In the brief “Palestine refugees living in Lebanon” updated in September 2020, UNRWA cited as a major protection concern amongst others the rule of law and access to justice.
“With limited control exercised by Lebanese authorities within Palestine refugee camps, Palestinian political factions are responsible for camp governance and exercise security functions within the camps. The environment in many camps is characterised by insecurity, with sporadic fighting between armed groups, clashes involving drug dealers and occasional violence over personal disputes. There is limited access to the Lebanese justice system for all camp inhabitants, including Syrian refugees and other populations such as migrants and Lebanese citizens. While Palestinian women subject to personal violence can obtain a variety of protective orders issued by the Lebanese courts, in practice the limited control exercised by Lebanese authorities within Palestinian refugee camps makes it impossible to ensure that such orders are upheld for women residing within camps.
According to the same source:
“PRS not holding legal residency in Lebanon are unable to seek legal divorce due to the legal residency of one of the two parties being a prerequisite for the court. They are also in general unlikely to approach authorities, including to seek justice, due to fear of detention and deportation, which puts PRS women at heightened risk of continuous abuse.”
(Source: UNRWA: “Protection brief: Palestine refugees living in Lebanon”, September 2020)