This event took place on the 30th of July at Caritas Center in Achrafieh, Beirut. Caregivers were actively engaged in dialogue sessions that were facilitated by UNODC, Caritas and IOM. The event featured the risks of TiP on families and children, protective mechanisms from Trafficking in Persons and Smuggling of Migrants criminal networks. Given that TiP is a form of violence against children, LAW conducted awareness session for caregivers on the right to identity and the importance of birth registration, both of which are critical for access of children to services, schools, health care and other rights and entitlements and to prevent them from being prone to violence, exploitation and abuse. This event was also an opportunity to interact with children through recreational activities held at the Caritas school playground. Through COMPASS, a global project focusing on Cooperation on Migration and Partnership to Achieve Sustainable Solutions, implemented by IOM with support from Dutch government, dignity kits were distributed to all participants. With the dramatic socio-economic situation that the country is facing, it is crucial for UNODC to address the risk of trafficking in person and smuggling of migrants. “Victims’ Voices Lead the Way” is the theme of UNODC work for this year stressing the importance of a victim-centered approach. Renee Sabbagh, UNODC Lebanon Head of Office, joined her voice to UNODC Executive Director, Ghada Waly: “Victims’ voices are key to preventing trafficking, supporting survivors, and bringing perpetrators to justice.” The Caritas Lebanon Executive Director- Gilbert Zouein highlighted “the importance of prevention efforts and protection of victims, with special attention to be given to the application of non-punishment principle”. He added “Caritas Lebanon offers holistic services to victims regardless of their age, gender, race, ethnicity and religious beliefs”. Organizations jointly highlighted the need to expand emergency relief programmes to address the immediate needs of vulnerable migrants and their children in Lebanon while providing them with access to more sustainable solutions, one of them being safe return and sustainable reintegration programs. World Day against Trafficking in Persons was proclaimed in 2013 by the United Nations General Assembly, in its adopted resolution A/RES/68/192, on July 30. Such a day is necessary, as declared in the resolution, to “raise awareness of the situation of victims of human trafficking and for the promotion and protection of their rights.”   For more information, please contact Ms. Tala KHATIB – IOM Lebanon at talkhatib@iom.int and Ms. Mira KOBEISSI – UNODC Lebanon at mira.kobeissi@un.org and Ms. Rouba Dirani – Caritas Lebanon at rouba.dirani@caritas.org.lb.

The 3RF Consultative Group consists of the Government of Lebanon, Lebanese civil society, the European Union, United Nations, the World Bank and international donors. Together they monitor progress and give strategic direction to the reforms and activities under the 3RF. Given the context of rapidly worsening socio-economic situation in Lebanon, Consultative Group members focused on next steps. Below is the co-chairs’ statement of the second 3RF Consultative Group meeting, which outlines the discussion and list of attendees. The 3RF report and the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) on the 3RF can be found here. The Co-Chairs' Statement: Second Consultative Group Meeting of the Reform, Recovery and Reconstruction Framework The second Consultative Group (CG) meeting of the Reform, Recovery and Reconstruction Framework (3RF) was held 27 July 2021 in hybrid format, co-chaired by the Government of Lebanon, Lebanese civil society, European Union (EU) and United Nations (UN). The CG commemorated the 207 victims and thousands of injured in the explosion of 4 August last year. Many more lives were devastated as homes and businesses were destroyed. Testimony from a victim underlined the human tragedy. The situation in Lebanon is worsening by the day through deepening political, economic, financial and social crises. More than half the population now lives below the national poverty line, unemployment is on the rise and an increasing share of households has difficulty accessing basic services like food and healthcare. A government should be formed without delay to implement the necessary reforms. Only then can the assistance offered by the international community, including under the 3RF, make a difference for people. Not taking this responsibility would deepen the crises and would have serious social and security implications. Progress on reforms under the 3RF has been slow. The international community felt a lack of political responsibility to break the deadlock, especially considering the state of emergency Lebanon is in. CSOs called for a public debate and inclusive policy dialogue with the Government and committed to present concrete proposals to ministers at the 3RF table. As committed to at the first CG, the 3RF Technical Team presented the state of implementation of the agreed priorities of the four 3RF pillars, namely Improving Governance and Accountability; Jobs and Economic Opportunities; Social Protection, Inclusion and Culture, and Improving Services and Infrastructures. Emergency Cash Transfers were made to 80,000 vulnerable people. Refurbished health facilities and emergency medical equipment benefitted some 200,000. A total of 94 public and 41 private schools were rehabilitated. Around 3,500 victims of the blast received legal assistance. But delays on some key activities under the 3RF, underline the need for more Government and Parliament responsiveness, especially on the exchange rate for development programmes, the Emergency Social Safety Net, implementation of the Lebanon Financing Facility priority programmes, port site clearance and reform, and addressing the collapse of service delivery starting with the electricity sector. Time is of the essence. The CG was also updated on the formation of the Independent Oversight Body, which has been operational since June 2021, and which its members were present at the CG with observer status. The CG praised Lebanese civil society for their work on the ground and for their engagement with the 3RF, now representing 100 CSOs and businesses. CSOs emphasized that coordination structures and data collection is often too complex for CSOs to constructively take part. The CG members agreed this meeting to be a call for action. A meeting will be held end of August to further discuss the following action points before the next CG to be held in October. These essential reforms that require action on the part of the Government with input from CSOs and funding and technical assistance from the international community: The international community repeated their call for justice and accountability through a transparent investigation into the causes of the explosion; Macroeconomic-fiscal reform was considered the most fundamental reform required to lessen the crises. With essential elements: exchange rate unification; an orderly exit from subsidy schemes; a Capital Controls law that ensures equal depositor treatment; forensic audit of the Central Bank; and Banking Sector reform. Maximising the potential benefits of the IMF Special Drawing Rights due in September through a proper mix of consumptive, systemic and investing measures, decided after an inclusive public debate on the use of the SDR. A budget should be passed for 2021, and more importantly a budget should be prepared for 2022, including a strong programme on social protection, implementing the Emergency Social Safety Net (ESSN) programme and the National Poverty Targeting Programme (NPTP); Independence of the Judiciary law should be passed with principles safeguarding independence reinstated, without further clauses to the contrary; The National Anti-Corruption Institution should be staffed and funded; The Public Procurement law secondary legislation should be passed and EDL’s procurement be conducted within the frame of the Public Procurement law; Installing, staffing and funding a Supervisory Commission for Elections to oversee compliance with campaign spending limits and equal access to media. CSOs will engage with Government and international partners on the eight reforms mentioned above, as well as on an urban strategy for reconstruction and support for the disabled and elderly, in addition to their other activities under the 3RF. 3RF Secretariat will facilitate this contact. CSOs also requested more frequent updates from the Technical Team. CSOs will present their experience of inclusivity in the 3RF at the next CG. The donor base should be widened, also for the LFF, especially to include Arab partners. To facilitate implementation of critical site clearance and waste management inside and outside the port, three critical actions should be taken: operationalize interministerial committee for overseeing the management of waste resulting from the explosion; facilitate access to the Port for site assessments and resulting interventions; and allocate a suitable site for the disposal of non-recyclable rubble and other mixed waste. Aid coordination should be strengthened, ensuring clear monitoring and transparent tracking of aid bearing the humanitarian-development nexus in mind. CSOs requested inclusion in implementation at sector level. CG praised the Army for gathering data from the affected area. And CG encourages further coordination with CSOs to update data and avoid duplication. CSOs requested to work with the 3RF Technical Team and Central Inspection to transform IMPACT as a platform to be more inclusive for citizens and CSOs with oversight by international partners, also to protect beneficiary data. Attendees at the 3RF second Consultative Group meeting:  Government of Lebanon H.E. Dr Hassan Diab, Prime Minister H.E. Zeina Akar, Deputy Prime Minister H.E. Raoul Nehme, Minister of Economy and Trade H.E. Ramzi Mcharafiyeh, Minister of Tourism and Social Affairs H.E. Raymond Ghajar, Minister of Energy and Water Mr Georges Adwan, Member of Parliament, Head of the Administration and Justice Committee Mr Marwan Abboud, Governor of Beirut Mr Antoine Choucair, General Director of the Lebanese Presidency H.E. Gebran Soufan, Ambassador and Diplomatic Advisor to the Prime Minister Mr Tony al-Hoyek, Advisor to the Deputy Prime Minister Mr Haytham Sayyad, Advisor to the Governor of Beirut   United Nations Ms Najat Rochdi, Deputy Special Coordinator for Lebanon, Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator Ms Natalie Sarafian, Team Leader, Resident Coordinator Office   World Bank Mr Saroj Kumar Jha, Regional Director of the Mashreq Department Ms Mouna Couzi, Lebanon Finance Facility Programme Manager                 Donors H.E. Ralph Tarraf, Head of the Delegation of the European Union H.E. Pierre Duquesne, Ambassador of France H.E. Andreas Kindl, Ambassador of Germany H.E. Nicoletta Bombardiere, Ambassador of Italy H.E. José María Ferré, Ambassador of Spain H.E. Hans Peter van der Woude, Ambassador of the Netherlands H.E. Ian Collard, Ambassador of the United Kingdom H.E. Dorothy Shea, Ambassador of the United States of America Ms Maja Messmer Mokhtar, Chargée d’Affaires at the Embassy of Switzerland Ms Mary Eileen Devitt, USAID Lebanon Mission Director Mr Damien Sorrell, EIB Representative for Lebanon Ms Gretchen Biery, Head of the Lebanon Office of the EBRD Mr Khalil Dinguizli, incoming Head of the Lebanon Office of the EBRD Mr Jamie Schnurr, Head of Development Cooperation at the Embassy of Canada Mr Francois de Ricolfis, Head of the Regional Economic Section at the Embassy of France Ms Alice Thomann, Deputy Head of Cooperation at the Embassy of Switzerland Ms Roula Abbas, Programme Manager Civil Society at the Delegation of the European Union Ms Estelle Akiki, Assistant to the Ambassador of Spain   Lebanese Civil Society Anonymous speaker on behalf of victims of the 4 August explosion Ms Asma Zain of the Lebanese League for Women in Business (LLWB) Ms Sylvana Lakkis of the Lebanese Union of Persons with Physical Disabilities Ms Zoya Rouhana of KAFA (Enough) Violence and Exploitation Ms Ghada Jabbour of KAFA (Enough) Violence and Exploitation Ms Mona Harb of Beirut Urban Lab Ms Nada Zaarour of Green Mind Ms Carine Tohme of the Lebanese Association for Taxpayers' Rights (ALDIC) Ms Alia Farhat of the Lebanon Humanitarian & Development NGOs Forum (LHDF) Mr Soman Moodley, Country Coordinator at the Lebanon Humanitarian INGO Forum (LHIF) Ms Sophie Bloemeke, Research Assistant at Beirut Urban Lab                 3RF Technical Team Mr Christian de Clercq, UN Resident Coordinator’s Office Mr Stephan Massing, World Bank Senior Strategy and Operations Officer Mr Jose Luis Vinuesa-Santamaria, EU Delegation Head of Section Mr Khalil Gebara of the 3RF Secretariat Mr Jaap van Diggele of the 3RF Secretariat   3RF Independent Oversight Body (observers) Mr Julien Courson of the Lebanese Transparency Association Ms Diana Menhem of Kulluna Irada Ms Reem el-Dana of Kulluna Irada Ms Roula Mikael of the Maharat Foundation  

The dialogue was held under the patronage of Deputy Special Coordinator, Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Lebanon, Ms. Najat Rochdi and Lebanese MP Ms. Inaya Ezzeddine, with the active participation of several UN agencies, funds, programmes and regional commissions operating in Lebanon, including the World Food Programme (WFP), the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the UN Information Centre in Beirut (UNIC Beirut), the Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) and the UN Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO). Rochdi said that the Lebanese who have always been known for their rich hospitality and generosity, are today threatened by their basic right to food due to the continuous rise in commodity prices as a result of the successive crises in the country. “People are unable to provide their basic food requirements and are substituting healthy meals with unhealthy cheaper options, threatening their food security all of which risk a rise in levels of hunger. The UN in Lebanon is working on building food resilience to vulnerabilities at the individual, community, and system levels. An improved food system prevents conflicts and is vital to achieving Goal 2 of the SDGs: Zero Hunger.” A change in the food systems would support the extremely poor, and the ones depending on agriculture for their livelihoods,” Rochdi added. The Dialogue brought together around 80 participants for a lively and constructive discussion on how to make the food system in Lebanon safer, stronger, and more equitable. It included a diverse array of perspectives, including stakeholders of the Lebanese Food systems, women cooperatives, research centres, students from the faculties of agriculture and food sciences, smallholder farmers and business leaders. “Food security is an outcome of the food system. Our duty is to ensure that the food system is resilient to ensure sustainable access to safe and healthy food to those who live in Lebanon and not only for a few,” said MP Inaya Ezzeddine. “Numerous integrated intersected strategies should be put in place to achieve this goal, and they should all rest on the inalienable right of all, especially the most vulnerable including women and children, to a healthy affordable diet,” she added. Four separate discussions were conducted during the dialogue revolving around three tracks: ensuring access to safe and nutritious food for all, advancing equitable livelihoods, and building resilience to vulnerabilities, shocks and stress and the role of youth in technology and innovation of the food systems. Rami Zurayk, professor at the American University of Beirut who moderated the opening and closing sessions, highlighted the importance of focusing on the obstacles that affect the functioning of food systems such as conflicts, pandemics, socio-economic crises, and the absence of technology and scientific development. Participants agreed on a number of ways that the food system in Lebanon can be strengthened, including: providing vouchers to farmers to buy agricultural inputs and increase production, developing and strengthening the skills of farmers and producers to use technology that can be more sustainable, and promoting low-cost entrepreneurship. Maurice Saade, FAO Representative in Lebanon, urged all actors to join forces and implement recommendations to avoid an acute food security crisis in Lebanon. The UN in Lebanon will now submit the outcomes of the Dialogue to the organizers of the UN Food Systems Summit. The information will be used by organizers to feed into the Summit’s five priority Action Tracks, as well as the preparatory work of its Scientific and Advisory Groups, Champions Network, and other Summit support structures. ***** About the UN Food Systems Summit: In September 2021, UN Secretary-General António Guterres will convene a Food Systems Summit that will launch bold new actions to deliver progress on all 17 SDGs, each of which relies to some degree on healthier, more sustainable and equitable food systems. The Summit will awaken the world to the fact that we all must work together to transform the way the world produces, consumes and thinks about food. It is a summit for everyone everywhere – a people’s summit. It is also a solutions summit that will require everyone to take action to transform the world’s food systems. Independent Summit Dialogues are both an important avenue for citizen engagement and a key part of the Summit process. For more information, visit https://www.un.org/en/food-systems-summit

Throughout her visit, she interacted with partners and donors supporting these efforts. Her visit aimed to promote and advocate for the necessity of factoring urban dynamics into crisis response and recovery efforts, particularly in support of the people of Lebanon, during these unprecedented times. A tangible evidence-base for the holistic reconstruction of Lebanon’s capital city, is the Beirut City Profile which was launched during Ms. Sharif’s visit. “The need to continue to mobilize the international community to maintain its support and engagement to help Lebanon is paramount. Not only to ensure that the heart of Lebanon is restored, but to assist the people – Lebanese, refugees, and migrant communities – across the country, to overcome the harsh multiple and ongoing crises,” said Ms. Sharif. During her meetings with Government officials, Ms. Sharif emphasized the importance of immediate and scaled up support to reinforce the capacities of local institutions and authorities in Lebanon – because of their front-line role in responding to the needs of the people. She further urged national and local urban development stakeholders, to place adequate and affordable housing at the centre of current and future recovery efforts across Lebanon. The already dire housing situation in the country has been further impacted because of the multiple crises in the country. This has left thousands – including Lebanese, migrant and refugee communities – at heightened risk of eviction, and even more at risk of downgrading their already sub-standard living conditions. “The UN-Habitat Executive Director’s visit to Lebanon follows a visit she made to Iraq. As the two countries are facing complex challenges, there are some similarities that can be adopted in terms of response and recovery of the two nations – ensuring that efforts within each of these countries address their peoples’ respective needs” said Dr. Erfan Ali, UN-Habitat Regional Representative for Arab States To help provide an evidence-base for the recovery of Beirut, Ms. Sharif launched UN-Habitat’s Beirut City Profile that offers a cross sectoral analysis across the urban realm of Lebanon’s capital city, including major challenges. It also sets forth holistic, people-centred recommendations on the way forward, through immediate, medium, and long-term solutions towards a green, inclusive resilient recovery of the city – at city, neighbourhood, and national level. “UN-Habitat remains ready to support the Lebanese people and local authorities technically and operationally, in implementing future reforms that have an urban bearing. While concurrently continuing to support local authorities and communities across Lebanon through targeted urban interventions such as our work in rehabilitating the National HIV and TB Centre damaged by the Beirut Port explosion and our multisectoral urban upgrading project in Mina, Tripoli that we inaugurated during the visit of Ms. Sharif” said Ms. Taina Christiansen, Head of UN-Habitat Lebanon Country Programme. *** About the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) UN-Habitat works in over 90 countries supporting people in cities and human settlements for a better urban future. Working with governments and local partners, its high impact projects combine world-class expertise and local knowledge to deliver timely and targeted solutions. The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development includes a dedicated Goal on cities, SDG 11 – to make cities inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable.