Associations

Associations operating with and for Palestinian refugees in Lebanon fall into four main categories:

1. Lebanese associations, licensed by the Lebanese Ministry of Interior and Municipalities through the notification procedure, pursuant to the Ottoman Associations Law of 1909 and in accordance with Decree No. 10830 of October 1962.
2. Foreign associations with branches operating in Lebanon, licensed by way of a Presidential Decree in accordance with the Law on Foreign Associations (Legislative Decree No. 369/L.D. of 21 December 1939).
3. Religious institutions affiliated with the Islamic Waqf, which do not require licensing from the Ministry of Interior, but instead operate on the basis of a Shar‘i authorization issued by a Sharia court directly affiliated with the Presidency of the Council of Ministers. An example is Al-Atā’ Charitable Association, headquartered in Rashidieh Camp (Tyre), established in 1994 and granted a Shar‘i authorization by the Tyre Sharia Court under reference No. 30/3.
4. Unlicensed Palestinian institutions, bodies, and associations, which operate on the basis of their internal regulations and independent programs.

The right to establish or join associations constitutes one of the fundamental pillars of a democratic system. Among the most prominent international instruments ratified by Lebanon that affirm this right are:

• Article 20 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights
• Article 22 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights
• Article 8 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
• Article 5(d) of the Philadelphia Declaration

At the domestic level, the Lebanese Constitution enshrines freedom of association and assembly. Article 13 thereof explicitly provides:

“Freedom of expression, whether oral or written, freedom of the press, freedom of assembly, and freedom of association are all guaranteed within the limits established by law.”

Whereas Lebanese associations are established merely through the concurrence of their founders’ intent and the signing of their statutes without the need for prior authorization from public authorities the establishment of foreign associations, including Palestinian associations, the opening of branches, and amendments to their statutes remain subject to Legislative Decree No. 369/L.D. of 21 December 1939. This regime requires prior authorization, constituting an exception to the general principle whereby associations are established solely through notification to the authorities and receipt of a registration certificate .

The agencies and associations working for Palestine refugees in Lebanon amount to 213 associations until 2012, with different sizes and abilities.

Despite the legal recognition of the right to establish associations, Palestinian civil society activity continues to face significant practical challenges. In this context, the Committee seeks, in coordination with the Ministry of Interior and Municipalities, to regularize the legal status of Lebanese associations working on Palestinian affairs that operate in an informal or unlawful manner, on the one hand, and to facilitate the licensing of Palestinian associations through the issuance of Council of Ministers decrees, as stipulated in Legislative Decree No. 369/L.D. dated 21 December 1939 and Circular No. 13/A/2014 dated 26 August 2014, on the other.

The Lebanese Palestinian Dialogue Committee has consistently affirmed that the right to establish associations is constitutionally protected, a position reflected in its legal approach to the rights of Palestinian refugees in Lebanon. In this regard, the Committee launched a legal study in 2012, based on a field survey, entitled:

“Facilitating the Registration of Palestinian Associations in Lebanon: A Right for Palestinians and a Duty Toward the Host State.”

The study concluded that administrative and regulatory obstacles restricting the exercise of this right must be removed, in line with the Lebanese Constitution and international human rights standards.

The Committee further emphasized in its recommendations that regulating the right to establish associations does not undermine Lebanese sovereignty, but rather falls within a legal framework aimed at enhancing civic participation and ensuring organized associative activity, in a manner that serves the interests of both Palestinian refugees and the host state alike.