Areas of Expertise
Communication
Research
Training & Workshops
Areas of Expertise (Other)
Justice and Security reform - Criminal Justice - Prisons and detention - Rule of Law - PVE and CVE - Alternatives to detention.
Short Bio
Raja S. Abinader
After heading the Judicial Commission for Early Release for almost five years, Judge Raja Abinader is currently, and since 2012, in charge of the Prison’s Directorate within the Lebanese Ministry of Justice, focusing on prison reform in Lebanon.
Holder of a Masters in Criminal Law, Raja has been a dedicated and driven professional with a demonstrated history of working in the law practice industry for the past 15 years.
He is highly experienced in Criminal Justice, Prisons inspection and monitoring, Detention Management, Alternatives to detention, International Human Rights and Humanitarian Law, Training and Development, Counter Terrorism, and Justice and Security Reform.
He is a member of Parliamentary subcommittees on Criminal Law reform, governmental committees on counter terrorism, overcrowding and detention, a trainer on management of Violent Extremist Prisoners, PVE and CVE in detention, a lecturer in Human Rights and detention, and is currently heading the Lebanese National Response Committee on Prison Overcrowding.
He works also as legal consultant for the “Geneva Center for Security Sector Governance” (DCAF) on supporting the Lebanese Internal Security Forces in combatting torture and promoting and respecting Human Rights; Designing comprehensive frameworks for the Lebanese Security Forces related to law enforcement skills, criminal justice procedures and Prison Inspection; as well as ensuring the implementation of international standards in apprehension/arrest and interview/interrogation techniques.
Founding member of "Nouveaux Droits de l'Homme" - ALEF “Act for Human Rights” Non-Governmental Organization in Lebanon since the year 2000 and a “John Smith Memorial Trust” fellow since 2011.
2021 Common Ground awardee for prevention of Violent Extremism and Political Violence.
After heading the Judicial Commission for Early Release for almost five years, Judge Raja Abinader is currently, and since 2012, in charge of the Prison’s Directorate within the Lebanese Ministry of Justice, focusing on prison reform in Lebanon.
Holder of a Masters in Criminal Law, Raja has been a dedicated and driven professional with a demonstrated history of working in the law practice industry for the past 15 years.
He is highly experienced in Criminal Justice, Prisons inspection and monitoring, Detention Management, Alternatives to detention, International Human Rights and Humanitarian Law, Training and Development, Counter Terrorism, and Justice and Security Reform.
He is a member of Parliamentary subcommittees on Criminal Law reform, governmental committees on counter terrorism, overcrowding and detention, a trainer on management of Violent Extremist Prisoners, PVE and CVE in detention, a lecturer in Human Rights and detention, and is currently heading the Lebanese National Response Committee on Prison Overcrowding.
He works also as legal consultant for the “Geneva Center for Security Sector Governance” (DCAF) on supporting the Lebanese Internal Security Forces in combatting torture and promoting and respecting Human Rights; Designing comprehensive frameworks for the Lebanese Security Forces related to law enforcement skills, criminal justice procedures and Prison Inspection; as well as ensuring the implementation of international standards in apprehension/arrest and interview/interrogation techniques.
Founding member of "Nouveaux Droits de l'Homme" - ALEF “Act for Human Rights” Non-Governmental Organization in Lebanon since the year 2000 and a “John Smith Memorial Trust” fellow since 2011.
2021 Common Ground awardee for prevention of Violent Extremism and Political Violence.
Experience with the Civil Society
My position as a judge and head of the Prisons Department at the Ministry of Justice consists of a mainly managerial role and has over the years, permitted me to gain an in-depth and hands-on experience with local and international Civil Society Organizations.
- It is part of my daily work to head regular meetings and coordination between Prison upper management, officers, service providers, local and international NGOs, to detect gaps, identify challenges but also existing positive practices and opportunities, adapt future actions and develop joint, tangible and sustainable long term solutions.
Particularly after engaging in consultancies and development advisorship since early 2019, I had the chance to directly support and advise several CSOs on multiple projects.
- CORRECTIONS (Mandela Rules and Prisoner Rehabilitation) CONSULTANT AND TRAINER • SEARCH FOR COMMON GROUND•
- LEGAL CONSULTANT • GENEVA CENTER FOR SECURITY SECTOR GOVERNANCE (DCAF) •
- WORKSHOPS MEDIATOR • ARCS - Italian Agency for Development - AJEM - Mouvement Social - No Peace Without Justice
I am also a founding member of "Nouveaux Droits de l'Homme" - ALEF “Act for Human Rights” Non-Governmental Organization in Lebanon since the year 2000 and a “John Smith Memorial Trust” fellow since 2011.
2021 Common Ground awardee for prevention of Violent Extremism and Political Violence.
- It is part of my daily work to head regular meetings and coordination between Prison upper management, officers, service providers, local and international NGOs, to detect gaps, identify challenges but also existing positive practices and opportunities, adapt future actions and develop joint, tangible and sustainable long term solutions.
Particularly after engaging in consultancies and development advisorship since early 2019, I had the chance to directly support and advise several CSOs on multiple projects.
- CORRECTIONS (Mandela Rules and Prisoner Rehabilitation) CONSULTANT AND TRAINER • SEARCH FOR COMMON GROUND•
- LEGAL CONSULTANT • GENEVA CENTER FOR SECURITY SECTOR GOVERNANCE (DCAF) •
- WORKSHOPS MEDIATOR • ARCS - Italian Agency for Development - AJEM - Mouvement Social - No Peace Without Justice
I am also a founding member of "Nouveaux Droits de l'Homme" - ALEF “Act for Human Rights” Non-Governmental Organization in Lebanon since the year 2000 and a “John Smith Memorial Trust” fellow since 2011.
2021 Common Ground awardee for prevention of Violent Extremism and Political Violence.
Education
Date
Degree Type
Master of Arts (M.A.)
Degree
MASTERS IN CRIMINAL LAW AND CRIMINILOGY
University
LEBANESE UNIVERSITY
Date
Degree Type
Diploma
Degree
MASTERS IN LEBANESE LAW - JUDGE
University
National School of Judicial Studies
Date
Degree Type
Bachelor of Arts (B.A.)
Degree
BACHELOR’S DEGREE - LAW (LL.B.)
University
SAINT JOSEPH UNIVERSITY
Language Proficiency
Language
Arabic
Proficiency
Fluent
Language
English
Proficiency
Fluent
Language
French
Proficiency
Fluent
Civil society actor(s) you've collaborated with (Please list at least 2)
Organisation
Organisation
Organisation
Contact Email
raja.abinader@hotmail.com
Contact Phone Number
+9613206437
Resume/CV
cv_2021_raja_s._abi_nader.pdf
(129.14 كيلوبايت)