Behind Walls and Cells: Human Rights in Lebanese Prisons
Online via Webex
The Department of Political and International Studies at the School of Arts and Sciences invites you to this talk event as part of its Guest Speaker Series.
About the event
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In this lecture, the speakers will examine the critical intersection of human rights and the prison system in Lebanon, focusing on the urgent need for reform and the reclamation of prisoners’ inherent dignity.
Beginning with an overview of universal human rights principles, including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the Nelson Mandela Rules, the talk will establish the fundamental importance of health as a prerequisite human right and its implications within prison settings. It will then contextualize the Lebanese prison system within its complex political landscape, exploring the objectives of imprisonment and the impact of political actors and public opinion on prisoners’ rights.
A detailed analysis of human rights violations within Lebanese prisons, particularly the devastating consequences of overcrowding, aims to highlight the systemic failures that necessitate immediate action. This will be followed by a discussion of the challenges and opportunities for improvement, outlining concrete recommendations for civil society actors and academic institutions to drive policy change and accelerate procedures that safeguard prisoners’ welfare.
Emphasizing the crucial role of students and young activists in advocating for prison reform, this talk will conclude with a call to action, underscoring the prison system’s integral role in the broader community and the sustainability of society through upholding human rights behind walls and cells. It ultimately aims to inspire a collective effort to rebuild justice and reclaim the humanity of those within the Lebanese prison system.
About the speakers
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- Moderator
Sami Baroudi
Professor and Assistant Dean, LAU
Dr. Sami E. Baroudi is a professor of political science and international affairs in the Department of Political and International Studies. He received his PhD in Political Science from Indiana University in 1992. He served as the associate chairperson of the previous Department of Social Sciences. He played a major role in launching the MA in International Affairs Program at LAU and in the periodic revisions of the BA program in Political Science/International Affairs.
- Speaker
Yasmine Fakhry
Senior Research Fellow at the Institute for Migration Studies and the Institute for Social Justice and Conflict Resolution, LAU
Dr. Yasmine Fakhry (she/her) is a social public health researcher with a multidisciplinary background. Her research interest is around the complex interplay between health, nutrition, food security, health systems, conflict, political factors, climate change and sustainability, particularly as these factors affect marginalized populations such as migrants, refugees, internally displaced persons, persons with disabilities, women and children. Her work is grounded in principles of human rights, sustainable development goals and social justice.