The European Union stressed the importance of electoral reform in Lebanon, as it issued its first policy paper on its human rights and democracy work around the world as part of a yearly report Monday. In a section on Lebanon, the report highlighted the body’s push for electoral reform in the country. Two million euros have been allocated for the project, and the report emphasized the EU’s work toward adopting policy changes from the 2009 elections.
Judicial and prison reform remained primary areas of focus for the EU, according to the report, with the body noting its support for changing the “de facto moratorium on the death penalty into its full abolition,” and for changing the “deplorable situation in Lebanese prisons.” It noted how the EU’s reports on torture in the country have helped protect human rights defenders.
The EU also supports a draft National Action Plan for Human Rights that Parliament could adopt soon. Lebanon is a major recipient of foreign funds to prop up its infrastructure, governance and change public attitudes toward human rights. In addition to the EU, the United Nations, the United States and Iran are major suppliers of aid to a variety of sectors throughout the country.
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