Lebanon

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In 2004, the late Prime Minister Rafic Hariri sought to strengthen the sports, youth, and scouting movements, and thus created the Ministry of Youth and Sports under Law No. 629 dated November 20, 2004.

The Ministry is responsible for “youth and sports affairs, as well as their associations, clubs, federations, and all related educational, moral, civic, social, and recreational activities.” It also “oversees and regulates the activities of sports, scouting, and youth bodies, committees, associations, and federations, including granting licenses for their establishment, ensuring compliance with legal requirements, and revoking licenses in case of violations.”

Additionally, it is charged with supervising “outdoor activities, scouting programs, opportunity camps, and volunteer work camps.”

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Last Updated: November 17, 2025

Lebanon Representative

Meet the leaders driving youth empowerment in their countries.

Each country participating in the Global Hope Network is represented by a dedicated leader who is passionate about empowering youth and driving impactful initiatives. These representatives play a key role in showcasing their nation’s Best Practices and fostering global collaboration to create positive change.

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Dr. Nora Bayrakdarian

Minister of Youth & Sports

Professor of International Relations and Chair of the Department of International Relations at the Faculty of Law and Political Science at the Lebanese University, and a member of the Scientific Council for the Ph.D. program in Law, Political, Administrative and Economic Sciences.

Senior Lecturer in International Relations at the Department of Political Science and Public Administration at the American University of Beirut, a member of the Lebanese Economic, Social and Environmental Council for a second term, and President of Committee on Science, Technology and Innovation at the Council. Member of the Central Committee of the Lebanese Orthodox Church - the Holy See of Cilicia for a second term, and a member of the Central Committee of the World Council of Churches (WCC) elected by the 9th Assembly of the Council in Brazil in 2006, and a member of the Commission of the Churches on International Affairs (CCIA) since 2014 representing the Armenian Orthodox Church, and was re-elected for a second term (2023), and Rapporteur of the Public Issues Committee at the 11th Assembly of the Council. Bayrakdarian studied Political science at the Faculty of Law and Political Science of the Lebanese University. She was granted a scholarship from the French National Centre for Scientific Research in her higher studies, after the completion of the DEA degree due to her outstanding results. Her DEA thesis entitled "The Palestinian Question, from the Resolution 242 to the conclusion of the Gaza-Jericho agreement", supervised by Professor Georges Charaf, was granted the highest score within the faculty. She then attended La Sorbonne University in Paris and earned a PHD in International Relations with the highest Honours (Very Honorable With Congratulations of the Jury), under the supervision of Professor Charles Zorgbib. In 2017, she earned the Professor title from the Lebanese University, after serving as an associate and later as a Full Professor at the Faculty of Law and Political Science at the Lebanese University. Bayrakdarian is currently the chairperson of the Department of International Relations in the Faculty and served for three terms as a member of the Scientific Council.

Best Practices from Lebanon

Innovative Solutions in Action

Explore the impactful youth-led initiatives submitted by Lebanon. These Best Practices showcase the country’s commitment to innovation, sustainability, and leadership.