SÛZAN EBÛ SAÎD

Beirut - Speaking to NuJINHA about Lebanese women’s participation in politics, Hayat Arslan says that what concerns her is the issue of social justice. “I felt very sad when I saw people couldn’t afford their own needs, medicine, and school expenses for their children. Their situation affected me so we decided to found the association “the Society of Lebanon the Giver” in 1983 to support people, particularly women. The association has carried out many activities for women to develop their skills and achieve their financial independence,” she told NuJINHA.

Social and political activities

Hayat Arslan has also carried out activities to empower women’s participation in politics and decision-making mechanisms. She has been the president and founder of the Committee for Women's Political Empowerment since 2004. Speaking about the committee, Hayat Arslan said, “I feel honored to be a founder of the Committee for Women Political Empowerment and now I am the president of the committee. The members of the committee are active women who believe that women’s participation in politics and decision-making positions is important and essential for developing and building the country.”

The committee aims to encourage women

Speaking about the aims of the committee, Hayat Arslan said, “The aim of the committee is to empower women in politics and decision-making positions. After carrying out intense activities from 2000 to 2004 to contribute to the access of women to some ministries, Lebanon has four female ministers serving in the cabinet for the first time in history. But the most important thing is that there is no longer any transgression against the presence of women in politics and decision-making positions. In 2013, the committee contributed to the establishment of the civil society dialogue table in cooperation with male and female activists to empower women’s participation in politics. Our most important work was to propose a women's quota to ensure female participation in parliament. We also carried out activities to encourage women in order that they run for municipal or parliamentary elections.”

Women’s participation in the government

Regarding the most prominent achievements of the committee, Hayat Arslan said, “Perhaps the most important achievement of the committee is the increase in women’s participation in the government. We launched a campaign between 2001 and 2004 to increase the number of women in the government. We held meetings with politicians and state leaders to discuss women’s participation in the government. We held protests and sit-in protests with the participation of women holding high positions in the country. As a result of our struggle, for the first time in Lebanon, two women, Leila Al Solh and Wafaa Dikah Hamze were appointed as ministers in the government of the late Omar Karami in 2004.”

Important roles of women

Hayat Arslan was a member of the National Commission for Lebanese Women (NCLW) between 2008 and 2014. “At that time, we achieved many achievements at the community level, and contributed to making many decisions and enacting laws related to women's rights, as well as establishing organizations that serve women and society,” she said and emphasizing the important roles of women against crises, “Lebanon has suffered from a deep economic crisis. Despite this crisis, women have kept struggling and they have proved that they are qualified to shoulder various responsibilities. We have taken important steps to increase women’s participation in politics. Women have an important role in building peace and implementing the decisions issued by international organizations related to peace and women.”

Women candidates will be supported in the upcoming elections

Hayat Arslan concluded her speech by emphasizing women’s participation in the Lebanese upcoming elections. “We are currently focusing our efforts on supporting women in the parliamentary elections that will take place in mid-May. We continue to support women to fight the electoral battle.”