United Nations
Universal Periodic Review Working Group – 37th Session
Universal Periodic Review of Lebanon
Statement by Australia
18 January 2021
Thank you, [President/Vice President]
Australia welcomes progress made by Lebanon since its second Universal Periodic Review. Australia welcomes the establishment of the National Human Rights Commission and National Preventative Mechanism against Torture.
Australia recommends that Lebanon:
Australia wishes to make five recommendations to Lebanon:
- Uphold the rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly, including by ending detention of people for expressing views critical of the government and ensuring security forces exercise restraint in response to protests.
- Enact a unified personal status law, amend the nationality law to afford women the same rights as men, and adopt a comprehensive legal framework to prevent and respond to gender-based violence and harassment.
- Repeal Article 534 of the penal code and enact legislation to protect the rights of LGBTI people.
- Comply with domestic and international anti-torture obligations, including by increasing oversight and investigative capabilities.
- Ratify the Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and formally abolish the death penalty.
[183 Words]