7 May 2025

In recent years, certain daycares in Lebanon have witnessed incidents of abuse against children and infants, sparking widespread public concern. These incidents raised alarm within the Ministry of Public Health. As the sole official authority responsible for monitoring daycares and inspecting their safety and security standards, the Ministry, in partnership with UNICEF, launched the Child Safeguarding Policy for Daycares in Lebanon at the end of April. This marks the first-ever policy of its kind in the country and was developed in collaboration with the American University of Beirut (AUB).

The policy was developed in response to the urgent need to address a gap in national frameworks regarding the absence of safeguarding policies and standards that ensure the physical and psychological safety of children in daycares. It constitutes a critical step toward strengthening child safeguarding in early childhood and preventing children from being exposed to exploitation, neglect, or abuse.

The Child Safeguarding Policy focuses on reinforcing national standards that protect children’s physical and mental well-being in daycare settings. It aims to establish a comprehensive framework that prevents any form of violence or neglect against children.

The policy sets out practical measures that daycares are required to implement to ensure a safe and protective environment. These include requiring all daycare personnel to sign a clear code of conduct; adopting child-safe recruitment practices; providing mandatory training to all staff on child safeguarding principles; and establishing effective systems for reporting and responding to safeguarding concerns—ranging from minor risks to severe cases of harm.

The Ministry of Public Health plays a central role in the implementation of this policy by monitoring daycares to ensure full compliance with established laws and standards. The Ministry will also implement clear reporting and communication mechanisms, ensuring timely and effective responses to any concerns regarding child safety.