The feminist movement in Lebanon is strong, vibrant, and diverse. Feminist leaders in Lebanon have already driven significant strides in gender equality, including supporting more women in the labor force, pushing for a new law criminalizing domestic violence, and expanding access to sexual and reproductive health services across the country. This year, four women were also appointed to Cabinet positions in the federal government.
Grassroots organizations are at the forefront of this movement. Evidence from Lebanon and around the world show that grassroots civil society organizations know the context, challenges, and entry points to deliver effective programs for girls, women, and their communities. In Lebanon, grassroots organizations fill gaps in essential services for girls and women, including by providing non-discriminatory access to sexual and reproductive health services, protection from gender-based violence, and beyond.
However, these organizations lack the funding, solidarity, and accountability they need to maximize their impact. They are calling for concrete changes necessary to achieve a more gender equal nation. Their recommendations are outlined in Lebanon’s Feminist Call to Action, a new statement which asserts that grassroots feminist organizations across the country critically need more funding, solidarity, and accountability from local and international supporters to sustain their lifesaving work. Lebanon’s Feminist Call to Action is led by five grassroots women’s organization in Lebanon – the Lebanese Women Democratic Gathering (RDFL), Marsa Sexual Health Center, the Palestinian Women’s Humanitarian Organization, Women Now for Development, and the Lebanon Family Planning Association for Development and Family Empowerment (LFPADE).
To that end, signatories of Lebanon’s Feminist Call to Action specifically call for:
– Funding: Greater and more strategic investment in grassroots women’s organizations in Lebanon, especially the flexible and long-term funding needed to drive lasting change.
– Solidarity: More support and inclusion of diverse voices within Lebanon’s feminist movement, including across age, sect, religion, and race. This includes supporting organizations that sup- port Lebanese girls and women, as well as refugees, LGBTQIA+ populations, domestic workers, and other marginalized communities.
– Accountability: Improved engagement of girls and women in the design, implementation, and evaluation of programs that a ect their lives.
To celebrate the feminist movement in Lebanon and build new partnerships, a new mural will be unveiled in Hamra on Wednesday October 23. Created by artist Roula Abdo (@roula.abdo) and facilitated by the organization Art Of Change, the mural aims to honor Lebanon’s feminist movement and will highlight two incredible women who have inspired many: Emily Nasrallah & Hugette Caland.
For more information on this event, please visit: https://www.facebook.com/events/351654712216389/. To read and sign on to the call to action, please visit: lbfeminists.com.