Lebanon

“Honour crimes” are prohibited without benefiting from reduced penalty. Article 562 of the penal code, which allowed reduction of sentences for “honour” crimes, was repealed in 2011. There is no legal prohibition against FGM as it is not practiced in Lebanon. There is no law prohibiting early marriage. The minimum age of marriage varies among religious denominations and disadvantages girls. Although most religious groups set the minimum age as 18 for boys, all religious groups allow girls under the age of 18 to marry.

The rapist is penalized regardless of the acceptance to marry the victim. Article 522 which allowed men, who had been convicted of committing sexual assault to avoid penalty if a valid contract of marriage could be provided, was repealed in 2017.

There is the National Strategy for Combating Violence against Women. It was launched in February 2019 by the Office of the former Minister of State for Economic Empowerment of Women and Youth. Additionally, there is a ten-year “National Strategy for Women in Lebanon (2011-2021)” developed by the National Commission of Lebanese Women (NCLW) that aims to empower women and insure gender equality in the social, political, economic, and legal spheres. However, the strategies do not include defined resources, budget and monitoring and evaluation plan.

There is no national health policy that addresses VAWG. However, the former Office of the Minister of State for Women’s Affairs developed in 2018 a strategy for gender equality and gender-based violence including health care policy to respond to VAWG referrals.

Formal channels of reporting systems include police and courts. Women victims of VAWG can report cases through using the hotline established by the police (Directorate General of the Internal Security).

There is no information on how many cases are acted upon compared to the reported cases.

No available information.

There are procedures for service providers assisting victims of VAWG. Service Order No. 164/204 was issued by the Directorate General of Internal Security in 2013 concerning measures that should be taken by different groups and at different sites for dealing with women victims of VAWG.

There are no specific guidelines to identify trafficked women but there is the law No. 164 on punishment for the crime of trafficking in persons of 2011. Section 7 of the law is on protection procedures in the crime of trafficking in persons. However, the section does not include or stipulate on following on procedures and guidelines to be used by law to identify and assist trafficked women.

In 2014, a guideline manual was issued with participation of the Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Social Affairs and Directorate General of the Internal Security. The manual explains the law and the procedures that should be followed to identify perpetrators, deal with witness, and help victims of trafficking.

There are no standard governmental procedures and guidelines to identify and prosecute traffickers. The law No. 164 on punishment for the crime of trafficking of persons of 2011 includes punishments for the persons who commit human trafficking crimes with up to 15 years imprisonment (article 586-4), but it does not include or stipulate on following clear standard procedures and guidelines to identify traffickers.

There are regulations that require service providers to care for VAWG victims. Service Order No. 164/204 issued by the Directorate General of the Government concerning measures that should be taken by different groups including obliging service providers in health sector for dealing with women at risk of violence.

There is a gender focal person in all ministries including the Ministry of Health. However, they are not specialized for VAWG victims.