The Arab Institute for Women (AiW), previously known as the Institute for Women’s Studies in the Arab World (IWSAW), was established in 1973, building upon the Lebanese American University’s rich history as a school for women. At that time, it was the first such institute in the Arab world and it remains the only one of its kind in Lebanon. It is also among the first globally. The Institute advances women’s empowerment and gender equality nationally, regionally and globally through research, education, development programs, and outreach. AiW works at the intersection of academia and activism.
In the Arab region and globally, AiW serves as:
- A Bridge: representing women and gender issues in the region and bringing the issues we care about into international dialogues, ensuring that our perspectives are represented.
- A Hub: sharing knowledge on and by Arab women with the world and supporting the creation of new knowledge from/for the region. AiW also connects people and partners to Arab women and gender issues in the region by channeling funding and support to our work and by using our vast network.
- A Voice: amplifying Arab voices in global discourses on gender and promoting gender equality and human rights in the Arab region.
Location
AiW is located on LAU’s Beirut campus, Shannon Hall, Level 4.