Gender-based violence and child labor support in Lebanon

The Danish Refugee Council (DRC) and its partners are working to reduce protection risks in Lebanon, focusing on the prevention of child labor and gender-based violence amid worsening conditions across the country. The initiative is being carried out through the SPEAC consortium, with the support of EU in Emergencies, according to a press release. Conflict, displacement, and economic hardship are cited as the main drivers deepening these concerns. The response aims to help those affected access the support they need. The effort brings together humanitarian actors under a shared protection agenda.

Lebanon is facing overlapping pressures shaped by conflict, displacement, and economic hardship. These conditions have intensified protection concerns for vulnerable groups, particularly children, women, and girls. Child labor has emerged as a growing risk, affecting children’s wellbeing, education, and development. Women and girls continue to face heightened risks, including gender-based violence. The SPEAC consortium provides the operational framework guiding the joint response.

Through SPEAC, DRC and its partners are working together to reduce the risk of child labor and connect children and their families with essential support services. The approach addresses both immediate protection needs and the underlying vulnerabilities that expose children to exploitation. EU in Emergencies backs the initiative, enabling coordinated action across affected communities. The work targets families whose circumstances place children at heightened risk. Support is designed to be accessible for those most in need.

The consortium is also addressing rising protection risks for women and girls in Lebanon. DRC and its partners are working to raise awareness, strengthen prevention efforts, and support access to services for those at risk of or affected by gender-based violence. The response combines community awareness with concrete pathways to assistance. Prevention and response measures are being carried out in parallel. Together, these efforts form a comprehensive protection approach.

The initiative reflects a coordinated response to the deepening protection landscape in Lebanon. By combining child protection and gender-based violence prevention under one framework, DRC and its partners aim to reduce risks for the most vulnerable groups. The SPEAC consortium continues to serve as the platform for this joint action. Support from EU in Emergencies remains central to sustaining the response. The work underscores the ongoing need to address protection concerns driven by conflict, displacement, and economic hardship.