CAROLINE BAZZI

Beirut - A panel discussion on women's concerns was held in Beirut as a part of the TWEE project and in collaboration with the women-led group "USPEak."

Freedom of expression within the bounds of the law

In her opening speech, Dr. Georgina Nematullah discussed the legality of human rights, particularly with regard to the problem of freedom of expression. She said that the only way for the ideas we support to be transmitted is through the media as well as social networking sites. She stressed the need for education for women as a source of protection.

12 million teenage girls marry every year

According to Georgina Nematullah, an early marriage happens when one of the partners is under the legal marriage age of 18. To underscore the frequency of early marriage, she quoted figures indicating that 12 million girls globally get married every year before reaching the legal marriage age.

"Gender Discrimination in Lebanon"

Dr. Laila Chamseddin started her speech with the words "What we do now determines our ways for tomorrow's successes". Laila talked about the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) and said, "The Global Gender Gap Report 2021 of the World Economic Forum showed that we have to wait for 135.6 years to close the gender gap worldwide while we have to wait for 267.6 years to close gender gap in economic participation and opportunity.”

Common Proverbs

Although Lebanon signed and ratified the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) in 1997, Lebanese law bars Lebanese women married to foreigners from passing citizenship to their children. Speaking about this issue, Laila Chamseddin said, "While the law bars women married to foreigners from passing citizenship to their children, men get Lebanese citizenship to their foreign wives. There are common proverbs against women and girls in Lebanon. Many do not notice they contain masculinity. One of them is ‘Leave not a girl nor a green pasture unguarded’.  

Women should take in decision-making positions

Laila Chamseddin has advocated for a policy of collaboration between the private and civil sectors. She also believes that women’s participation in decision-making positions is critical. She also advocates for educational programs to increase the participation of women and men in many sectors.