Amnesty International calls for
urgent social protection reforms

Initiatives remain underfunded and lack effectiveness

“The country is dissolving and no one cares”

Amnesty International has released a new report urging the government and international donors to take immediate steps toward establishing a universal social protection system. The report outlines concrete measures to address the deepening humanitarian crisis, arguing that Lebanon’s fragmented and inadequate approach to social security has left millions vulnerable amid economic collapse and war.

The organization calls for a shift away from reliance on narrow, poverty-targeting programs, which it criticizes as static, slow to respond, and insufficient to meet the needs of the growing number of people living in poverty. Instead, Amnesty proposes a system of universal social protection that ensures basic income security, healthcare, and essential services for all, regardless of employment status.

Key recommendations include:

Expanding and funding universal social protection by mobilizing available resources through tax reform, tackling tax evasion, and recovering stolen assets.

Ensuring minimum essential levels of support for all citizens, including affordable healthcare, basic income, and housing, especially for marginalized groups.

Strengthening social insurance mechanisms by indexing pensions and social benefits to inflation to prevent their rapid devaluation.

Enhancing international cooperation by urging global donors, including the World Bank, to prioritize long-term investment in universal social protection rather than temporary, means-tested assistance.

The report warns that while some progress has been made—such as the adoption of a National Social Protection Strategy in 2024 and the launch of a National Disability Allowance—these initiatives remain underfunded and lack effective implementation. Amnesty urges the government to move beyond policy declarations and take decisive action to protect the rights of all its citizens, especially as war and economic instability continue to escalate.