Issue Number |
01.f |
Issue Name |
Refugees |
Issue Description |
All refugees on Lebanese soil enjoy full rights and equality before the law
|
Objective Number |
01 |
Objective Name |
Citizen |
Objective Description |
Guarantee equal rights and civic duties to all citizens
|
Vision Description |
A Cohesive, Egalitarian, Diverse and Dynamic Society |
Scope |
- A refugee is someone who has been forced to flee his or her country because of persecution, war, violence or climate change
- A refugee has a well-founded fear of persecution for reasons of race, religion, nationality, political opinion or membership in a particular social group
- Most likely, they cannot return home or are afraid to do so
- War and ethnic, tribal and religious violence constitute the main causes of refugees fleeing their countries (UNHCR)
|
Indicators |
- Number of Syrian refugees
- Number of Palestinian refugees
- Refugee Response Index
- Proportion of children above age twelve attending school
- V37 in WVS: Would not like to have as neighbors: People of a different race
- V39 in WVS: Would not like to have as neighbors: Immigrants/foreign workers
|
Problem |
- The population increased by approximately 30% since 2011 due to the massive influx of Syrian refugees
- The influx of refugees has negatively impacted Lebanese social and economic growth (cost: USD18.15bn due to economic slowdown, loss in fiscal revenues and additional pressure on public services)
- Access to rights (registration of older than 1 year)
- 92 percent of Syrian refugee workers in Lebanon don’t have legal contracts
- Negative perception of refugees from Lebanese communities leading to bullying and discrimination
-
Syrian patients have to pay 25% of individual healthcare despite UNHCR subsidies + expensive NSSF
-
Some municipalities imposed restrictions on refugees, such as curfews and banning the establishment of Syrian businesses (ALEF, 2013; El-Helou, 2014)
- 18% of refugees’ households headed by women (LCRP, 2017-2020) are suffering from dire conditions
- Syrians’ access to security and justice services is hampered by difficulties in regularizing their lawful residence in Lebanon
- Palestinian refugees are not allowed to work in 39 professions (UNRWA, 2017)
- Education delivered in French or English, languages that are unfamiliar for Syrian students
- Bullying and discrimination among schools led to an increase of drop-outs
-
Many refugees had physical and ptsd when they arrived to Lebanon
|
Challenge |
- Lebanon has not yet ratified the 1951 United Nations Convention nor the 1967 protocol which led, among other things, to the violation of the non-refoulement principle
-
Shortcomings in solutions offered to local administrations; irregular attendance by NGOs; inconsistency between proposals and the funding available; and lack of an operational mechanism (Mourad & Piron, 2016)
- Absence of universal labor law
- National framework absent
- Pressures on sectarian balance in Lebanon (Sunnites)
- Absence of relevant national documentation
|
Existing Policy |
- Open border policy with Syria from 2011 to the end of 2014
- Gradual policy of deterrence since 2014
- Ministry of Labor issued a circular that limits the sectors open to Syrians to construction, agriculture, and cleaning in December 2014
-
General Directorate of General Security (GS) introduced new regulations to restrict the entry of Syrians in December 2014: Syrians have to pay a $200 annual fee , present a valid identification document and a signed pledge of responsibility from a Lebanese sponsor in order to apply to or renew their residency permits
- Ministry of Labor issued decrees obliging employers to submit proof that they tried finding Lebanese employees for the same position occupied by a Syrian and that they’re respecting a 10:1 ratio of Lebanese workers to Syrian workers.
- In 2014, the MEHE implemented the Reaching All Children With Education strategy by mainly increasing the number of schools offering second shifts
- In March 2018, the Lebanese government lightened residency requirements for Syrian refugees aged between 15 and 18 years old
-
The government developed a Stabilisation Roadmap with the support of the World Bank and the UN, based on a comprehensive stabilisationassessment (Government of Lebanon, 2013; World Bank, 2013)
-
A policy framework was produced by end-2014, with a more developmental approach, support for host communities and more restrictions placed on Syrian refugees (GoL & UNDP, 2014; LCPS, 2016). The government’s three priorities are (GoL & UN, 2014)
|
Policy Action |
- Universal labor law covering Syrians (I. C.)
- Establishment relevant national documentation which would facilitate humanitarian assistance (Service provision)
- Using these assistance funds, subsidize refugees voluntarily willing to return to their home countries (Taxes and subsidies)
- Ratification (Institutional change)
- Develop and implement of a voluntary resettlement policy that would profit vulnerable refugees . Prior to resettlement, subsidize the refugees willing to resettle and provide them with transparent information on the country of resettlement . Resettlement should prioritize female-headed households (I. C.)
- Ratification of the Equality of Treatment (Social Security) 1962 Convention (No. 118) of ILO (Institutional change)
- Sanction municipalities for evicting refugees (Institutional change)
- Criminalizing hate speech (Command and control + campaigns)
|
Urgency |
High |
Complexity |
High |
|
|