The Betrayal of Human Dignity: Lebanon’s Government and the Devastating Economic Crisis

On December 10, 2023, we celebrated the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). This document has been a cornerstone for countless countries to develop the legal frameworks and systems needed to secure women’s rights, children’s rights, the right to asylum, education, and an adequate standard of living. However, human dignity in the small Mediterranean country of Lebanon seems to be betrayed by its government and by the devastating economic crisis compounded by war. The case of Lebanon involves an intricate crisis of complex layers: vanishing foreign reserves, capital controls, lollars, dire public debt, and extravagant deficits, resulting in widespread poverty in the land of billionaires. While these layers have trampled many human rights, we will focus on their impact on the economic rights indispensable for human dignity. Furthermore, the purpose of this paper is to stimulate conversations on the protection and promotion of the rights of the Lebanese people. We hope the recommendations outlined here will encourage key players in Lebanon and internationally to implement the needed actions and changes to secure the rights outlined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.