The Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) commenced its 104th session on August 9, 2021 for which the Lebanese delegation submitted a report that veers off-topic in most sections. Rather than focusing on racial discrimination on the basis of nationality, race, ethnicity, or color, it expands mostly on (the supposed absence of) sectarian and religious discrimination, (the alleged lack of) gender discrimination, and briefly touches on the rights of people with disabilities.

The Anti-Racism Movement (ARM) submitted a shadow report on July 14, 2021, gave a statement in the opening session on August 9, and addressed the questions of committee members on August 10. We focus primarily on discriminatory policies and practices learnt about during our work with members of migrant and refugee communities living and working in Lebanon, thus only providing glimpses of the racism exhibited and perpetuated by Lebanese authorities.

On August 11, the Lebanese delegation answered the committee’s questions about the government’s report as well as this shadow report.

Our report was endorsed by 6 other non-governmental organizations:

• Access Center for Human Rights (Wousoul), Lebanon

• Centre d’accès pour les droits de l’homme (ACHR), France

• Centre Libanais des Droits Humains (CLDH), Lebanon

• International Domestic Workers Federation

• Public Works Studio, Lebanon

• Women Human Rights Defenders, MENA

Full report attahed below.