Road‐testing child protection typologies: A case study in Lebanon

Abstract

Over the past three decades a small number of influential writers have bravely attempted to develop theoretical models for understanding and comparing the complex development of child protection systems across different countries. The foremost frameworks have compared the dynamics of child protection arrangements in high-income countries, with little attention being given to middle-and low-income countries and, more specifically, the MENA region. This paper presents Lebanon's child protection model and highlights factors that have led to its unique development in the last 20 years. It contends that Lebanon's child protection system is pluralistic in nature, with responsibilities for the ultimate safety and wellbeing of children diffused among a variety of stakeholders. As a relatively new domain of practice for the state, the protection of children in Lebanon has become implicated in the ever-present national debates regarding the correct balance of authority between state, religion and citizen. A parallel system of decision-making exists with a state-run system struggling to find its place alongside customary religious courts unlikely to relinquish their power over family affairs. Through an examination of Lebanon, the paper aims to further road test the most recent typology and address its applicability to one Middle East country. K E Y W O R D S child protection systems, Lebanon, pluralism, typologies Key Practitioner Messages• The Lebanese child protection system is pluralistic with safeguarding responsibilities for children diffused among a variety of stakeholders. • Child protection in Lebanon remains a complex and ever-evolving relationship where the 'statutory' system struggles for legitimacy in a context where the state is rarely seen as the rightful arbitrator of family affairs. • Typologies equip us with tools to evaluate and compare protection systems;however, further refinement is required as we include a broader range of countries.

Critical Child Protection Studies

“…Recent research reported by El-Hoss and Brown (2022) in Lebanon demonstrates how Lebanon has multiple, devolved, systems, both statutory and religious, and each contain characteristics which are enshrined in legislation, but it is not appropriate to try and identify a single state lead system. They also argue that the Lebanese example challenges any assumption that progress simply involves moving towards an increasingly state-centred and regulated model.…”