Justice for Lebanon – The World Day for International Justice
The 17th of July is the World Day for International Justice, yet in Lebanon, impunity reigns supreme.
Spanning from the civil war to the present day, perpetrators of political crimes evade arrests and investigations remain incomplete in Lebanon. Throughout the country’s history, the few cases of justice rendered for select political crimes constitute the exceptions that nonetheless confirm the rule of impunity. Neither the forced oblivion through the Amnesty Law of 1991 nor the recent convictions pronounced by the Special Tribunal for Lebanon on Rafic Hariri’s assassination have appeased the need for justice in Lebanon.
This need is even more urgent as Lebanon is still reeling from the explosion in the port of Beirut on the 4th of August, 2020. The investigation into one of the biggest non-nuclear explosions in the history of the world is being actively undermined by the very people who might be implicated.
Amid all these types of violence, the countless victims still hope and fight for justice in Lebanon.
Therefore, UMAM Documentation & Research, Lokman Slim Foundation, Dar Al-Jadeed, and IUSTICOM called for a gathering in commemorating the Day for International Justice by raising awareness locally and internationally about the need to end impunity and to continue demanding #JusticeforLebanon.
The meeting was held on the 17th of July, 2022 at the Station in Sin El Fil, Beirut.
The roundtable discussion addressed justice and accountability in Lebanon, accompanied by a photo exhibition and screening of messages from victims and rule of law defenders.
The event is supported by Heinrich Böll Foundation.
The Introductory speeches of Justice for Lebanon Roundtable included;
Ms. Monika Borgmann-Slim, director of UMAM Documentation & Research. Ms. Anna Fleischer, director of Böll Foundation
Participants:
Mr. Ronnie Chatah, podcaster.
H.E. Dr Andreas Kindl: German Ambassador.
Mr. Moussa Khoury, lawyer of Ms. Borgmann for Lokman Slim’s assassination case.
Ms. Aya Majzoub, researcher at Human Rights Watch.
Mr. Nizar Saghieh, director of Legal Agenda.
Ms. Reina Sfeir, Human Rights professor at La Sagesse University, former liaison officer with families of victims for the STL.
Moderator: Ms. Najat Rushdie, UN Representative in Lebanon.
Video messages on justice/ accountability/ impunity was displayed during the event.
