Ministry of Public Health and UNICEF Launch First-Ever Child Safeguarding Policy for Daycares in Lebanon

24 April 2025 - In a significant step towards strengthening child protection in early childhood settings, the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) in partnership with UNICEF, introduced the “Child Safeguarding Policy for Daycares in Lebanon”, developed in collaboration with the American University of Beirut (AUB).

Lebanon’s child protection systems have faced mounting challenges in recent years due to ongoing and compounding crises, leaving children increasingly vulnerable to exploitation, neglect, and abuse. The widely publicized case of toddler maltreatment in a daycare in 2023 underscored the urgent need to close the policy gaps and reinforce national standards that prioritize the physical and emotional well-being of children in daycare facilities.

Minister Nassereddine emphasized on the importance of the Child Safeguarding Policy in nurseries. He explained that the policy aims to create a safe and healthy environment for children, where every child enjoys their fundamental rights to protection and care: “Children are our future, and it is our collective responsibility, as individuals and institutions, to safeguard their rights and well-being. The child safeguarding policy is not merely an administrative measure; it is a moral and legal obligation toward our children. The policy seeks to establish a comprehensive framework that ensures children are protected from all forms of violence or neglect. We believe that every child should grow up in an environment filled with love and support. This requires joint efforts from MoPH, the Ministries of Justice and Social Affairs, local organizations working in child protection, and all other concerned stakeholders."

High-quality daycare settings are more than a safe space — they are critical environments where children find stability, protection, and cognitive stimulation, all essential to their emotional and social development. By setting clear safeguarding standards, this policy aims to build caregivers’ trust in daycare services, offering reassurance that their children are being nurtured in secure, caring environments.

“This policy is a timely and crucial measure to safeguard our youngest and most vulnerable. When parents know their children are safe and protected, they are more likely to enroll them in early education programs,” said Akhil Iyer, UNICEF Representative in Lebanon. “This not only supports children’s development but also enables more women to participate in the workforce, with far-reaching social and economic benefits.”

The new policy outlines practical steps for daycare centers to uphold child safeguarding, including a code of conduct to be signed by all daycare staff; clear safe recruitment guidelines; mandatory training for all daycare personnel on child protection principles; and effective reporting and response systems for safeguarding concerns from low-level risks to serious harm.

For daycare services, safeguarding is not simply about identifying risks; it is about fostering an everyday culture of care and vigilance. This policy empowers every individual working in the sector to “see, hear, and act” ensuring that no child’s safety is compromised.

This joint initiative was made possible through the valuable contributions of the American University of Beirut (AUB), the Daycares Syndicate in Lebanon, the Ministries of Justice and Social Affairs, the Mother and Child Parliamentary Committee, and child protection actors across the country, including Himaya, UPEL, and KARAMA.