Lebanon: UN expert calls for stronger, victim-centred investigations to ensure accountability for unlawful killings
Press releases
Special Procedures
10 October 2025
BEIRUT - The UN Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions, Morris Tidball-Binz, today expressed his solidarity with survivors and the families of those killed in Lebanon, amid the widespread destruction, loss of life and civilian suffering resulting from hostilities by Israel.
"Every potentially unlawful death must count, and every family is entitled to truth and justice," the Special Rapporteur said in a statement concluding an official visit to Lebanon.
"Lebanon has the legal tools to act now and demonstrate that casualties are not mere numbers, they have names," he said. The expert paid tribute to those who lost their lives in the line of duty, expressing deep admiration and support for journalists, healthcare workers, and others who continued their vital work despite the dangerous circumstances.
Tidball-Binz welcomed ongoing legislative efforts to strengthen the independence of the judiciary, and encouraged authorities to report and, where appropriate, prosecute conduct that may amount to international crimes, in accordance with Lebanon's obligations under international human rights law and, where applicable, international humanitarian law.
"Accountability requires prompt, effective, thorough, independent and impartial investigations and criminal proceedings, which enable access to reparation for victims and their families," the expert said.
The Special Rapporteur - who is also forensic doctor - observed the urgent need to enhance the medico-legal death-investigation capacity in Lebanon, which represents a critical component of any investigation into potentially unlawful deaths, whether arising from suspected suicide, deaths in custody or alleged war crimes.
During his visit, the expert explored the possibility of establishing a national medico-legal institute, with standardised procedures, quality assurance and independent oversight, to ensure competent determination of the cause, manner and circumstances of death.
"Building modern forensic capacity, consistent with the Minnesota Protocol on the Investigation of Potentially Unlawful Death (2016), is indispensable to credible investigations," he said.
Tidball-Binz said investigations must be victim-centred, ensuring meaningful participation of families, protection of witnesses and professionals, and the preservation of evidence and the chain of custody. He also underscored the need for systematic data collection and public reporting on casualties and investigative findings, as well as close coordination among justice, health and security institutions, including with specialised forensic services, to guarantee accountability and transparency.
During his visit, the Special Rapporteur met with government officials, members of the judiciary and prosecution services, security and investigative authorities, medico-legal and health professionals, UN representatives, civil society organisations, academics, and survivors and families of victims in Beirut, Naqoura, Tyre, Saida, Nabatiyeh, Baalbek, and Tripoli. He expressed appreciation for the access and cooperation extended by authorities and for the constructive engagement and contributions of all interlocutors.
The Special Rapporteur will present a full report on his visit to Lebanon to the UN Human Rights Council in June 2026.
Morris Tidball-Binz is the Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions
Special Rapporteurs/Independent Experts/Working Groups are independent human rights experts appointed by the United Nations Human Rights Council. Together, these experts are referred to as the Special Procedures of the Human Rights Council. Special Procedures experts work on a voluntary basis; they are not UN staff and do not receive a salary for their work. While the UN Human Rights office acts as the secretariat for Special Procedures, the experts serve in their individual capacity and are independent from any government or organization, including OHCHR and the UN. Any views or opinions presented are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of the UN or OHCHR.
Country-specific observations and recommendations by the UN human rights mechanisms, including the special procedures, the treaty bodies and the Universal Periodic Review, can be found on the Universal Human Rights Index https://uhri.ohchr.org/en/
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