Lebanon Has The Worst Record on Women. See Why?

The global COVID-19 pandemic has been a stark reminder of the enormous work that remains to build a gender-equal world. Since its outbreak, women across the world have been on the front lines of pandemic response and recovery, but have also faced its dire impacts on their health and their fundamental rights: alarming levels of domestic violence, increased and unacknowledged care responsibilities, and economic insecurity.

In times of crisis and conflict, women play vital roles in building peaceful communities, sometimes braving huge risks. Time after time, women and youth in Lebanon are the ones leading demonstrations, building movements and campaigns, and calling for inclusive negotiations and representative governments. Despite their important contributions to prevent, end and rebuild after crisis and conflict, women are still largely excluded from the establishment and from political life, their work remains underpaid, their expertise under-recognised, their economic potential untapped, and they are targets of violence.

Even prior to COVID-19 and the port explosion, Lebanon suffered from deep and entrenched gender inequalities. Lebanon is ranked 149 out of 153 countries in the 2020 World Economic Forum Gender Gap report’s female political representation index. Women were elected into only 6 of the 128 parliamentary seats in the last election and only 18 women have held ministerial office to date. The impact of COVID-19 pandemic and the ongoing socio-economic crisis in Lebanon is deeply gendered. For example, women in Lebanon make up almost two-thirds of workers in health and social work, which puts them in the frontline of the COVID-19 response and disproportionally exposes them to health and economic risks.

The increase of violence against women and girls over the last year is a ‘shadow pandemic’ with several forms of gender-based violence. Calls to the Internal Security Forces' domestic violence complaints hotline reporting violence increased by 102%, and calls to the KAFA NGO support center are up by 300%. Social and cultural norms, compounded by lack of access to quality information, reinforce gender inequalities and exacerbate the impact of COVID-19 on women’s and girls’ health, safety and ability to seek protection. Support networks and safety nets have been compromised due to restrictions on mobility. Women and girls face challenges in accessing hygiene and health services given the increase in cost. They also face barriers in accessing justice. Protection in the home, in public and in the workplace for women and girls, including female migrant domestic workers and refugees, is hindered by gaps in existing legislation, as well as discrimination against those groups.

This is the time for action. National COVID-19 response plans must seek to reduce inequalities and build inclusive communities. Work to increase women and girls’ full, effective and meaningful participation in society, including political participation at all levels must continue. Women’s full participation in consultation processes, rebuilding initiatives, efforts at economic recovery, decision-making roles and campaigns must be guaranteed. In preparing for the 2022 parliamentary elections, we must see women get the influence they deserve as electoral candidates and leaders across the country. New legislation and policy-making must protect all women and girls against abuse and exploitation at home and at their workplace. It should institute measures to secure the rights of informal workers, protect them against discriminatory policies and abolish the kafala system. Last, but not least, all of us, every day and around the world have a role to play in supporting and proactively challenging social and cultural norms that adversely affect women and girls.

The international community is committed to working with governments and NGOs around the world and here in Lebanon to support women and girls to meaningfully engage in decision-making processes, to resolve conflicts, and to lift up their voices and improve equality for all women and girls.

Times of crisis often present opportunities to change. This International Women’s Day, it’s time for change.

This article is signed by the following top diplomats based in Beirut:

Australia – H.E. Rebecca Grindlay

Canada – H.E. Chantal Chastenay

Denmark – H.E. Merete Juhl

Finland – H.E. Tarja Fernandez

France – H.E. Anne Grillo

Germany – H.E. Andreas Kindl

Greece – H.E. Catherine Fountoulaki

Italy – H.E. Nicoletta Bombardiere

Netherlands – H.E. Hans Peter van der Woude

Norway – H.E. Martin Yttervik

Sri Lanka – H.E. Shani Calyaneratne Karunaratne

Sweden – H.E. Ann Dismorr

Switzerland – H.E. Monika Schmutz-Kirg?z

United Kingdom – Martin Longden

UN Deputy Special Coordinator for Lebanon, Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator –Najat Rochdi

United States of America – H.E. Dorothy Shea