Lebanon’s community policing support project takes stock of achievements

Beirut hosted the third meeting of the steering committee of the European project: “Support to community policing in Lebanon“. The meeting, led by the head of the Security, Peace and Development area of the FIIAPP, Miguel de Domingo, took stock of the results achieved so far in the project and also identified the main future priorities.

Among the achievements obtained so far, it is worth highlighting the project’s training of more than 1000 Lebanese policemen officers, the adoption of a regulatory framework for the municipal police and the creation of a coordination mechanism between the security forces and civil society, which has enabled the forging of a constructive dialogue on respect for human rights in police action, fostering public confidence in the security forces and working together to achieve a safer society.

In addition, the first semi-annual report prepared by the project on the human rights situation in the country in the areas of rights to justice, social and political rights, cultural and religious diversity, environmental rights, vulnerable groups (women, minors, people with disabilities) and migrants, displaced persons and refugees was presented.

The forum provided evidence of the excellent coordination and cooperation between the security forces and civil society organisations involved and the continuous effort made by both sides to strengthen the collaboration between police and civil society with the common goal of protecting human rights in Lebanon.

Among the main priorities for the future are the completion of the rehabilitation and refurbishment of four police stations in Beirut, support for the establishment of a specialised gender-based violence unit within the Internal Security Forces (ISF) and maintaining and strengthening public confidence in the country’s security forces.