International Mechanism Submissions

Submission to the United Nations Committee Against Torture Concerning the Death Penalty and Detention Conditions in Lebanon

Partners: Lebanese Coalition for the Abolition of the Death Penalty, World Coalition Against the Death Penalty

This report discusses Lebanon’s obligations under the United Nations Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (hereinafter the Convention) with regard to its use of the death penalty. Under the Convention, Lebanon is obligated to “take effective legislative, administrative, judicial or other measures to prevent acts of torture,” including to prevent “acts of cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.” Additionally, Lebanon is under an obligation to ensure that where there are reasonable grounds to believe such acts have been committed, to conduct a prompt and impartial investigation. The government is to ensure the right to make a complaint and have it promptly and impartially examined by competent authorities. Finally, the government is to systematically review “interrogation rules, instructions, methods and practices as well as arrangements for the custody and treatment of persons subjected to any form of arrest, detention or imprisonment in any territory under its jurisdiction” as a means of preventing acts of cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.