Beirut: On Social Workers Day, the Ministry of Social Affairs (MoSA) and UNICEF celebrated the graduation of 100 trained Child Protection and Gender-Based Violence (GBV) caseworkers in Beirut. This ceremony highlighted a national effort to enhance case management services for child survivors of sexual violence throughout Lebanon.
According to National News Agency - Lebanon, in response to increasing reports of child sexual abuse, UNICEF, in collaboration with MoSA and the Child Protection and GBV Working Groups, adapted the global Caring for Child Survivors of Sexual Abuse (CCS) curriculum to fit Lebanon's legal frameworks, including Law 422, mandatory reporting, and national procedures.
Lebanese Minister of Social Affairs, Haneen El Sayed, emphasized the ministry's commitment to developing workforce capacities, strengthening protection mechanisms, and coordinating with the judiciary, security forces, and health sectors to ensure child-friendly justice and sustainable protection. She acknowledged the dedication of trainers and the support from various partners in this initiative.
Dr. Randa Hamadeh, Head of Primary Health Care Department, expressed the Ministry of Public Health's pride in contributing to this initiative, emphasizing the importance of strengthening Clinical Management of Rape services and ensuring consistent implementation of national standards.
Over 100 caseworkers from various national and international organizations were trained from 2025-2026 by UNICEF, MoSA, and several partner organizations, focusing on a survivor-centered approach. The training equipped them with skills in safe disclosure, ethical case management, risk assessment, psychological first aid, and referral pathways.
Mr. Frank Mollen, ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to Lebanon, highlighted the Netherlands' support for child protection in Lebanon, focusing on vulnerable groups. He emphasized that this investment reflects a broader shift toward strengthening national systems and institutions.
Marcoluigi Corsi, UNICEF Representative in Lebanon, stressed the importance of providing coordinated, child-friendly services for child survivors and their non-offending caregivers, ensuring that healing is not fragmented.
This milestone signifies Lebanon's commitment to building a resilient child protection system. By investing in frontline social workers and embedding quality standards nationwide, Lebanon is advancing a coordinated, sustainable response to protect all children from harm.
Caseworkers play a crucial role in protecting and supporting child survivors daily, deserving recognition and stronger systems to facilitate their essential work.