WPC  bFTbyؘt{a|''mۙc#Do)!qۇ^C71Abx ?" \6IƼu+2 Mo=NO"%>Yh4}Ypa}+x&dZU=?"aӝEfqWe 7Ȟcax͗ oW?6\ZuĈSϙ{ cCoH(rl/fU cUʎoS_G&%Ƨ:$VRb_O0GC.i5k|2j"X> mZuez;DaOLBs\| Tee)@[#>PHtqx4vL4]:Lyi*"0d h#Ԑa)Ɩ2^>qa㄁6,%T]? )x>@5z**U:Pn %7="%= 0 j 0 0% 0% 0!#(~N^ w4 m<6X9`("Courier 12cpi<6X9`("Courier 12cpid6X@8;@'   818827f 2final ,hri/core/1/add.270sandi .       }    (UKUS.,  33+B.++b >uQ!XB  ! ++P++7!   P HRI/CORE/1/Add.27     P page  3    (2$ !UKUS.,  TRX<6&X3' Letter 6&A43'T  33+B.++b >uQ!XB     `  'UKUS.,  33+B.++b >uQ!XB  ! ++P++7!HRI/CORE/1/Add.27  page  3    (2$ !UKUS.,  TRX<6&X3' Letter 6&A43'T  33+B.++b >uQ!XB  (!2ؿ$ !UKUS.,  TRX<6&X3' Letter 6&A43'T  33+B.++b >uQ!XB  3333)X+Ҁ  0  /(!2$ !UKUS.,  TRX<6&X3' Letter 6&A43'T  33+B.++b >uQ!XB  3333)X+Ҁ  0  /#|d (t$UKUS.,  TRX<6&X3' Letter 6&A43'T  33+B.++b >uQ!XBHP LaserJet 4P,,,,,,0!o}. Jc.>tU !UKUS.,  TRX<6&X3' Letter 6&A43'T  33+B.++b >uQ!XB  _  ! ++P++7!b   P Distr. b    P GENERAL Q    P _HRI_/CORE/1/Add.27 /     P 12October1993      P ENGLISH      P Original:FRENCH   @ "COREDOCUMENTFORMINGTHEFIRSTPART E  E.++b >uQ!++E@VV$OFTHEREPORTSOFSTATESPARTIES 4  @881LEBANON t  O$[12May1993] R @+A.LANDANDPEOPLE 0 B.++b >uQ!++7B1. b Intheabsenceofofficialstatistics,thepopulationofLebanonis  estimatedatslightlyover3million,livingonaterritoryof10,452square  kilometresinarea.  2. b TheannualincomepercapitaisestimatedatUS$2,150.Althoughthere h arenoexactaccountingfiguresavailable,thegrossnationalproductis W estimatedatUS$6.2billion. F 3. b Theannualrateofinflationwas32.95percentin1991.Since1984the !$ countryhasexperiencedgallopinginflation,whichreachedapeakin u" October1992.In1984theUSdollarwasworth6.51Lebanesepounds;its d# averageworthduring1992was1,700pounds,andattimesitsvaluereached S$ 2,600or2,700pounds(therateofinflationfor1992was130percent). B%  However,thenationalcurrencyralliedconsiderablythedayafterthe 1&! formationofthepresentgovernmenton21October1992andsincethenhas  '" remainedremarkablystable(pricesfellby2percentduringthefirstquarter ( # of1993). (!$ 4. b TheexternaldebtstoodatUS$520millionin1980(WorldBank,World *z#& DevelopmentReport,1992),andinternalpublicdebtatUS$2,290,000,000 +i$' (_Banque_ԀAudi_Liban_,QuarterlyEconomicReport,1stquarter1992). ,X%(  v0), _ԇGE.9318827(E) Q  B.++b >uQ!++7B5. b Therateofunemploymentwasestimatedat23percent   in198838percentamongmenand9percentwomen(statisticsprovided x bytheLeagueofArabStatesandtheUnitedNationsEconomicandSocial g  CommissionforWesternAsia(ESCWA)1989). V  6. b Theadultliteracyrateisestimatedveryapproximately 4  at80.1percent87.8percentformenand73.1percentforwomen #  (UNESCO,1991). t  7. b TheinhabitantsofLebanonbelongtooneoftheofficiallyrecognized R religiouscommunitiesinthecountry.Thesizeofeachcommunityisreflected A inthenumberofseatstowhicheachisentitledintheChamberofDeputies 0 undertheelectorallegislationcurrentlyinforce(ActNo.154of  22July1992).Bylaw,the128seatsintheParliamentaresharedasfollows:   b Muslims   b  Sunnites   >  u     27 h  b  Shiites   >  u     27 F  b  Druzes   >  u     8 !$  b  Alawites   >  u     2 d#  b Christians B%   b  Maronites   >  u     34  '"  b  GreekCatholics(Melchites)    8 (!$  b  GreekOrthodox >  u     14 *z#&  b  Protestants >  u     1 ,X%(  b  ArmenianCatholics u     1 .6'*  b  ArmenianOrthodox u     5 v0),   b}         b  Minorities   >  u     1 5  b      >  u     ___ $  b   Total >  u     128    b      >  u     ___   8. b TheLebanesemothertongueisArabic,whichisalsotheofficial   language;butFrenchandEnglisharealsotaughtintheschools.  x 9. b Accordingto1986statistics(UNICEF,1988)theaveragelifeexpectancy V  atbirthwas67years(65formenand69forwomen). E    i#  10. b Themortalityrateamongchildrenunderage5was43per1,000in1990. F Therateappearstohavefallenin1993.Theinfantmortalityrate(children 5 underage1)is38per1,000(UNICEF,Beirut). $ 11. b Thematernalmortalityratewas200per100,000livebirthsin1988   (UNDP,Humandevelopmentreport1989).   12. b Thefertilityrate(theaveragenumberofchildrenbornperwoman)is3.7   (UNICEF,Beirut,1990).  x 13. b In1988,42.6percentofthepopulationwasunder15yearsof V  age,52.3percentbetweenages15and64and5.1percentoverage65 E  (statisticsoftheLeagueofArabStates,ESCWA);84percentofthe z4  populationlivesintheurbanareasasagainst16percentintheruralareas i#  (1990statistics,UNDP,1992). X  14. b In19881990womenmadeup27.2percentofthetotallabourforce 6 (UNDP,1992). % @%B.GENERALPOLITICALSTRUCTURE  15. b ImmediatelyfollowingthecollapseoftheOttomanEmpirein1918,Lebanon  wasplacedunderFrenchmandates(CategoryA)bytheLeagueofNations.  In1926Lebanonadoptedaparliamentarytyperepublicanconstitution.It y gainedindependencein1943. h 16. b LebanonisafoundingmemberoftheLeagueofArabStatesandofthe F UnitedNations.In1949itsignedtheIsraeliLebaneseGeneralArmistice {5 AgreementunderUnitedNationsauspicesandinimplementationofaSecurity j$ Councildecision.In1958itexperienceditsfirstinternalcrisis,brought Y  onbytheincidentsintheregionwhichbeganwiththeSuezWarin1956butit H! quicklyrecoveredandresumeditseconomicexpansion.However,shortly 7" afterwardsithadtofacetheimpactofthePalestineproblemandthearrival &#  ofnewwavesofPalestinianrefugees. $! 17. b Since1975Lebanonhasexperiencedaseriesofarmedconflictsfannedby % # foreignintervention.TheArabsummitsofRiyadhandCairo(1976)decidedto &!$ sendanArabpeacekeepingforcetoLebanon,whichwassoontoconsist '"% exclusivelyofSyrianforces. (z#& 18. b In1978theIsraeliarmyinvadedsouthernLebanon.SecurityCouncil *X%( resolution425of19March1978calledforstrictrespectfortheterritorial +G&)  integrity,sovereigntyandpoliticalindependenceofLebanonanddemandedthe |,6'* withdrawaloftheIsraeliforces.TheCouncilalsodecidedtoestablishthe F UnitedNationsInterimForceinsouthernLebanon. 5  19. b LebaneseterritorywasagaininvadedbyIsraelinJune1982.The  SecurityCouncilthenadoptedresolution509of6June1982,whichdemanded   thatIsraelwithdrawallitsmilitaryforcesforthwithandunconditionallyto   theinternationallyrecognizedboundariesofLebanon.Buton3August1982   Israelitroopsenteredthecapital,Beirut.   20. b InDecember1983,between3,000and4,000armedelementsofthePalestine  g  LiberationOrganizationleftLebanonbysea. V  21. b FollowingthenonratificationbytheLebaneseGovernmentofthe z4  agreementsignedon17May1983withIsrael,theIsraeliarmywithdrewfrom i#  partoftheterritorieswhichitoccupied,butwithoutcoordinatingthat X  withdrawalwiththeLebanesearmy.Fightingbrokeoutintheevacuated G regionsandmassacreswerecommitted,causingthemassdisplacementoflarge 6 numbersoftheinhabitantsofthoseregions. % 22. b On22October1989theLebanesedeputiesmetinthetownofTaif,in  SaudiArabia,andadoptedadocumentofnationalunderstandingwhichincluded  political,administrative,economic,social,educationalandmilitary  provisionsandestablishedaspecialrelationshipwithSyria.  23. b ThepoliticalstructureoftheLebaneseRepublicisasfollows: h 24. b Theexecutiveauthorityconsistsoftheministers(currently30in F number)andofthePresidentoftheRepublicandthePresidentoftheCouncil {5 ofMinisters,whoarejointheadsoftheexecutive.ThePresidentofthe j$ RepubliciselectedforsixyearsbytheChamberofDeputies.Hehasno Y  policy-makingresponsibilities.HemaychairmeetingsoftheCouncilof H! Ministerswithouttherighttovote.Hepromulgateslaws,ratifiestreaties 7" (withtheconsentoftheHeadofGovernment)andsignsdecrees,whichare &#  countersignedbythelatterandbytheministerconcerned.Hemay,after $! givingpriornoticetotheCouncilofMinisters,referlegislationbacktothe %" ChamberofDeputiesforasecondreadingandmayalsocallupontheCouncilof % # MinisterstodissolvetheChamberifitdeclinestomeetorrejectsthebudget &!$ initsentirety. '"% 25. b ThePresidentoftheCouncilofMinistersisappointedbythePresident )i$' oftheRepublicinconsultationswiththePresidentoftheChamberofDeputies *X%( andfollowingconsultationswiththedeputiesthemselves(thelatterare +G&) mandatory). |,6'*  k-%(+ 26. b TheexecutivepowerisvestedintheCouncilofMinistersasacollegiate F body.Ministersmaybechosenfromamongthedeputies.TheGovernmentis 5 politicallyaccountabletotheChamberofDeputiesandhastherightto $ proposelegislation,ashastheChamberitself.  27. b Thelegislatureconsistsofasinglechamber,theChamberofDeputies,   whichiscomposedof128memberselectedforfouryearsbyuniversalsuffrage.   ThePresidentandVicePresidentoftheChamber,whoareelectedbythe   deputies,alsoserveforfouryearterms.  x 28. b Thejudiciaryisindependent.Itiscomposedofthecourtsoffirst V  instance,thecourtsofappealandaCourtofCassation,whichhasseparate E  civilandcriminalbranches.AnindependentCouncilofStateexaminesappeals z4  fortheannulmentofadministrativeactsongroundsofillegalityand i#  proceedingsbroughttoestablishgovernmentliability. X  29. b Inaddition,aHighCourthasbeenestablishedtoconducttrialsof 6 presidentsandministers. % 30. b Aconstitutionalcouncilisbeingsetup,inaccordancewiththe  constitutionalamendmentof21September1990(art.19).  @C.GENERALLEGALFRAMEWORKWITHINWHICHHUMANRIGHTSAREPROTECTED  31. b AlltreatiesdulyratifiedbyLebanonacquiremandatoryforceoflaw h withinthecountrysimplybyvirtueoftheexchangeofinstrumentsof W ratification(inthecaseofbilateraltreaties)oruponthedepositofthe F instrumentsofratificationoraccession(inthecaseofmultilateral {5 treaties).Nofurtherprocedureisrequiredfortheirincorporationinto j$ internallegislation.Theprovisionsofthosetreatieswhicharesufficiently Y  specificandconcretewillthereforebeimmediatelyapplied.Provisionswhich H! callforlegislativeorstatutorymeasuresarebindingontheStateof 7" Lebanon,whichmustthenintroducesuchmeasures. &#  32. b On3November1972Lebanondepositedtheinstrumentsofaccessiontothe %" InternationalCovenantonEconomic,SocialandCulturalRightsandtothe % # InternationalCovenantonCivilandPoliticalRights.Itistherefore &!$ expectedtoadoptthelegislative,regulatoryandpracticalmeasuresrequired '"% bythesetwoCovenants. (z#& 33. b Theauthoritieswithcompetenceinthefieldofhumanrightsarethe *X%( ChamberofDeputies,theCouncilofMinisters,theMinistriesofJustice,the +G&) Interior,PublicHealth,SocialAffairs,Labour,NationalEducation,Youthand |,6'* Sports,CultureandHigherEducation,theEnvironment,Education,Habitatand k-%(+ CooperativesandDisplacedPersons;theNationalSocialSecurityFund;the F municipalities;theDepartmentofthePublicProsecutor(ProcuratorGeneralat 5 theCourtofCassation);theCouncilofState;theConstitutionalCouncil(in $ theprocessofbeingsetup);andtheEconomicandSocialCouncil,the  establishmentofwhichisprovidedforintheTaifagreement(documentof   nationalunderstanding).   34. b Anypersonwhoclaimsthathisrightshavebeenviolatedhasremedies   availabletohimintheordinaryorcriminalcourts,dependingonthe  x circumstances.IftheviolationoftherightshasbeencausedbytheStateor  g  itsrepresentatives,hemaymakeanadministrativecomplainttotheMinister V  involvedoranapplicationtotheCouncilofStatefortheannulmentofthe E  decisionimpugnedorinordertoobtainredress.Hemayalsomakeapplication z4  toadeputy,whowillintervenetotheextentofhispowers. i#  35. b Iftheviolationstemsfromunconstitutionallegislation,apetitionof G unconstitutionalitymaybemade,pursuanttoarticle19oftheConstitution, 6 asamendedbytheConstitutionalActNo.18of21September1990,throughthe % PresidentoftheRepublic,thepresidentoftheChamberofDeputies,the  presidentoftheCouncilofMinistersorany10deputies.Similarly,the  headsofthereligiouscommunitiesrecognizedbythelawmaybringbeforethe  ConstitutionalCouncilanymattersinvolvingpersonalstatus,religiousand  culturalfreedoms,andthefreedomofreligiouseducation.  @0