By Ada Jolly
Potential Resolutions
Various suggestions have been made by many sources but the most reasonable and realistic ones will be discussed here. Firstly, the government of Lebanon should do the seemingly obvious and halt deportations immediately. The government must also repeal all discriminatory municipal curfews that have been imposed to halt the movement of Syrian refugees and inconvenience them disproportionately. Further, the Lebanese government needs to ensure that any person faced with potential deportation has the opportunity to meet with a lawyer, speak with the UNHCR, and defend their case. It is also imperative that the immigration courts prohibit all deportation that would result in violations of nonrefoulment.
Next, Human Rights Watch calls for all major donor governments funding Lebanese affairs to use their influence to pressure the Lebanese government into ceasing their involvement in these blatant human rights violations. This means governments such as the UK and USA along with bodies such as the EU should cease their funding until they have received assurance and proof that the money they are donating is not funding violations of the rights they have done so much to champion. Moreover, HRW is calling for extra reform so that the Lebanese government can ease pressure on the currently restrictive residency regulations directed towards Syrian refugees.
Thirdly, elements of transitional justice can be brought in to begin to compensate for the past victims, in the form of reparative justice. Reparative justice includes financial compensation for the horrors and trauma victims will have suffered through. This form of justice can convey regret and apology from those who caused victims of a crisis to suffer. In this case, financial compensation can be offered by the Lebanese government to all those who have suffered physical or mental trauma as a result of being deported. The funds can be used to alleviate some of the financial stress that victims would have endured while seeking treatment and paying out of pocket for it.
Contrastingly, another concept known as “safe third countries” could help to balance the efforts put in by the Lebanese government. This concept of receiving a wave of refugees in countries close to conflict and then resettling them in a third nation where they can stably build new lives is quite common in Western countries. In the case of Lebanon, its neighbors and others in the region such as the UAE, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia can step up and should be encouraged to increase the assistance they are providing. Middle Eastern regional blocs can discuss these changes to create appropriate resettlement and third-country programs.
Finally, it is crucial to note the role the United Nations plays in the management of this crisis. The UN must facilitate discussions and allocate or raise funds if needed to support more efficient refugee resettlement pathways across the MENA region. They must also call for talks with the Lebanese government in order to restart their refugee status granting process officially with the support of the government given that other countries will be welcoming Syrian refugees out of Lebanon and sharing their load.
This is Part 3 of the multi-part series Syrian Refugees in Lebanon: A Human Rights Crisis