Social protection for children in Lebanon

This study examines the social protection system for children in Lebanon and highlights the structural, legal, administrative, and social challenges that hinder the effective protection of children’s rights. Although Lebanon ratified the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child in 1993, child protection remains fragmented across civil, criminal, labor, and personal status laws, resulting in inconsistencies regarding the definition of childhood, child labor, juvenile justice, and custody rights. The study analyzes the limitations of the current centralized administrative model, the weak implementation of child protection laws, and the deficiencies in maternal and child healthcare services. It also explores the growing challenges related to child labor, juvenile delinquency, and children at risk. Drawing inspiration from the French child protection reform, this article proposes a comprehensive decentralized framework for child protection in Lebanon. The proposed model redistributes responsibilities between the State, the Caza, and municipalities, while emphasizing prevention, coordination, social welfare, and medical-social protection. The study recommends the establishment of specialized child welfare services, local observatories for child protection, maternal and child health services, and new preventive mechanisms at the municipal level. Ultimately, the article argues that effective child protection in Lebanon requires legal reform, decentralized governance, financial restructuring, and stronger cooperation among judicial, administrative, and social actors to ensure the best interests of the child.