A cell in the rehabilitation center for minors in conflict with the law in Warwar, in Baabda, on May 20, 2026. (Credit: Téa Ziade/L'Orient-Le Jour)
The National Human Rights Commission on Tuesday called for an “urgent government intervention” to address the situation of young detainees at the Warwar Rehabilitation Center for Juveniles in the Baabda region of Mount Lebanon, following a surprise field visit that revealed problems related to the presence of isolation cells, hygiene, water access, sanitation facilities, and healthcare.
The Warwar juvenile rehabilitation center for minors in conflict with the law opened at the end of May 2025, with funding allocated by the European Union and in cooperation with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. When contacted, both organizations declined to comment on the report.
Physical violence, lack of hygiene, absence of medical staff
In the report, written after an inspection on Sept. 17 at the center, where 148 minors are held, the Commission revealed that some youths reported physical violence prior to being placed in isolation cells, where some sleep directly on the floor. The team observed scabies cases, fungal infections, allergies, and skin inflammations due to lack of access to water, hygiene products, and medicines.
The Commission also denounces the absence of a doctor or nurse on site, as well as cases requiring specialized care or surgeries. The report highlights the presence of garbage and unpleasant odors, as well as torn bed sheets and insufficient food provision. Photos published by the Commission on its website after the visit show young people with skin problems on their faces, trunks, and legs. Also visible are unsanitary toilets and showers, as well as accumulated cigarette butts and garbage on the floor in one of the rooms.
One year after its opening, L’Orient-Le Jour was able to conduct a report inside the center and notably witness cases of fungal infections and a lack of medication for some detainees suffering from chronic illnesses. It was then confirmed that the center relies mainly on donations to obtain hygiene products, treatments, and clothes for youths whose families are absent or unable to provide for them. The Justice Ministry at the time lamented the lack of budget to “guarantee a minimum of human dignity” in Warwar.
From immediate action to a development plan
In its report, the National Human Rights Commission called for “immediate action within 24 hours to end disciplinary isolation and guarantee the safety of youths placed in isolation,” as well as to carry out “an independent investigation within seven days into allegations of beatings and ill-treatment, accompanied by confidential medical examinations, preservation of evidence and guarantees of non-retaliation.” It also requested that “within 30 days, regular medical and nursing presence, essential medicines” be guaranteed, and called for “solving water and sanitation problems and activating a confidential, independent, and accessible complaints mechanism for children.”
The report also demands that “within 90 days, a human resources plan be adopted, youth education and training be developed, and a unified system for tracking legal files and family communication be established.” It also renewed its call for a fast-tracked discussion and approval of the bill raising the minimum age of criminal responsibility from seven to fourteen, to ensure that young people are directed toward a system of protection, care, and rehabilitation instead of being subjected to criminal proceedings that deprive them of their freedom.
When contacted by L’Orient-Le Jour, the Internal Security Forces (ISF), which oversee the prisons, and a source handling the case at the Ministry of Justice, were unavailable for comment.
The National Human Rights Commission is an independent national institution established by the Lebanese state in a law adopted in 2016, with members appointed in 2019. It includes the Committee for the Prevention of Torture and is mandated to "work to protect and promote human rights in Lebanon."
