Mediation and Human Rights Training for School Students

The Human Rights Center, in collaboration with the Faculty of Law and Political Science at Beirut Arab University and the Lebanese National Commission for UNESCO, organized a training workshop entitled “Mediation and Human Rights: Focus on Children in Armed Conflict” for students from UNESCO Associated Schools Network.

The training brought together students from Makassed – Ali Ben Taleb College, Makassed – Khaled Ben El Walid College, Saint George School – Hadath, Al Kawthar Secondary School, and Collège Saint Georges Bsalim.

The workshop opened with welcoming remarks by Dr. Tala Zein, Assistant Dean of the Faculty of Law and Political Science at BAU, Ms. Amira Solh, Secretary General of the Lebanese National Commission for UNESCO, and lawyer Elsa Hojeij. The speakers highlighted the importance of youth engagement, dialogue, and mediation as peaceful tools for resolving conflicts and promoting human rights, particularly in the context of today’s challenges.

The program included an interactive session on human rights delivered by Dr. Tala Zein, followed by a session on child rights with a focus on children in armed conflict presented by Mr. Ayman Baydoun, lawyer and professor at BAU. The training also addressed the concept of mediation, the role of the mediator, and the stages of the mediation process, complemented by practical role-play exercises facilitated by lawyer Elsa Hojeij.

The workshop concluded with a collective reflection on how to promote a culture of peace within schools. Students proposed concrete initiatives such as establishing school mediation committees, strengthening cooperation and anti-bullying efforts, and creating Mediation Clubs with multiple mediators elected by students.

The training emphasized the importance of transferring acquired knowledge and skills to the school environment and the wider community, reinforcing the role of youth as peacebuilders and defenders of human rights.