To the Honorable Chair and Members of the Human Rights Committee of the Lebanese Parliament,
Warm greetings,
On behalf of the Women Peacebuilding Network in Lebanon, we address you with this letter as an expression of our firm commitment to contributing to the building of inclusive and sustainable peace in Lebanon, and our dedication to supporting the institutional process for the implementation of Law No. 105/2018 on the Missing and Forcibly Disappeared.
As you know, this law, passed after decades of struggle, represents a turning point in the path of transitional justice in Lebanon. Women have played a pivotal role in this process since the early days of the civil war, through their ongoing advocacy for the cause of the missing and forcibly disappeared, and their persistent pursuit of truth, accountability, and reconciliation.
Since its establishment, the National Commission for the Missing and Forcibly Disappeared has played an important role in laying the institutional groundwork on this issue, by adopting internal regulations, setting up fact-finding mechanisms, and collecting information on witnesses and the missing. As the Commission’s mandate approaches its end in July 2025, we believe it is essential to continue its work and ensure there is no institutional vacuum that could hinder the path to truth or freeze progress on this sensitive humanitarian issue.
Therefore, and in your capacity as a key body that receives requests from civil society representatives and issues recommendations on human rights, we submit the following demands:
- Recommend taking all necessary measures to ensure the appointment of a new National Commission immediately upon the expiration of the current Commission’s mandate in July 2025, in order to avoid any institutional vacuum in its work.
- Recommend the approval of an independent budget for the National Commission to ensure its ability to fulfill its mandate, including search technologies, psychosocial support, and communication with families of the missing.
- Ensure fair representation of both women and men in the new Commission, and adopt a gender-sensitive approach in its composition and programs, reaffirming the central role of women in justice and peacebuilding processes.
- Propose a mechanism to enhance the Commission’s independence and strengthen cooperation between state institutions and the Commission by issuing circulars from ministries, public administrations, and security agencies that facilitate its work.
- Recommend that Lebanon join the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance (UN Resolution 133/47), and commit to all relevant international conventions.
We present these demands out of our belief that justice and the right to know are essential foundations for building a future that reflects the aspirations of Lebanese women and men for a just state that upholds human dignity.
We thank you for your role and ongoing follow-up on this issue, and we remain ready to cooperate and contribute to every step aimed at restoring rights and achieving justice for the victims.
With highest respect and appreciation,
Women Peacebuilding Network in Lebanon
Beirut, 30 April 2025