The article first describes the five most important phases of Lebanon's juvenile justice legislation, beginning in 1943 up to Law No. 422 of July 6, 2002, which responded to the urgent need for reform of the juvenile justice system. Prior to this latest legislation, juvenile justice policy featured long periods of imprisonment and pretrial detention under the supervision of poorly trained staff. Although earlier legislation provided for rehabilitation and reintegration measures, they were rarely applied. The focus of the reform effort begun in 2002 was on better custodial conditions; expanded and improved treatment for juvenile offenders; delinquency prevention, including special education services for juveniles at risk for delinquency; improved training for juvenile justice staff; and protection and services for juvenile victims. A Department of Minors was established in the Ministry of Justice to coordinate the implementation of the mandated reforms. Initial reform efforts are being followed by a project conducted by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, which will include continuing the reform of prisons and detention conditions for girls, establishing social programs to prevent recidivism, and developing procedures for the judicial protection of juvenile victims. 6 figures