July 2016 Update
July’s heat hasn’t slowed us down!
Firstly, we’re delighted to announce the continuation of our Capacity Building for Law Enforcement Personnel on Gender-Based Violence Prevention and Response project thanks to a generous grant from the Dutch Embassy. This project will not only enable us to build the practical skillset of female and male Lebanese security personnel in preventing and responding to GBV, but will also offer the opportunity to develop a deeper understanding of the theoretical frameworks surrounding security, violence and gender, and will enhance their capacity to critically assess and engage with these issues through both theory and practice as a result of this academic exposure.
Also this month, Assistant Director Myriam Sfeir was invited by Search for Common Ground-Lebanon (SFCG) and UN Women to participate in the in-country dialogue process, as part of the Inclusive Dialogue within Women’s Empowerment Movements in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) through the ‘Men and Women for Gender Equality’ Program, funded by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA). This project entails country-level dialogues that bring together women’s organizations representing diverse geographical, ideological and socio-economic backgrounds with a view to building momentum for collective advocacy that is both innovative and inclusive. The idea is to strengthen the cooperation within the women’s movements, advance trust among them, understand divisions while exploring common objectives, and highlight a collaborative agenda to advance women’s empowerment in Lebanon.
Our MA in Interdisciplinary Gender Studies is still accepting applicants! We now have rolling admissions – so you can apply anytime. But hurry – classes start in a month! One of our students had this to say about the program:
One of the most important decisions a person ever takes is education. Now imagine you’re not only passionate about furthering education but also someone who believes in nothing as strongly as women’s empowerment, and you stumble upon a gender studies master program at one of the best universities in Lebanon. What do you do? You apply - without even taking a moment to think twice!
Apply HERE - or email us to be a part of this exciting program.
We have a lot of interesting research projects underway this summer!
In the coming months, the Institute hopes to begin a large-scale research project to update and expand its 1997 Female Labor Force in Lebanon study in time for the 20-year anniversary of the original report. The new study presents an opportunity to explore both Lebanese and non-Lebanese (Syrian, Palestinian, Iraqi - plus migrant workers) women’s economic empowerment, assessing the rate of women’s participation in the labor force, supply and demand for women’s labor specifically, and the forces that influence women’s labor force participation. The study presents AiW with a unique opportunity to engage both international and national actors as it contributes to the understanding of women’s labor force participation in Lebanon. This report has major social and policy implications! Watch this space for more info!
AiW also has several other research projects in the pipeline for the summer: a study on perceptions of contraception use, a prevalence survey of early marriage among refugee populations in the Bekaa, and an inquiry into women’s and girls’ use of information technologies. The Institute is also helping to compile a research report on costing violence against women (VAW) in Lebanon, surveying and assessing the high economic costs of VAW and its detrimental impact on the Lebanese economy.
Last month we launched our Lebanon Gender Profile – and now this resource is online! The country profile gives a snapshot of gender equality progress and challenges in the country – and is a concrete reminder that we have a LOT of work to do to achieve equality. Despite some positive changes and progress for women’s rights, each crisis that Lebanon has faced since independence brings increased barriers to gender equality. Human rights – and women’s rights - are not seen as integral concerns and are resisted by decision-makers. Discriminatory and patriarchal provisions remain in the nationality law and penal code. Lebanon’s 18 religious sects have their own family law and courts. Women were excluded from Parliament until 1991 – now only 3.1% are women. Women in rural areas have limited access to health services – magnified by the Syria crisis. Child marriages are on the rise among refugee populations. Women are at increased risk of human trafficking and forced labor. Lebanese legal system does not monitor violations of gender equality – and in fact contains grave violations of women’s rights.
Some positive changes have been seen in recent years in favor of women’s rights, on issues related to the Labor Code, Social Security Code, state employment regulations as well as minor improvements in the Criminal Code and the Personal Status Code. Some progress in addressing gender-based violence was achieved with the recent passing of the Law on Protection of Women and Family Members from Domestic Violence (2014) – although there is still work to do!
And finally, we bid farewell to our dear colleague Lara Shallah. Lara spent 5 years with AiW and has now moved to Canada with her family. We’ll miss her – and Canada is lucky to have her!
Check back for more information very soon – we’re heating up over here!
Lina
