Human Rights & Protection NGOs in Lebanon

1MORECUP is a civil organization that was established in 2016 whose advocacy work revolves around marginalized communities in Lebanon and the South West Asia and North Africa (SWANA) region. 1MORECUP works on increasing safe access to basic rights and services, and mainstream gender equality and social inclusion issues and needs within humanitarian-development-peace programs.

ABAAD is a non-profit, non-politically affiliated, non-religious civil association that aims to achieve gender equality as an essential condition to sustainable social and economic development in the MENA region. ABAAD seeks to promote women’s equality and participation through policy development, legal reform, gender mainstreaming, engaging men, eliminating discrimination, and advancing and empowering women to participate effectively and fully in their communities. ABAAD also seeks to support and collaborate with civil society organizations that are involved in gender equality programs and advocacy campaigns.

Access Center for Human Rights (ACHR) is a non-profit and non-governmental human rights organization based in Beirut and Paris, founded in 2017 In Lebanon, and was re-established in France in 2020 as (Centre d'accès pour les droits de l'homme (ACHR)), and includes a group of activists people with experience in law and local and international advocacy. ACHR launched its activities in Lebanon, due to its belief in supporting refugeerights, at a time of a rise in serious violations against them. ACHR is specialized in observing the human rights refugee situation and publishes periodic publications on mass violations with the aim of raising awareness and international advocacy to ensure the right to human dignity in the countries of asylum until their voluntary, dignified, and safe return to their country of origin.

ACT for the Disappeared is a Lebanese Human Rights association ACT supports the families of missing and disappeared persons in Lebanon in their right to know the fate and whereabouts of their loved ones and as part of a national truth-seeking and reconciliation process. ACT seeks to: Support and engage the families of missing and disappeared in the search to know the fate of their loved ones Support the work of the National Commission on the Missing and Forcibly Disappeared Persons (Law 105/2018) and contribute to developing the abilities of the authorities to answer the needs of the families Collect and preserve data on the fate and whereabouts of the missing, including the mapping and protection of clandestine gravesites

Methle Methlak is a youth-based initiative that aims to alleviate juveniles and young adults' reintegration process, namely after their release from prison. Our goal is to offer these juveniles a second chance through the provision of much needed services that they are in need of in order to ease this challenging process and continue their journey in life. These services may include but are not limited to vocational trainings, mental health and health services, legal services, educational services and others.

Akkarouna, a women-led, non-governmental organization, operating within North and Akkar governorates in Lebanon, aiming and committingto achieve socio-economic growth through the empowerment of women, children and youth by building their capacities, enhancing community networks, and implementing development projects, ensuring gender mainstreaming and spreading awareness on different key topics. Over the past years, Akkarouna has operated its programs following 6 main pillars: Health, Protection, Social Stability, Governance, Education and Livelihood. These sectors are complemented with the Emergency Response Unit responsible for preparing, and responding to any emergency within Lebanon.

Akkazeh, the Arabic term for ‘Crutch’, is a development media project that seeks to support and empower persons with disabilities (PwDs) by challenging the narratives and stereotypes surrounding them, and providing a safe space for them to express themselves and their capacities to talk about successes and failures. It also aims to provide development and education services that help them overcome the obstacles in their lives. The platform targets Arabic speaking audience, and pays special attention to countries with high vulnerability in the Medial East. It targets both host and refugee communities, with or without disabilities. It aims to make this platform available for people with interest of searching for realistic approach to issues of disability communities. Akkazeh’s main goal is to change the narrative around disability and challenge stereotypes used to portray PwDs, and help open a dialogue to eventually accept disability as a form of human diversity.

ALEF – Act for Human Rights is a Lebanese non-profit, non-partisan human rights watchdog organization that works on documenting, and promoting human rights violations and values in Lebanon. Vision: A sustainable socio-political order, wherein the intrinsic value of every human being is respected by duty bearers and upheld in policy agendas Mission:ALEF seeks to strengthen the respect and fulfillment of human rights as a cornerstone of social, economic, and political development. By embracing a comprehensive approach to monitor, defend, and educate on human rights, ALEF aims to complement and gear all efforts towards the achievement of an influential human rights constituency, and the realization of a durable peace.

Al-Ensan Amanah's visions are designed to have the broadest reach possible and provide people with Needs and opportunities that enable them to withstand and continue in their lives and empower themselves socially, economically and personally. Since the foundation of the association, many achievements have been made for individuals and local society, among the most important of these achievements was the establishment of a campaign called (From Hand of Hand), As this campaign was characterized by helping patients with the costs of treatment and surgeries, the price of medicines, providing medical equipment to those in need, setting up free medical days (free medical examinations and distributing free medicines), supporting the national campaign for early detection of breast cancer, providing psychological support to those affected by crises and publishing awareness articles in the fields of Diverse medicine. And providing school supplies for children (stationery, clothes and shoes, school bags), and opening donation centers to provide basic materials to poor families (clothes, food, cleaning materials, cash), As Al-Ensan Amanah acted as a mediator between donors and those in need, provide support and cooperation to charitable campaigns issued by other local associations, and supporting solidarity projects with refugee camps. Al-Ensan Amanah Goals: Spreading preventive medical and health awareness. Health care insurance for the needy. Providing humanitarian and charitable services related to health and medical aspects. Contributing to securing medicines, especially for chronic diseases. Opening charitable health centers. Organizing first aid courses and opening first aid centers. Taking care of youth through educational programs. Combating drug addiction through seminars and guidance leaflets. Establish working relationships with civil associations and coordinate with them for the sake of good.

Al Midan is a non-governmental and non-profit organization - NGO. It aims to help the Lebanese society by engaging its citizens to play an active and positive role in their local communities.Al Midan deals with humanitarian, social, cultural, educational and environmental issues by partnering with public sectors, local communities, NGO’s, international organizations, donors, charities and private sectors.

Al Najat Association was founded in 2011 (Registration Number: 1965). The association aims to meet the emotional and psychological needs of abused, neglected and at-risk children (aged 0-18), regardless of their nationality, ethnicity or religion. Al Najat provides psychological care to children and their family members, that include assessment, crisis counseling, and follow-up counseling (individual and group). The main objectives include continuous professional training and supervision, advocacy, prevention, treatment, and community-based outreach.

Amel is a non-governmental organization, recognized as a public utility by presidential decree 5832 in 1994. Since 2001, Amel has had special consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council (UN ECOSOC).In addition, Amel is a non-profit, non sectarian organization that supports the most underprivileged populations in Lebanon, through various programs involving health care, psychosocial support, rural development, vocational training, child protection and the promotion of human rights.Amel was founded in 1979 by Dr. Kamel Mohanna and a team of activists, professors, doctors and journalists in response to the Israeli invasion of South Lebanon in 1978, which caused the massacre and displacement of the population and affected the infrastructure of the country.Amel achieved a considerable task in the fields of relief and emergency assistance through the coordination of 27 centers, 3 field hospitals, an important civil defense team and 30 ambulances. Furthermore, it has actively participated in sending 1,012 victims of war to receive treatment abroad, and took part in a rehabilitation program for the war handicapped through which 400 people benefited from prosthetic implants.In order to provide access to healthcare for the most deprived populations, the Association has also initiated several programs, including vocational training, support for handicapped people and rural development. Due to its strong presence in the underprivileged areas and the high quality of services provided, the association has gained the confidence of the population. Thanks to its excellent reputation, Amel has involved thousands of people in programs related to Human Rights promotion as well as inter-community dialogue. Amel is currently expanding its services in the most underprivileged zones in Lebanon (Southern Suburbs of Beirut, Mount Lebanon, Bekaa Valley and South Lebanon). Thus, Amel can identify the essential needs of the population as well as implement supportive actions fit for helping the residents.The ultimate purpose of the association is to participate in building durable peace, and a unified and fair State. Amel participates in lobbying actions and emphasizes the reinforcement of the civil society on a national and regional level in order to assert the rights and the needs of the population.