Speech

37th Universal Periodic Review: UK statement on Lebanon

Rita French, UK Ambassador for Human Rights, delivered this statement on Lebanon at the 37th Session of Universal Periodic Review (UPR), sharing recommendations to improve their human rights record.

From:
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office and Rita French
Published
18 January 2021
This was published under the 2019 to 2022 Johnson Conservative government
Delivered on:
(Transcript of the speech, exactly as it was delivered)
Rita French

The United Kingdom recognises that 2020 was a challenging year for Lebanon. Lebanon should ensure that the Port explosion, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the economic crisis do not disproportionately affect the most vulnerable.

The UK welcomes the Lebanese Armed Forces and Internal Security Forces’ recent engagement with civil society. We urge Lebanon’s security forces to strengthen internal investigation mechanisms, and ensure full compliance with international human rights obligations.

We recommend that Lebanon:

  1. Afford migrant workers full legal protections in line with Lebanon’s international commitments on forced labour and discrimination.

  2. Adopt an open, merit-based process when selecting national candidates for UN Treaty Body elections.

  3. Repeal the criminal defamation provisions of the Penal Code, and reform Article 317 of the Code to limit criminalisation to; incitement to discrimination, hostility, and violence.

Thank you.

Updates to this page

Published 18 January 2021