According to Article 20 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and Article 22 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, “everyone has the right, individually or in association with others, to promote and strive for the protection and realization of human rights and fundamental freedoms at the national and international levels”. Article 5 (d) (ix) of the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination also safeguards the right to freedom of peaceful assembly and association for everyone without any distinctions as to race, color, national or ethnic belonging.
 

In Lebanon, associations are regulated by the law dated 1909, later completed by the law dated 1962. According to these two laws, associations may be created freely, in addition to the condition that “any association under construction must send a notification announcement to the Ministry of Interior and Municipalities”. Although there is no distinction in the law between citizens and foreigners, the Law No. 369 LR of 1939 stipulates that foreigner associations should have a prior permission that must be issued by a special governmental decree. By including the principle of reciprocity as a condition, the Palestinians are deprived from the right to establish associations. 
 

In this regard, based on LPDCs’ legal approach and the drive to improve the living conditions of Palestinian refugees in Lebanon, LPDC’s technical team is working on a final proposal merging the current domestic law and the options for procedural updates granting the Palestinian Refugees the right to form associations.