Your Excellency, Minister of Justice, Mr. Adel Nassar,
On behalf of the Women Peacebuilding Network in Lebanon, we address you today based on the government’s clear commitment, as stated in the presidential oath and ministerial statement, to seriously address the issue of the missing and forcibly disappeared. This message also builds on Law No. 105/2018, which recognized families’ right to know and established an independent national commission to carry out this work.
We write to you in light of the Ministry of Justice’s mandate to oversee the implementation of the law, which upholds the rights of victims and their families to truth, supports the enforcement of international agreements signed by Lebanon, follows up on judicial files related to the missing and forcibly disappeared, whether in local courts or through cooperation with international bodies, and provides legal assistance to their families.
Law No. 105/2018 on the Missing and Forcibly Disappeared is a major achievement following decades of struggle. Women played a pivotal role in this effort, starting from the early days of the Lebanese war, by raising the issue and consistently advocating for coexistence and the principles of transitional justice.
Since its establishment, the National Commission for the Missing and Forcibly Disappeared has made valuable progress that paves the way for the next commission to continue the journey. This includes approving its internal regulations, conducting fact-finding missions, and following up on information related to witnesses and the missing.
As the Women Peacebuilding Network in Lebanon is committed to contributing to comprehensive and sustainable peacebuilding, and as the term of the current commission is set to end in July 2025, we submit the following demands, out of concern for ensuring continuity and progress in this crucial issue:
- Undertake all necessary measures to appoint a new commission immediately after the current term ends in early July 2025 to avoid any vacuum, approve a budget that enables it to operate effectively, and provide it with a supportive and protective environment.
- Ensure equal representation of women and men in the new commission and adopt gender-sensitive policies that take into account the psychological, social, legal, and familial support needs.
- Strengthen mechanisms to guarantee the independence and fairness of the commission, and issue the necessary circulars to secure cooperation from ministries, security agencies, public institutions, and judicial authorities to enable the commission to fulfill its duties in uncovering the fate of the missing and delivering justice to victims.
- Ratify the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance (133/47) issued by the United Nations in 2010, and uphold all relevant international conventions.
Our demands come as part of our contribution to building genuine and lasting peace in Lebanon during this transitional phase, which presents a unique opportunity to establish a culture of reconciliation and social justice, and to transform challenges into foundations for building a nation that guarantees dignity and equality for all its sons and daughters.
With all due respect,
Women Peacebuilding Network in Lebanon
9 April 2025