Resources

About the bookletThis booklet is one of a serie of 3 booklets enclosing a collection of 180 photos, captured by young Palestinian girls and boys in Burj Chemali Camp, South Lebanon. Through using the ‘Pinhole Camera’ technique, these girls and boys captured some challenging sides of the lives of Palestinian youth through aspects of discrimination, violence and gender-based violence affecting their communities. Throughout these photos, the 3 booklets tell 3 personal stories narrated by the participants that implicate deep personal sufferings caused by community-imposed norms, traditions and...

This report is this first of a three-part series focusing on the current status and lessons learned relating to transitional justice and policing initiatives in opposition-controlled Syria. • Part I focuses on the effects of the departure of judicial and security elements of the Syrian state has had on conditions on the ground currently and on the nascent justice institutions that have emerged in this void (including levels of institutionalisation, Islamic law, and the legal systems currently being debated and trialed in some areas). • Part II examines the variety of institutions and...

This paper examines the situation of impunity in Lebanon that has persisted since the 1975–1990 war. It highlights the price of the Lebanese authorities’ failure to address the legacy of past conflict. This study recommends a holistic approach to crafting a comprehensive and victim-centered transitional justice process in Lebanon. An incremental approach to reform would be of value, given the likely challenges to pursuing accountability in the country. Programming must involve state and nonstate actors—political and community leaders, civil society, and the broader public. In addition, human...

Global civil society alliance, CIVICUS, has released a revised version of what is probably the world’s most comprehensive compilation of commitments made by governments on civil society rights. Originally released in 2008, and now fully updated, the compendium consolidates various international standards and commitments made by governments at the regional and global levels to protect civil society and ensure participation in public processes. In addition to collating relevant portions of major UN documents, the compendium also includes commitments made by regional bodies such as the Arab...

This briefing note presents facts about violence against women (VAW) and discusses the repercussions that it has on development.

In December 2013, NRC launched a report entitled ‘The Consequences of Limited Legal Status for Syrian Refugees in Lebanon: NRC Field Assessment in Aarsal and Wadi Khaled’ (Part One) based on the findings of an assessment that NRC conducted between

التراث الثقافي غير المادي في لبنان على ضوء التجربة العالميّة في البحث الذي أعدّه لمرصد التراث الحديث تحت عنوان "التراث الثقافي غير المادي في لبنان على ضوء التجربة العالميّة" ذكر الدكتور شربل نصّار أن التراث الثقافي غير المادي يعدّ "مفهوماً مبهماً نظراً لتعدد التعاريف المنسوبة إليه." من خلال هذا البحث يشرح نصّار هذا المفهوم ويسلّط الضوء على الواقع القانوني والتشريعي الذي يحكمه في لبنان مقارنة بعدّة تجارب عالمية.  

Briefing papers on the preservation of cultural heritageInstitutions and individuals from the Middle East and North Africa experience many shortcomings in legislation, policies and current practices impeding the sustainable preservation of cultural heritage. In order to obtain a systematic overview and a sound basis for engaging in lobby and advocacy work for improved governance of the cultural sector, the Modern Heritage Observatory contracted local lawyers and researchers to analyze and assess current regulations, policies and practices concerning the preservation of cultural heritage in...

Briefing papers on the preservation of cultural heritage Institutions and individuals from the Middle East and North Africa experience many shortcomings in legislation, policies and current practices impeding the sustainable preservation of cultural heritage.

The “Review of the Public Procurement Legal Framework in Lebanon” introduces the Sustainable Public Procurement (SPP) in Lebanon and elaborates on the legal of the country’s procurement and sustainability laws that may offer a legal possibility for the adoption of SPP principl

In cooperation with Oxfam GB, and with the support of the European Union, Kafa - Enough Violence and Exploitation works since 2009 on developing strategies and interventions with men and boys to end gender-based violence through the white ribbon campaign. On the occasion of the 16 days of activism to end violence against women Kafa considers that men should be involved in limiting and ending gender based violence, as standing against patriarchal society will also reflect positively on men and society in general.  The patriarchal society, which puts men and women in predefined solid identities...

Arabic version available

Study | December 2011
Restoring Dignity: The Raison D’etre of the Youth Movements in the Arab Citizen Revolt? by Rima Afifi, Ziyad Mahfoud, Rami Khouri, Sara Bittar, and Ahmad Younis
Dignity (in Arabic: Al Karama) is a slogan that has been chanted regularly during the Arab Citizen Revolt1 and a concept that continues to be a central theme as events unfold. In this paper, we explore the concept of dignity, identify a conceptual framework for thinking about dignity, and connect dignity to youth and the current situation. We then use data from the Gallup World Poll of Arab youth to assess the fit...

IFI Executive Summary | November 2011 A Generation on the Move: Insights into the Conditions, Aspirations, and Activism of Arab Youth Rami G. Khouri, Shahida Azfar, Charles Harb, Nasser Yassin, Moussa Shteiwi, Yazan Doughan, Abla Rouag-Djenidi, Dina Shehata, Barbara Ibrahim, Gregory Gause, Christine Asaad, Muneira Hoballah, Jad Melki, Mark Levine, Waad Ibrahim, Rodda Leage, Ivana Chalmers, Karen Abi Saab, Sarah Tabbara, Joe Khalil, Zina Sawaf, Carine Allaf, Diane Singerman, Nicola Bull, Shereen El Feki, Lucas Nielsen, Ayman Zohry, Mohammad Younis, Ahmed Younis, Leah Pybus, Tim Jacoby, Eileen...

This case study book entitled “Cases of Femicide before Lebanese Courts” was written by Azza Charara Baydoun and published by KAFA (enough) Violence & Exploitation in 2011.

On December 9, 2009, a Lebanese criminal court sentenced a Lebanese woman to 15 days in jail for repeatedly beating Jonalin Malibago, her Filipina maid, three years earlier. Lebanese newspapers hailed the case a landmark victory for the country’s estimated 200,000 migrant domestic workers (MDWs), many of whom report abuse at the hands of their employers. The case illustrated the positive role that the judiciary can play in protecting MDWs, even though the sentence was lenient given the violation. But it also raised at least one significant question: was the Malibago verdict a rare instance of...

IFI Working Paper Series #4 | July 2010 Media Habits of MENA Youth:  A Three-Country SurveyJad Melki This pilot study surveyed 2,744 university and high school students in Jordan, Lebanon, and the United Arab Emirates. It asked about their media consumption and production habits, and about their attitudes towards certain media. Among the significant findings, the survey found the participants highly adept at using new media. They spent considerable time consuming new and traditional media, but much less time producing media content. For instance, the vast majority of participants indicated...

 ورقة خلفية | حزيران 2010 الشباب البحريني والهويةفاطمة علي في عامنا هذا (2010) يكمل مصطلح ”الهوية“ ستين عامًا منذ بدء المحاولات الاولى لتوظيفه في المجال التداولي كمصطلح يدل على نوع من فهم الخصوصية لدى الفرد عن نفسه أو الجماعة عن نفسها في مقابل خصوصية الآخر (أبيه، 2004،صفحة 65). غير أن اللافت أن كل هذا الوقت لم يكن كفيلا بمعالجة الغموض الذي يشوب مسألة الهوية ومعانيها المختلفة وإذا كان خطاب الهوية قد شغل العالم الغربي منذ انتهاء الحرب العالمية الثانية فإن العالم العربي لم ينشغل بهذا الخطاب إلا حديثا، أو فلنقل فقد غزت خطابات الهوية المكتبة العربية، بدءا من التسعينات وحتى الألفينات غزوا، حيث جرى...

Background Paper | June 2010 Dilemmas of Identity and Cultural Diversity among Ammani YouthYazan Doughan This report is an overview of the research conducted as part of Takween’s project on Identity & Cultural Diversity in the city of Amman. Using the method of discourse analysis, it investigates the politics of identity among Ammani youth, particularly those from marginalized ethnic and cultural backgrounds. Our research focuses on anxieties around issues of ethnic and national identity among this group and detects shifts in identity politics from older to younger generations in the city...

Background Paper | June 2010 Dilemmas of Identity and Cultural Diversity among Ammani YouthYazan Doughan This report is an overview of the research conducted as part of Takween’s project on Identity & Cultural Diversity in the city of Amman. Using the method of discourse analysis, it investigates the politics of identity among Ammani youth, particularly those from marginalized ethnic and cultural backgrounds. Our research focuses on anxieties around issues of ethnic and national identity among this group and detects shifts in identity politics from older to younger generations in the city...