Lebanon
Lebanon is currently facing an intersection of systemic economic collapse, political paralysis, and the humanitarian fallout from regional conflict. As of early 2026, the human rights situation is marked by a significant narrowing of civic space and a lack of accountability for domestic and international law violations.
1. Accountability and Judicial Independence
A central theme in Lebanon is the "culture of impunity" regarding major crimes and systemic failures.
Beirut Port Explosion: More than five years after the 2020 blast, the domestic investigation remains effectively frozen due to political interference and legal challenges filed by the very officials under investigation.
Judicial Reform: In July 2025, Parliament passed a new Law on Judicial Independence. While it introduced some self-governance for judges, critics note it still allows the government-appointed Public Prosecutor to block ongoing proceedings, a major loophole that maintains political control over sensitive cases.+1
Laws of War: International observers have noted that Lebanon has yet to fully incorporate international crimes into its domestic code, hindering the prosecution of alleged war crimes committed on Lebanese territory during hostilities in 2024 and 2025.
2. Freedom of Expression and "Criminal Defamation"
Authorities have increasingly "weaponized" the law to silence dissenters, a trend that accelerated in late 2025.
Crackdown on Critics: Human rights groups documented dozens of cases in late 2025 where journalists and activists were summoned for interrogation by security agencies—including military intelligence—for social media posts criticizing powerful public figures.
New Media Law: A draft media law currently under discussion in early 2026 has drawn fire for potentially reintroducing pre-trial detention for speech-related "offenses" and maintaining criminal penalties for insulting religious figures or the head of state.
The "Silence Pledge": Security forces frequently pressure detainees to sign pledges promising not to post similar content in the future as a condition for their release.
3. Refugee Rights and "Non-Refoulement"
Lebanon hosts the highest number of refugees per capita in the world, primarily from Syria and Palestine, who face increasingly precarious legal status.
Forced Deportations: In January 2026, during Lebanon’s UN Universal Periodic Review (UPR), several nations condemned the "summary deportation" of Syrian refugees. Reports indicate that many were returned to Syria without an assessment of the risks they faced, including torture or enforced disappearance.
The Bidoon and Statelessness: Many Palestine refugees in Lebanon (PRL) and those from Syria (PRS) are living in extreme poverty (over 80% below the poverty line). Since 2024, a policy shift has made it nearly impossible for many to renew legal residency, exposing them to arbitrary arrest and excluding them from formal employment.
4. Women’s Rights and Personal Status Laws
Lebanon does not have a unified civil code for personal matters; instead, these are governed by 15 different religious laws.
Systemic Inequality: These religious courts often discriminate against women regarding divorce, child custody, and inheritance. Furthermore, Lebanese women still cannot pass their nationality to their children or spouses.
Gender-Based Violence (GBV): While a national "Human Rights Plan 2026–2030" was launched in December 2025 with a focus on GBV, activists note that the state still lacks a unified national data system to track violence against women, making prevention efforts fragmented and inconsistent.
5. LGBTQ+ Rights and Moral Crackdowns
The environment for LGBTQ+ individuals has deteriorated as political and religious leaders have increasingly targeted the community to galvanize conservative support.
Article 534: This penal code article, which criminalizes "unnatural" sexual acts, is still used to harass and arrest LGBTQ+ individuals, despite several lower-court rulings suggesting it should not apply to consensual same-sex acts.
Legislative Backlash: In late 2024 and 2025, several parliamentary blocks proposed bills to explicitly criminalize "promoting homosexuality," mirroring "propaganda" laws seen in other regions.
Recent Development
On January 19, 2026, Lebanon underwent its fourth Universal Periodic Review (UPR) at the UN. While the Lebanese delegation highlighted the new National Human Rights Plan, international members urged the government to ratify the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance and to end the trial of civilians in military courts.