Children and Customary Justice: Preliminary Results of a Quantitative Study in Palestinian Camps in South Lebanon

This report presents the preliminary results of a quantitative and qualitative research conducted by Terre des Hommes in three Palestinian camps in South Lebanon. The research aimed at better understanding how the disputes involving children are dealt within informal justice system. Results want to support practitioners to better understand and integrate informal justice systems mechanisms in child protection programming while guaranteeing children’s rights and access to justice. Data shed light on the relation between Palestinian community informal justice system and Lebanese justice system. What emerged is a general feeling of mistrust among Palestinian community. Consequently, Palestinian population is reluctant to rely on Lebanese institutions and this contributes to prevalence of the use of informal justice mechanisms and lack of referrals towards national child-welfare services.