Justice and Health Sectors Unite to Support Child Protection Strategy

A cooperation agreement focusing on a child protection strategy in the fields of justice and health was signed at the general administration hall of Hôtel-Dieu de France University Hospital. This partnership involves the hospital, the Jesuit University Network, and the Ministry of Justice.

The signing ceremony was attended by Justice Minister Attorney Adel Nasr, President of Saint Joseph University in Beirut Professor François Boudet, General Director of Hôtel-Dieu Nasib Nasr, representatives from the Ministry of Justice, department heads, and deans.

The event opened with remarks from General Director Nasib Nasr, who stated that the visit of the Minister of Justice clearly reflects the vision underpinning their institution, and his presence underscores the importance of this shared commitment. He expressed hope that this cooperation would serve as a model for institutional partnerships benefiting Lebanese children.

Nasib Nasr added that their mission extends beyond patient care to actively participating in community development, defending vulnerable groups, supporting fundamental rights, and applying their expertise to serve major national causes.

He described the agreement signed between the Child Protection Unit at Hôtel-Dieu de France, led with dedication by Professor Bernard Jreige, and the Ministry of Justice as a key milestone in strengthening Lebanon's child protection system.

Quoting Nelson Mandela, Nasib Nasr said, "There is nothing that reflects the humanity of a society more than the way it treats its children." He emphasized that this also applies to families, noting that combining medical sector expertise with judicial authority confirms their belief that effective child protection requires close institutional cooperation, a shared vision, and unified will to act in the best interest of every child.

He recalled the painful anniversary approaching in Lebanon's history, especially for Hôtel-Dieu de France hospital, when on August 4, 2020, their emergency department received more than 800 injured individuals. He said the echoes of fear and pain still resonate within the hospital halls, and the exceptional dedication shown by their medical teams that day remains deeply etched in collective memory. Since then, they have commemorated this date annually to honor the victims, their families, and all whose lives were forever changed, affirming the duty of remembrance.

Nasib Nasr noted that the tragedy remains unresolved as long as the Beirut port explosion case has not reached its conclusion and the full truth remains undisclosed. He stressed that victims and their families have the right to know the truth and to receive justice.

Addressing the Minister of Justice, Nasib Nasr acknowledged the minister's strong attention to this matter and encouraged him to continue steadfastly on the path of justice, truth, and accountability. He stated that justice is not only about holding those responsible for past mistakes accountable but also about protecting the vulnerable, restoring citizens’ trust in institutions, and building a better future.

He concluded that the agreement signed today to protect children and pursue justice for the August 4 victims fundamentally stems from the same principle: building a Lebanon where every person, regardless of age or status, enjoys respect for their rights, dignity, and future. This shared vision was emphasized during the event.

Professor François Boudet, President of Saint Joseph University, affirmed that child protection is central to the mission of Hôtel-Dieu and the Jesuit community. He highlighted that the speeches during the occasion summarized the importance of placing children at the core of attention, care, and protection through training, qualification, and providing a safe environment for those in need.

He explained that this mission has been fundamental to the Child Protection Unit’s work since its inception, based on a firm conviction that protecting children is a shared societal responsibility, increasingly urgent given the challenges facing Lebanese society.

Boudet pointed out that society is witnessing growing initiatives to enhance child protection, but the path remains long, requiring continued efforts to develop protection mechanisms and establish appropriate records and procedures to ensure the safety of all children in Lebanon in cooperation with official authorities.

He expressed satisfaction with the signing of the cooperation agreement between the Child Protection Unit at Hôtel-Dieu and the Ministry of Justice, considering it a new milestone that strengthens joint efforts in this field.

He thanked everyone involved in achieving this agreement and praised the commitment of the Child Protection Unit team, led by Professor Jreige, to continue working to protect childhood and uphold human dignity. He affirmed that children are the most precious human resource and the ones most in need of care.

Justice Minister Adel Nasr began his speech by recalling the evening of August 4, 2020. He said he still remembers the first hours after the explosion, when he was at the emergency unit of Hôtel-Dieu. He described a strange incident reflecting the shock they all experienced: he met Dr. Nasr, who spoke to him, but the trauma prevented him from realizing the reality of that encounter until six months later when he reconnected with her and confirmed their conversation that night. He said this immense shock remains their ongoing motivation to work.

Nasr affirmed the ministry’s firm determination and commitment to ensuring the investigation proceeds naturally. He stated that the Ministry of Justice provides all possible support within its legal powers and competencies. He added that families closely following the case can observe that their efforts have moved beyond words to tangible actions on the ground.

Regarding the current judicial process, he explained that the case file was sent to the Public Prosecution for submitting its requests (réquisitions). He clarified that judicial timing does not necessarily align with media or emotional timing, emphasizing the need to respect judges' work and ensure the case is handled according to precise legal facts and requirements without haste.

He said that based on current data, drafting the prosecution requests is expected to take about 60 days, plus or minus, after which the investigating judge will refer the case to prepare for trial. He noted that these procedures, which faced fluctuations and difficulties in the past, are now progressing properly. He expressed confidence that building a state requires mutual trust between citizens and authorities, achievable only through effective and prompt justice. In this context, they continue to strengthen judicial capacities, including signing a cooperation protocol between the Ministry of Justice and the Algio de France institution to enhance institutional performance.

On the agreement itself, Nasr said that signing a cooperation protocol between the Ministry of Justice and Hôtel-Dieu de France, one of the country's oldest and most prestigious institutions founded by the Jesuit order, holds a deep emotional significance for him.

He revealed that he is an alumnus of Jesuit schools, from his preparatory year at his father's school to his children's final years, and thus feels as if he is among family during this event. Beyond personal sentiment, he stated that signing this agreement is central to a fundamental and vital task for Lebanon: protecting childhood.

Nasr emphasized that nothing is more painful than being powerless before children. He described the child as a symbol of innocence devoid of caution, representing both the peak of human tendency and the foundation of future societies. He quoted Milan Kundera poetically: "Children have no past, and that is the secret of the magical innocence of their smile."

He asserted that no one should harm a child or betray a child's smile, but also no one should forget that a child carrying a painful past is also a victim. He said that harming a child targets the humanity within all of us and destroys the shared foundations for everyone's future.

Nasr stated that Lebanon has long suffered and continues to endure brutal violence, with ongoing bloodshed and fallen martyrs, and childhood has borne a painful share in this endless procession. However, he said the collective conscience has never fallen into deep slumber, remaining alive because men and women kept the flame of hope burning. He cited the Child Protection Unit (UPE) as a shining example of this.

He added that, under the unit’s guidance and encouragement, they continue their efforts and unite forces to strengthen this battle, which he described as the fiercest and most just: the battle of joining hands to continue fighting together against violations against children and against deviations they might sometimes follow. He said the medical sector will unite with the justice sector to support childhood.

Nasr acknowledged that judges are devoted to this cause and doctors stand on the front lines, but stressed that unifying efforts remains an urgent necessity. He praised Professor Jreige for exceptional perseverance, breaking barriers, and overcoming heavy bureaucratic obstacles, noting that today they celebrate the fruit of his efforts. He described medicine and justice as two worlds supporting each other, uniting in a noble mission focused on placing children at the center of their concerns and priorities.

He stated that signing this agreement is a crucial additional step toward child protection and should be translated into concrete actions, sincere cooperation, and integrity free from any personal interests. Doctors will provide their expertise to justice, and the judicial authority will allow doctors access to files concerning specific children when needed. He noted that justice increasingly recognizes the importance of complementing legal procedures with psychological approaches accompanying children, whether they are perpetrators or victims. He stressed that the child remains a child, and their suffering represents the utmost helplessness.

Nasr mentioned that the Ministry of Justice has submitted to parliament a draft law raising the age of criminal responsibility for children, reflecting their firm belief in the necessity of accompanying and caring for the child. He questioned what kind of justice fails to protect, understand, or support. He criticized justice that chooses blindness for neutrality, calling it a justice that confuses cruelty and brutality on one side with rights and law on the other. He recalled Antoine de Saint-Exupéry's words: "All grown-ups were once children, but only few of them remember it."

Finally, Nasr wished President Boudet great success in his mission. He expressed confidence that the Jesuit fathers and all present would draw from him a guide reminding them not only of the essential role the Jesuit order plays in Lebanon but also of figures such as Father Ducroire, Father Dagher, and Father Madi, among others, who will remain guiding stars illuminating their paths and directing their steps.