Parliamentary Women and Child Committee Nears Completion of Nursery Regulation Law in Lebanon

MP Inaya Ezzeddine posted on "X": "This week, during the meeting of the Parliamentary Women and Child Committee, we approached the completion of the study for the draft law regulating the operation of nurseries. We will finalize the amendments to the articles of the proposal, as well as the explanatory memorandum and final wording, in an upcoming session. The proposal aims to establish an integrated legislative framework to regulate the nursery sector, which was previously regulated primarily by decrees, and to define the powers of the relevant ministries—Public Health, Social Affairs, Education, and Higher Education—while maintaining the Ministry of Public Health's authority over licensing and oversight, ensuring clarity of responsibilities and complementary roles.

During the discussions, we emphasized that nurseries are not merely care institutions but play a fundamental role in children's physical, mental, psychological, social, and educational growth and development. This necessitates a comprehensive legislative approach based on the Lebanese Constitution and international conventions to which Lebanon is committed, prioritizing the best interests of the child. We also added a specific chapter regulating the powers of the Ministry of Social Affairs regarding public nurseries under its jurisdiction and their relationship with the Ministry of Health. We will continue working to enact this law to ensure children's rights, safety, and development in a safe and suitable environment, enhancing the quality of care, growth, and education in early childhood.