Jubilee Campaign is an NGO that focuses on Human
Rights violations and the grave injustices that affect
millions of people in hundreds of different countries.
Our main goal is to be a voice for those who can not
speak for themselves. Jubilee is an advocacy group
that brings human rights violations to the attention
of the global community.
We operate in a number of countries around the
world, including the Middle East. This region has a
long and unfortunate history of Human Rights
violations. Specifically, we are here today to address
two major concerns regarding Lebanon:
- First, Lebanon has a history of Human Rights
violations when dealing with prisoners of
conscience, whether political or religious in
nature. While the Lebanese constitution provides for
checks and balances, the government often fails to
hold the legal system accountable for irregularities
and abuses. Lebanon lacks the structure needed to
establish a system which recognizes the rule of law.
Lebanon's legal system has resulted in hundreds
of unjust incarcerations; these alleged criminals
are subjected to inhumane conditions for extended
periods of time. The treatment of prisoners in
Lebanon is a matter of deep concern and certainly
needs to be addressed by the global community.
As Lebanon enters this very uncertain period,
with a democracy in transition, now is the time,
more than ever, for its past practices of injustice,
to be brought to amend. True democracy must be
allowed to grow and the true notion of the rule of
law must be established.
- Second, Jubilee Campaign is specifically
concerned with the growing number of refugees in
Lebanon. The treatment of these refugees has become
a growing concern. The majority of the people
seeking refuge have gone unrecognized by the
Lebanese government. For instance, in the last four
years thousands of refugees have flocked from Iraq.
The bulk of these are members of religious
minorities that have been targeted by fanatical
groups. Currently there are approximately 1500
Mandaean refugees who have migrated to Lebanon
seeking refugee status. Lebanon has failed to
address their requests and, in fact, its policies
have created an imbalance in the granting of their
requests. The government has shown preferential
treatment towards Syrian refuges over other
displaced populations from the region, creating
skepticism regarding its resettlement process.
This country has the potential to become a leader
in the international community when it comes to
humanitarian relief for the thousands of families who
are displaced due to the continual instability in the
region. Lebanon needs to address the growing number of
refugee groups, such as the Mandaeans, and insure
their proper treatment. Surely Lebanon does not want
to create a similar situation to the one it faces with
the Palestinian refugees of today. Following its past
pattern of reluctance to act decisively cannot be an
acceptable response to the current influx of refugees.
No one would wish for a repeat of the unfortunate
inhumane situation of Lebanon's Palestinian Refugees.
Jubilee Campaign recommends that the Lebanese
government work closely and cooperatively with the UN
High Commissioner for Refugees in establishing a
working policy regarding its new refugee populations -
one that would insure expedient results and guarantee
their humane treatment while awaiting processing.
Jubilee Campaign sees the next few months as an
historic opportunity for the true growth of Human
Rights in Lebanon. This transition to "real democracy"
will allow for past injustices to be rectified and for
future injustices to be circumvented.
