Out Of Order Judicial Committees: Denying Access To Justice To Vulnerable Social Groups

The Legal Agenda
A non-profit research organization, registered under the number 2360 on 22-12-2009
Cordially invites you to a seminar entitled
“Out of Order Judicial Committees:
Denying Access to Justice to Vulnerable Social Groups”
Thursday, March 29, 2012 at 18:00
“Université pour Tous” building, 107 Saint Joseph University street
(Entrance through the Saint Joseph Church parking)
In the context of monitoring judicial work, the Legal Agenda will examine the blockage of several Judicial Committees, some of which have been inoperative since their creation. This is the case of the “Committee to Combat Addiction” instituted by the Drugs Law to oversee the treatment of drug addicts, who can be exempted from prosecution in case of recovery. This is also the case of the Consumer Protection Committee(s), which should hear conflicts arising between consumers and producers. More recently, the Labor Arbitration Courts, competent for litigations between employees and employers, have been blocked due to the delay in appointing Court advisors. In fact, this blockage hinders the access to justice of these vulnerable social groups and affects their right to legal protection and social solidarity. What are the reasons for this blockage? What are its consequences and dimensions? Why has this crisis persisted without objection in spite of its serious repercussions? More importantly, what are the means to put an end to it?
Speakers include Dr. Zuhair Berro (President of the Consumer Protection Association in Lebanon); Dr Iman Khazaal (Ministry of Labor), Mrs. Nadya Mekdachi (Skoun NGO) as well as Mrs. Bissane Tay (Journalist) who will present her findings on this issue. The debate will be moderated by Mrs. Youmna Makhlouf