The lack of awareness, coordination, and government’s response to violence and discrimination against women continue to put people especially women and girls in Lebanon at risk. In line with their goal that aims at embracing the concept of ‘marking and celebrating tolerance-oriented International days’ as a tool to promote tolerance at the local level, and within the Youth Solidarity Against Extremism project (YSAE) project, YSAE youths celebrated “Zero Discrimination Day” on March 8, 2020 in the presence of the ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, H.E Jan Waltsman, the Governor of Baalbeck-Hermel, H.E Bachir Khodr, Mufti Bakr Rifai, and LOST’s founder Dr. Rami Lakkis at the community farm and was attended by a group of cultural, social, municipal, and youth actors.
The event was preceded by an awareness seminar about the Corona Virus provided by the WASH department at LOST.
The founder of LOST, Dr. Rami El Lakkis, pointed out that “the aim of the meeting is to create an opportunity for communication and dialogue to alleviate discrimination that Lebanese society suffers from at the religious, sectarian, regional, and family levels and between males and females in the relationship with the other, and to show the negative aspects of divisions that weaken society”. He added, “our goal is to create a civil society in which divisions and differences dissolve, exhibit the values of equality, and create a culture of citizenship that separates us from discrimination, and makes us equal in bearing responsibility in the service of society”.
As for Governor Khodr, he considered that “there are two main forms of discrimination in the Lebanese society, discrimination based on gender and race. We celebrated International Women’s Day a few days ago, women must be motivated and supported to participate in political and public life, and to move away from the mentality of a male-dominated society, and I am against the female quota that limits women’s ambitions”. Khodr emphasized that each of us should look at people from a humanitarian perspective inspired by the principles of justice and equality.
Ambassador Waltsman in his turn said, “I strongly believe that diversity is an asset. People with different beliefs and with different customs can enrich our lives, just like we can enrich theirs”. He added, “if we open ourselves up more and accept these differences, we can diminish discrimination. And to go beyond the notion that diversity is an enrichment, focusing on inclusion is principal. To ensure a brighter future for Lebanon we should include the youth in the public debate and promote their engagement in politics, because we can learn from them”.
From a religious point of view, Sheikh Al-Rifai said that “the problem is not religious, but rather the misinterpretation of religion, or the use of religion in politics, because all religions call for tolerance, equality, and love. Religion is a relationship between me and my Lord, and a just infidel is better than an unjust believer”.
YSAE participants also raised questions and queries about women’s status in economic, social, and political life and had plenty of sound and remarkable comments.
Amina Flaha, 18 years, stated, “it’s 2020 and women in Lebanon continue to suffer from inequality in rights and cruel discriminatory laws. Women still cannot pass on their Lebanese nationalities to foreign husbands and children, and I believe that this is unbelievable in a country that supposedly believes in women’s rights”.
Fatima Chkeir, 28 years, added, “it is the first time I speak about a private issue in front of thr public. I got divorced from my husband and I was deprived of the right of seeing my little son. Under the personal status law and Shariaa law, a mother is eligible for custody for her male child only until 2 years old. When will our laws mirror international agreements and laws regarding women’s rights?”
Work wise, many participants also spoke about qualified women who are not getting their chances in their fields because they wear head scarves. A woman with a head scarf still faces barriers in applying for many media channels, judicial bodies, etc.
Celebrating Zero Discrimination Day was crucial, for discrimination is an offense against solidarity. Youth on this day called for filling massive gender gaps in the country. Such dialogues and campaigns in a civilized known country like Lebanon, which is still far behind from other countries in the Middle East and North African region, which provide equal citizenship rights to women and men, is mandatory at this point. This fruitful gathering gave the voice for youth to advocate for empowering women and girls, call for their equal participation in decision making, equal pay for equal work, equality in the provision of health care, ending gender-based violence, and provision of equal access to education.
