ACT for the Disappeared
develops programs that support truth-seeking, memorialization, dialogue, and policy reform related to Lebanon’s violent past. Through research, public engagement, and collaboration with families of the missing and civil society actors including youth and women led initiatives, ACT contributes to dealing with the past and building a more just and peaceful future.
1. Advocacy & Policy Engagement
ACT engages in advocacy initiatives aimed at strengthening policies, institutions, and public engagement related to missing and forcibly disappeared persons while contributing to broader efforts to deal with Lebanon’s past.
Advocacy Campaign for the Implementation of Law 105 (2025)
In November 2025, ACT for the Disappeared launched an advocacy campaign aimed at strengthening the implementation of Law 105 on the Missing and Forcibly Disappeared in Lebanon and supporting the work of the National Commission.
The campaign began with three collective thinking sessions held in Beirut, the Beqaa, and North Lebanon, bringing together members of the National Commission, representatives of the Committee of the Families of the Kidnapped and Disappeared in Lebanon, civil society organizations, experts, academics, and activists as well as youth and women engaged in memory and human rights initiatives.
These discussions explored strategies to reinforce advocacy efforts and support the National Commission in fulfilling its mandate while ensuring that families’ right to know the fate of their loved ones remains central to national efforts dealing with Lebanon’s past.
2. Truth-Seeking and Documentation
ACT conducts research, documentation, and analysis to support truth-seeking processes related to missing and forcibly disappeared persons in Lebanon. Through field investigations, interviews, and archival work, ACT gathers information that contributes to understanding the circumstances of disappearances.
Research and Documentation Projects (2016-ongoing)
ACT developed a specialized database system designed to document cases of missing and forcibly disappeared persons in Lebanon. The system connects multiple layers of information including testimonies, civil war events, checkpoints, detention centers, and possible burial sites.
Through this work, ACT contributes to supporting the National Commission for the Missing and Forcibly Disappeared in fulfilling its mandate of investigating the fate, location, and circumstances of disappearance.
Needs Assessment of Families of the Missing (2021)
Following the adoption of Law 105, ACT conducted a nationwide needs assessment with more than 150 families of missing persons. The study examined the legal, economic, social, and psychological impacts of disappearances on family members particularly the experiences and burdens carried by women within affected families.
The assessment helped identify families’ expectations, priority needs, and their perceptions of the National Commission, ensuring that future truth-seeking processes remain victim-centered and responsive to the needs of families.
The Soil and the Sea Documentary (2020 to 2023)
The Soil and the Sea is a documentary film directed by Dr. Daniele Rugo, produced with Dr. Carmen Abou Jaoude, and developed in partnership with ACT for the Disappeared. The film explores the issue of missing and forcibly disappeared persons in Lebanon through mass grave investigations and testimonies related to the Lebanese Civil War.
Between 2020 and 2023, interviews and testimonies were documented and integrated into ACT’s research database as part of its broader documentation program. In 2025, the materials gathered during the project were formally handed over to the National Commission for the Missing and Forcibly Disappeared to support ongoing investigations.
The documentary has been screened in several European cities, including London, Oxford, Paris, and Cagliari, and received the Special Mention of the Jury at the Al Ard International Film Festival in 2024.
3. Memory and Memorialization
ACT develops initiatives that promote public reflection, collective memory, and societal engagement with Lebanon’s violent past through memorialization projects, digital platforms, and cultural initiatives and youth-focused public engagement activities.
Waynoun Digital Platform (2021)
Waynoun is an interactive digital platform designed to provide reliable information about missing and forcibly disappeared persons in Lebanon. The platform offers documented content, testimonies, and contextual information related to disappearance cases.
Waynoun also invites the public to contribute potential information that may help advance the search process and strengthen collective participation in the effort to uncover the fate of the missing.
Fushat Amal Digital Memorial (2016)
Fushat Amal (Space for Hope), is an online memorial dedicated to honoring missing and forcibly disappeared persons in Lebanon. The platform gathers biographical information, photographs, and personal testimonies shared by families.
By documenting these stories, the initiative helps preserve memory, reclaim the identities of the missing, and reaffirm the families’ right to know the fate of their loved ones.
Memory Map of Lebanon (2018)
The Memory Map of Lebanon highlights locations associated with abductions, violence, and wartime events during the Lebanese Civil War through an interactive digital map and a public awareness campaign.
As part of the initiative, ACT installed symbolic figures representing the disappeared in multiple locations in Beirut where people were kidnapped, encouraging citizens to reflect on the legacy of the conflict and the importance of truth-seeking.
Benches of Remembrance (2022)
In collaboration with the Committee of the Families of the Kidnapped and Disappeared in Lebanon, ACT installed memorial benches made from recycled plastic materials in Horsh Beirut.
Families of the missing contributed drawings, messages, and symbols of remembrance honoring their loved ones. QR codes placed on the benches link visitors to ACT’s Waynoun platform, encouraging public engagement and possible information sharing.
4. Dialogue, Education and Peacebuilding
ACT facilitates dialogue initiatives, educational activities, and community discussions that bring together different generations and communities with a strong focus on youth and women engagement to reflect on Lebanon’s past and explore pathways toward reconciliation and peacebuilding.
Story of Hope Awareness Sessions (2021 to 2023)
ACT organized in collaboration with the Committee of the Families of the Kidnapped and Forcibly Disappeared in Lebanon and the support of the UNDP, awareness sessions across Lebanon aimed at introducing Law 105, discussing the issue of missing persons, and encouraging dialogue on truth-seeking.
These sessions brought together youth, families of the missing, local authorities, and community actors in villages and universities across the country, reaching hundreds of participants and strengthening local understanding of the National Commission’s work.
Story of Hope Podcast (2022)
The Story of Hope podcast series explores the different dimensions of the issue of missing and forcibly disappeared persons in Lebanon through conversations with experts, researchers, and practitioners.
The episodes address topics such as the legal framework, historical context, transgenerational trauma, media narratives, and the role of art, engaging especially young audiences in discussions about memory and peacebuilding.
Intergenerational Dialogue Initiative (2023)
This initiative brought together youth, members of the war generation, and families of the missing to exchange perspectives on Lebanon’s past and its ongoing impact on society.
Participants discussed themes such as identity, migration, political structures, and the legacy of war, highlighting how dialogue across generations can contribute to understanding, reconciliation, and collective reflection.
Trauma-Sensitive Approaches to Dealing with the Past (2023)
ACT organized dialogue sessions across several regions of Lebanon exploring the relationship between collective trauma, truth-seeking, and peacebuilding.
Participants discussed how trauma from the Lebanese Civil War continues to shape society and emphasized the importance of integrating mental health and psychosocial support into processes addressing dealing with the past.
My Safe Space Psychosocial Support Sessions (2025)
ACT implemented psychosocial support sessions in Nabatieh under the title My Safe Space, targeting university students particularly young women and community organizations.
The sessions aimed to address emotional distress caused by war and displacement, provide coping tools, and create a safe space for collective expression, strengthening community resilience and social support networks.