International Consultant, Institute For Missing Persons

The issue of the disappeared in Lebanon arose during the 1975-1990 war period and persisted years after through the 1990-2005 Syrian tutelage. Thousands of Lebanese and non-Lebanese residents were abducted, went missing or disappeared. In 1991, the Lebanese government issued a report stating the number of around 17,000 missing persons that was never officially verified. Although three separate commissions on the fate of the missing have been empanelled by the government, they made little tangible headway to determine the fate or whereabouts of the missing or to meet the needs of their families. A breakthrough in the long struggle of the families of the disappeared in Lebanon was made in April 2014 when two MPs submitted draft legislation for the creation of an Institute for the Disappeared and Missing Persons.
 
ICTJ has been assisting those at the forefront of the effort to encourage that dynamic by increasing engagement on the issue with positive results. In 2010, ICTJ led a group of Lebanese victims’ representatives, civil society organizations, policymakers, judges, and lawyers to Sarajevo to learn about Bosnia-Herzegovina’s experiences addressing the question of forced disappearances. One of the concepts that emerged from this trip was the need for a draft law on the missing and disappeared. Participants spearheaded an initiative to draft such a law (which is available at Act for the Disappeared) creating a new and important dynamic in the country, with extensive discussions in the media and advocacy by civil society.
 
According to the draft law, the Institute should be an independent administrative body governed by a Bureau composed of a judge, representatives from civil society and individuals appointed by ministers. The Institute is supposed to collect, centralize, and document information about the missing. As currently conceptualized, it should act as a central authority, undertaking all tasks necessary in order to: a) identify the location of individual and mass graves, b) mark and protect them, c) supervise the exhumation, d) conduct autopsies, and e) identify the remains whenever possible. It should also have the responsibility to recommend compensation mechanisms for damages incurred by the missing, the forcibly disappeared, and their relatives.
 
ICTJ intends to develop an estimated budget for the proposed Institute for Missing Persons as envisioned in the draft law. The study is part of an 18-month project, co-funded by the Embassy of Finland in Lebanon, whose results will be used by stakeholders to gain better insight into the feasibility and budgetary implications of the Institute and draft law. The estimated budget for the Institute for Missing Persons developed by ICTJ would be put at the disposal of victim advocates and family associations, as they continue to push legislators for the adoption of this text. At the same time, it will be presented and discussed with policy makers and representatives of state institutions responsible for—or involved in—the promulgation of the law and/or its implementation.
 
To carry out this project, ICTJ is seeking an international consultant with expertise in the establishment and/or management of an entity similar to the Institute for Missing Persons, as envisaged by the draft law. The international consultant will work with ICTJ’s team in Lebanon and New York, as well as with a Lebanese consultant with expertise in budgeting, public administration and applicable parliamentary rules and procedures. The main responsibility is to guide and advice the Lebanese consultant in order to produce a realistic and feasible budget proposal. The time required will be approximately 20 working days over an 8 month period.
 
 
Deliverables and Timeline

Conduct a field assessment mission in Lebanon, together with the Lebanese consultant (November 2014). The objective of the visit is to meet with ICTJ’s team in Lebanon, the local consultant, families of the missing, civil society, relevant state institutions, international organizations working on the issue of the missing, and policy makers.
Following the meetings, provide guidance on how to conduct further research and consultation with the parties/institutions concerned.
Provide technical advice to the Lebanese consultant, as required.
Review and give feedback on drafts submitted by the Lebanese consultant (February-March 2015).
Take part in the roundtable to launch the study in Lebanon (June 2015).