Women in Lebanon: Reality & Challenges

As part of the Women’s Political Empowerment (WPE) Project funded by the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Lebanon, the Lebanese Organization of Studies & Training organized a seminar entitled: “Women in Lebanon: Reality & Challenges” delivered by the lawyer and social activist Ms. Manar Zayter at LOST-Hermel center on the 20th of February 2012 in the presence of more than 80 women.

Ms. Zayter defined “Woman” as an individual equal to “man”. “Woman” is a Lebanese citizen who faces the same challenges and problems that any Lebanese man is facing. Accordingly, Ms. Zayter emphasized on the importance of the cooperation between men and women in order to overpass any kind of difficulties.

In addition, the lawyer and the socialist activist affirmed that women have to participate in the decision making process whether at homes or in societiy. “Human rights are indivisible between men and women” and rights are not exclusive to men. So the Lebanese women should be active participants in the policy-making process of their communities and country, she added.

On the other side, Ms. Zayter highlighted several legal issues that perpetuate “Violence against Women” in the Lebanese law. She said that the laws encompass different degrees of domestic violence against women and violence in Lebanon remains without any legal protection and expose women to disgrace in case of disclosure or talk.

The seminar was followed by a long and interesting debate and finally all participants were invited to a cocktail.