A cooperation agreement was signed between the Ministry of Justice, the HDF-USJ Hospital Network, and Saint Joseph University of Beirut

A cooperation agreement on the child protection strategy in the fields of justice and healthcare was signed between the Ministry of Justice, the HDF-USJ Hospital Network, and Saint Joseph University of Beirut during a ceremony held at the General Directorate Hall of Hôtel-Dieu de France.

The ceremony was attended by the Minister of Justice, Mr. Adel Nassar, the Rector of Saint Joseph University of Beirut and Chairman of the Board of Hôtel-Dieu de France, Rev. Prof. François Boëdec, S.J., the Director General of Hôtel-Dieu de France, Mr. Nassib Nasr, as well as representatives of the Ministry of Justice, department heads, and deans.

Opening the ceremony, the Director General of Hôtel-Dieu de France, Mr. Nassib Nasr, emphasized that the Minister of Justice's visit reflects the hospital's vision of fostering partnerships between institutions in the service of society. He expressed his hope that the cooperation between the Ministry of Justice and the Child Protection Unit at Hôtel-Dieu de France would become a national model for child protection in Lebanon.

He stressed that Hôtel-Dieu de France's mission extends far beyond providing medical care to include protecting the most vulnerable members of society, promoting fundamental rights, and serving major national causes.

Mr. Nasr also noted that the agreement marks a significant milestone in strengthening Lebanon's child protection system, highlighting that effective child protection can only be achieved through close collaboration between the healthcare and justice sectors.

Referring to the upcoming commemoration of the Beirut Port explosion, he recalled that the victims and their families are still awaiting the truth and the delivery of justice. He underlined that protecting children and pursuing justice stem from the same principle: building a Lebanon that upholds human rights, safeguards the dignity of every individual, and protects the future of its people.

For his part, Rev. Prof. François Boëdec, S.J., affirmed that child protection is one of the core pillars of the mission of Saint Joseph University and Hôtel-Dieu de France. He stressed the importance of providing children with a safe environment supported by education, guidance, and appropriate healthcare.

He recalled that the Child Protection Unit has been fulfilling this mission since its establishment, driven by a shared sense of social responsibility that is more important today than ever in light of current challenges. He welcomed the signing of this agreement with the Ministry of Justice as a new step toward strengthening joint efforts to protect children. He also paid tribute to the dedication of the Child Protection Unit team, led by Prof. Bernard Gerbaka, emphasizing that children are society's most precious human resource and deserve the highest priority.

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توقيع اتفاقية تعاون بين وزارة العدل وشبكة مستشفيات أوتيل ديو و جامعة القديس يوسف في بيروت