Beirut, Lebanon – On April 13, 2023, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in Lebanon held a one-day policy-level meeting in celebration of World Health Day under the patronage of the minister of public health Dr. Firass Abiad and in attendance of MP Judge George Okais. The aim of this event was to spur evidence-based policy dialogue on a wide range of gender-based violence (GBV) and women’s reproductive health related topics, strengthen policies, systems, services, and coordination to advance GBV prevention and response and promote women’s empowerment and wellbeing.
“The Lebanese Ministry of Public Health is delighted to collaborate as a strategic ally with organizations namely UNFPA Lebanon that tackle gender-based violence, to guarantee improved health outcomes. It is imperative to ensure that medical care is not only available to the privileged few in Lebanon, but that access to healthcare is universal and extended to all members of society” said the minister of Public Health in Lebanon Dr Firass Abiad.
During the one-day policy-level meeting, key objectives, key findings, and key recommendations were presented and highlighted, including policy advice for leveraging the opportunities in the current crisis context of the following research studies conducted in 2022 by UNFPA: Intimate Partner Violence and Health: Can Resilience Mitigate the Effect?; Mistreatment, Disrespect, and Violence Practices in Obstetric Care in Lebanon; Situation Analysis on Gender-Based Violence Against Women and Girls with Disabilities in Lebanon; Perception Assessment of Vulnerabilities to Women and Adolescent Girls with Disabilities; and Building Further Evidence for the Relevance and Importance of Adopting Sustainable Solutions for Tackling period poverty in Lebanon.
The event consisted of four sessions addressing intimate partner violence, obstetric violence, GBV and disability, and period poverty. Each session was moderated by relevant panelists, including the study researcher and a policy/decision maker (representative of an NGO, academic institution, or key governmental institution). Each session shared key findings and facilitated dialogue and exchange of ideas between experts and stakeholders for advancing sexual and reproductive health (SRHR) and mitigating/preventing GBV against women and girls in Lebanon.
“We are here today to deliberate and strategize based on evidence generated from four pioneering research studies on sexual and reproductive health and GBV led in 2022 by UNFPA and its partners, and therefore to adopt policies that are effective and inclusive to improve the health and well-being of women and girls in Lebanon…” said Ms. Asma Kurdahi, UNFPA Lebanon head of office.
This event was an opportunity for participants to commit to key priorities and actions that address recommendations emanating from research and assessment. The UNFPA Lebanon office was pleased to welcome key stakeholders from the government, civil society, academia, UN agencies, donors, and the media.