October 9, 2025

The Cedar centre for Legal Studies (CCLS) organized a roundtable titled “Law 65/2017: Between Adoption and Lack of Implementation” at Dar Al Qamar Restaurant in Tripoli, as part of the project “Quality and Sustainable Rehabilitation Services for Victims of Torture in Northern Lebanon” supported by the Norwegian Embassy. The roundtable aimed to assess the current state of the law’s implementation, foster dialogue among judicial, medical, syndicate, and civil stakeholders, and develop practical recommendations to enhance enforcement and protect victims’ rights.

More than 30 participants attended the event, representing local associations, international human rights organizations, professional syndicates, lawyers, journalists, and prominent figures from various sectors. Among them were former Minister Samir Jisr, former Bar Association President Mr. Mohammad Murad, Ms. Rida Azar representing the National Human Rights Commission including the Committee for the Prevention of Torture in Lebanon, representatives from the Lebanese Center for Human Rights, Restart Center for the Rehabilitation of Victims of Violence and Torture, EuroMed Rights, Su‘at Association for Social Development, Reform and Rehabilitation Association, the Lebanese Democratic Women’s Gathering (RDFL), Ruwwad al-Tanmeya, René Moawad Foundation (RMF), the Union for the Protection of Juveniles in Lebanon, as well as religious figures, activists, and legal experts. This diversity enriched the discussion with a wide range of expertise and perspectives.

Remarks by the Executive Director of Cedar centre

The session opened with a welcoming speech from Cedar centre, followed by the Lebanese national anthem. Participants then introduced themselves and the organizations they represented.

Mr. Saadeddine Shatila, Executive Director of Cedar centre, presented the centre’s programs and highlighted its development in December 2024 with the opening of the Rehabilitation centre for Victims of Torture in Tripoli. He explained that the centre offers multidisciplinary services including psychological, social, medical, and legal support to help victims rebuild their lives. He noted that the centre has already received over 89 cases and emphasized that it represents a practical step toward implementing Law 65/2017 and strengthening the protection of torture victims’ rights.

Presentation on Law 65/2017

Mr. Mohammad Sablouh, Head of the Legal Program at Cedar centre, delivered a brief presentation on the law and its objectives.

He explained that the law, passed by Parliament on September 19, 2017, aims to criminalize torture and all forms of cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment, establish a clear legal definition, set appropriate penalties for perpetrators, and protect victims by ensuring their right to compensation and rehabilitation in line with international standards, especially the Convention Against Torture.

He reviewed the definition of torture under Article 1 of the law, stressing that the crime is not subject to a statute of limitations and that torture is unjustifiable under any circumstances, including war or orders from superiors.

Sablouh highlighted several challenges facing the law’s implementation, including the absence of executive decrees, weak political will, lack of monitoring mechanisms, and limited resources to support victims—factors that contribute to ongoing violations and negative societal impacts.

He emphasized the critical role of forensic doctors in documenting violations and providing medical evidence to courts in accordance with the Istanbul Protocol, which helps protect victims’ rights.

He also pointed out gaps and observations in the law, such as the need to clarify and expand the definition of torture, revisit the issue of statute limitations, establish a clear structure for compensation and rehabilitation, and define the role of psychiatry in providing accurate assessments to support legal accountability.

The presentation concluded by reaffirming Cedar Centre’s vital role in filling governmental gaps by offering multidisciplinary services to victims, thereby enhancing the law’s implementation, empowering victims, and strengthening trust in civil society and the judiciary.

Key Themes

The program included an awareness video about the law and its importance, followed by discussions on key themes:

Part One – Legal Framework and Medical Role:

• Challenges judges face in classifying torture crimes and the relationship with Article 47 of the Code of Criminal Procedure.
• The role of forensic doctors in documenting violations under the Istanbul Protocol and the challenges to their independence.

Part Two – Role of Associations, Syndicates, and Recommendations:

• Contributions of syndicates and human rights associations in documentation and legal support, and enhancing coordination among stakeholders.
• Drafting practical recommendations to activate the law, identify gaps, and establish mechanisms for prevention and accountability.

Open Discussion and Exchange of Expertise

The roundtable featured continuous open discussion across all themes, giving participants the opportunity to share opinions, observations, and questions—especially regarding the implementation of Law 65/2017 and the challenges it faces on the ground. These interactions revealed a rich diversity of perspectives and expertise among judges, forensic doctors, lawyers, human rights representatives, media professionals, and civil society actors, enriching the dialogue and enabling the exchange of best practices and experiences.

Real-life stories were shared during the discussion, illustrating cases of torture and abuse suffered by individuals without protection or respect for human dignity. These stories underscored the ongoing daily violations in Lebanon. Participants emphasized that torture affects all groups—not just adults or minors—but has become a widespread issue.

Attendees stressed the urgent need to strengthen cooperation among all stakeholders, including the judiciary, forensic medicine, syndicates, and human rights organizations, to fully implement the law, protect victims, and ensure accountability for perpetrators. They also called for preventive and proactive measures to stop future violations.

Drafting Joint Recommendations

Participants were given papers to write down their practical recommendations for activating Law 65/2017. These were collected with the aim of later compiling them into a statement to be shared with all stakeholders, in order to advocate for the law’s full implementation. The focus was on prevention and accountability mechanisms, and on reinforcing the roles of the judiciary, forensic medicine, and syndicates in protecting victims.

Conclusion

The roundtable concluded with remarks from Cedar centre, emphasizing the importance of continuing joint efforts among judicial, medical, syndicate, and civil actors, and turning discussions into practical steps to ensure that Law 65/2017 becomes a genuine tool for combating torture and safeguarding human dignity in Lebanon.