Twenty-Third Session of the Universal Periodic Review, Geneva, 2 to 13 November 2015
The UK delivers its statement on the Universal Periodic Review of Lebanon, 2 November 2015.
The UPR takes place at the Palais des Nations in Geneva
Thank you Mr President,
The UK has two recommendations for the Lebanese Government:
To implement in full the Optional Protocol to the Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment, which Lebanon acceded to in 2008, in particular by establishing a national preventative mechanism as a matter of priority.
To make it easier for displaced persons in Lebanon, and their children, to obtain legal status in order to prevent any violation of fundamental rights recognised in treaties to which Lebanon is party; and to develop a legal framework defining and protecting the rights and freedoms of those individuals.
We welcome the steps Lebanon has taken to tackle the use of torture and degrading treatment. However, we are concerned by reports of ongoing violations, as reported by the UN Committee Against Torture and civil society organisations.
We urge the security forces to carry out independent, transparent investigations into all allegations of torture and to prosecute accordingly.
We pay tribute to Lebanon’s enormous generosity in hosting over one million displaced persons from Syria. However, we note with concern the increasing difficulties people displaced from Syria face in obtaining and renewing their legal papers. Just as for other displaced persons and stateless individuals, this makes it harder for them to exercise fundamental rights.
Thank you Mr President.