Very few Lebanese NGOs have addressed
displacement issues, considering the human and financial sizes of the problem
as well as its political, social, economic implications. The Lebanese NGO Forum
(LNF), the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) and Caritas-Lebanon have in
different ways contributed to alleviate the plight of the displaced persons and
activate the return process.
The Lebanese NGO Forum
(LNF)
Projects initiated by LNF
for IDPs
The Forum launched several initiatives in
displaced areas targeting its people and infrastructure. It had secured the
financing of the rehabilitation of irrigation channels in el-Bireh village
(el-Harf region), but most importantly the LNF initiated and implemented a
2-year project of "Popular Legal Education" for the displaced persons
(1997-1998). The topics related to the return of the displaced were selected
and presented to displaced populations in the village of return. Also, special
information files were made available to displaced persons and legal aid was
provided to solve problems resulting from displacement.
These activities represented parts of a
larger project elaborated by the LNF and entitled "Resettlement Program
(1995-1997)" that included a large scale project involving different aspects
related to internally displaced persons. |
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Precarious conditions for alternative homes |
1. LNF Human Rights activities addressing
Displacement in Lebanon
The Lebanese NGO Forum's primary objective is
to promote specific programs that will help consolidate social cohesion and
integration in Lebanon. In order to achieve this, the LNF has initiated several
projects and activities to uphold the rights of IDPs and other underprivileged
and vulnerable groups:
- Facilitating access to legal aid free of
charge in close cooperation with the Legal Aid Commission of the Beirut Bar
Association
- Human Rights information and documentation facilities
(specialized library)
- Legal popular education
- Publications related
to specific human rights issues (studies, manuals, reports…)
-
Monitoring legal instruments pertaining to human rights and their application
in Lebanon, specifically international documents and conventions related to
IDPs, refugees, migrant workers, …
- Elaboration of NGO reports
(alternative reports) on the CEDAW and the CRC and country reports on the
situation of IDPs and migrant workers in Lebanon
- Organizing seminars,
conferences and training sessions on international human rights conventions and
international instruments of protection of human rights, particularly those of
vulnerable groups
On the other hand, the LNF implemented in 1993
and in 1996, emergency and relief programs designed to respond to violence in
South Lebanon, which resulted in massive displacement of population towards
overcrowded cities. Efforts were primarily concentrated on providing relief aid
to victims of the fighting and resettling those forced to evacuate their
villages.
2. Human Rights: a new approach
Since the LNF strongly believes that
development can not be sustained without being coupled with a solid human
rights culture and democratic environment, the LNF has provided its human
rights program a new dimension, using new technologies to promote the rights of
vulnerable groups and based on human rights education for reconciliation and
empowerment.
The LNF has developed a new approach when it
established electronic networks of NGOs selected from various parts of Lebanon
to disseminate information, educate, raise awareness, monitor, mobilize and
collect relevant data, as well as train target groups and NGOs on issues
related to these vulnerable groups. ("the Women's Rights Monitor", "the Child's
Rights Monitor", "the Prisoner's Rights Monitor" can be consulted through our
web site: www.lnf.org.lb).
3. LNF activities on IDPs (since
1989)
¨ January 18-27, 1989 and January
14-21, 1991: ICVA (International Council of Voluntary Agencies) Mission to
Lebanon. The Lebanese NGO Forum was closely linked to the ICVA Task Force
on the Middle East and sent a delegation to Geneva to present its appeal to the
UN Secretary-General. The Lebanese NGO Forum representatives presented to the
Secretary-General a three-point proposal for meeting the immediate needs of the
Lebanese people, to be initiated by the Secretary-General in cooperation with
the Arab league and neutral countries. Finally the LNF drew attention to its
unique role in the country, which enables it to guarantee that humanitarian
assistance reaches all those in need.
¨ February 12-13-14, 1991: First
Conference on urgent social needs in Lebanon, including displacement issues,
Hotel Carlton.
¨ Since 1994: Projects on the return of
the Displaced. The Lebanese NGO Forum was at the forefront of the debate
over what constitutes an appropriate NGO profile in civil society. The Forum
demonstrates interesting ways of operating and organizing coordination in
complex emergencies where political consensus is as important as the simple
delivery of aid. The LNF has participated in developmental projects in the
mountains and villages that suffered from displacement.
¨ October 24 and November 28, 1996:
Participation of the Inter-Agency Task Force on IDPs. Conference of the United
Nations Department of Humanitarian Affairs, Palais des Nations, Geneva.
1997-1998: Popular Legal Education Project.
(hyperlinks, open window)The topics related to the return of the Displaced were
selected and presented to the displaced populations in the villages of return.
Special information files were made available to the displaced populations and
legal aid was provided to solve problems resulting from displacement.
(open
window in next page)
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4-LEGAL POPULAR EDUCATION
FOR IDPs
May 1997 - July 1998
(Project implemented by the LNF with the
financial support of the European Union)
I - Project Objectives
- disseminate and inform IDPs about laws
regulating the displaced; - facilitate access of IDPs to administrative
mechanisms and procedures;
- provide IDPs with administrative or judiciary
ways against illegal, unfair and wrong administrative
decisions.
II - Location
The population targeted by the project was
located in the following villages:
1. The Harf
region in the Chouf district
- Majdel Meouch
- Mazraat el Dahr
-
Wadi el Sitt
- Bireh
- Kfarniss
- Mrayjat
- Jaayel
-
Chourit
2. East of
Saida
- Maamariyeh
- Maghdousheh
-
Salhiyyeh
- Miyeh Miyeh
- Majdelyoun
- Ayn el Delb
- Lebaa
- Sarba
- Erke
- Ghaziyyeh
- Joun
3. The
Waddaya region around Deir el Kamar
- Baakline (this village was included for
practical reasons)
- Wadi Bnehlaye
- Bsaba
- Serjbal
-
Benwati
- Wadi Deir
- Bkhechtine
- Jahliyyeh
- Ayn el Haour
- Borjayn
In addition to that and at the request of the
displaced population that remained in urban areas, sessions were held outside
the previously targeted locations. Thus, "Fanar" and "Bourj Hammoud" were
included since both represent important resettlement regions for displaced
persons originally from the villages targeted by this project.
Other
regions followed, such as, the Upper-Metn (Hammana), Naameh (close to Damour)
and Rechamayya (in the district of Aley).
The venues of the sessions were selected
according to the availability held in clubs (cultural centers), religious
buildings (churches, covenants…), public places (public schools, public
libraries…)
III - The Participants
An average of 40 persons attended each session.
A total number of 1000 participants benefited from this program.
The
profile of the participants could be described as follows:
- 20% female
participants
- 26% employees and public servants
- 16% independent
- 13% students
- 11% workers
- 9% teachers
- 7% officials (mayors,
municipal counsellors, military personnel or members of the Internal Security
Forces posted in the region where session was held)
- 6% retired
citizens
- 2% religious persons
- 6% jobless
- 4% other
IV - Cases referred to Legal Aid
Legal aid was provided to 227 persons.
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