Operational since 1996 (under the name of Nouveaux Droits de l'Homme-International) and officially registered in 2004, “L’Association Libanaise pour l’Éducation et la Formation
(Lebanese Association for Education and Training) ALEF” is a non-governmental organization, which aims at monitoring, protecting and promoting Human Rights in Lebanon through education, training, advocacy and lobbying activities.

ALEF believes in the absolute value of Humans. Thus the ultimate “raison d’être” of any societal structure is to reflect this belief in attitudes and actions. ALEF’s mission is to trigger and contribute to a cumulative process of changing values and attitudes incompatible with the universal values of Human Rights

Strategic Goals

In harmony with the mission statement, ALEF team set up the following strategic goals for the long term :

• Become a reference institution in the field of Human Rights and related topics, not only to identify and denounce violations, but also to play the role of a think tank at the service of decision and legislation makers in Lebanon; to become a proponent of national policies in Human Rights related matters .
• To change the present popular perception that Human Rights issues are idealistic and elitist. Through ALEF projects, the Human Rights values will be brought to become part of the popular scale of values, applicable in every day’s perceptions, attitudes and behaviors .
• Share the experience acquired in Lebanon at the regional level, after consolidating the Lebanese structure .

Policy of Action

• ALEF policy is to operate on a need & right basis, trying always to conceive projects where other actors are not involved in order to avoid duplication .

• Empowering the civil society is a must in the framework of the cumulative process of change. Therefore, ALEF strives to interact with and build the capacity of the other components of the civil society .

• Impartiality is the key to credibility which is the corner stone of efficiency. ALEF strongly believes in the freedom of belief, conscience and religion. This of course applies to its volunteers and staff members. Moreover, ALEF encourages its members to be involved in political and civil activities and structures. However, ALEF requires that no judgmental approaches based on political or religious beliefs are made when handling Human rights issues .

• ALEF considers the youth as the main actors of change and a reservoir for volunteers for what they represent in terms of potential multiplying effect .

• ALEF is committed to give a special attention to the most vulnerable groups (in terms of rights), especially if their vulnerability is the result of social pressures or inequalities .

Past & Present

Since 1997, ALEF has monitored very closely the Human Rights situation in Lebanon through several programs:

Monitoring and advocacy through concerted actions based on tools such as reports, studies, and other publications on various Human rights related issues. The following reports were published to date:

• Annual reports on the Human rights practices in Lebanon (1997, 2001, and 2002) 
• An alternative report submitted, in partnership with the Foundation for Human and Humanitarian rights to the Human rights commission during its session on Lebanon (New York, 1997) 
• A report on the status of the Palestinian refugees in Lebanon, in partnership with the Foundation for Human and Humanitarian rights (1999)
• A report on the legislative elections held in the year 2000
• A report on the Human rights situation in the formerly occupied area in Southern Lebanon after the Israeli withdrawal (2001) 
• A report on censorship (media, books, arts…) in Lebanon (2002)
• A comparative study on the newly adopted decree governing youth organizations in Lebanon (2003)
• A comparative study on Transitional Justice in post conflict areas (February 2006)
• Three reports on the IHL violations during the conflict between Hizbullah and the Sate of Israel in July-August 2006 (2006)
• Three reports on the situation of the internally displaced persons (IDP) during the conflict between Hizbullah and the Sate of Israel in July-August 2006 (2006)

• At University level, a Human rights course is being delivered by ALEF resource persons in 3 faculties of 2 major Universities (St Joseph University - USJ and the Lebanese University) and in 2 technical colleges (La Sagesse in Beirut and Imam Sadr Foundation in Tyr)
• Human rights education at school level through a network of Human Rights clubs (3D clubs) established in 6 schools
• Non formal education on Human rights by holding customized courses to interested groups (political, social, cultural, religious…etc.)
• A training program on citizenship for Juvenile offenders detained in the central prison of Roumieh
• A project thanks to which ALEF was charged by the Council of Europe to translate into the Arabic language “COMPASS”, a training handbook on Human Rights education published in 2002. The project was implemented in partnership with the Foundation for Human and Humanitarian rights.
• Along the same line, a member of ALEF team is a member of the development team of "Compasito", a child-friendly manual for Human Rights education in out-of-school activities that is being prepared by the Council of Europe.