committee wishes to visit and the persons it wishes to interview.
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Confidentiality of Data
Confidential information collected by the Committee is protected, and no personal data may be published without explicit consent.
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Dialogue on Recommendations
The competent authorities examine the Committee’s recommendations within a reasonable time and engage with it in dialogue on implementation.
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Protection of Persons Deprived of Liberty
Places of deprivation of liberty include prisons, detention facilities, police stations, holding cells, juvenile centers and institutions, seaports, airports, hospitals, psychiatric institutions, and any place where persons are or may be deprived of their liberty.
