The Lebanese Center for Human Rights (CLDH) is a local non-profit, non-partisan Lebanese human rights organization in Beirut that was established by the Franco-Lebanese Movement SOLIDA (Support for Lebanese Detained Arbitrarily) in 2006. SOLIDA has been active since 1996 in the struggle against arbitrary detention, enforced disappearance and the impunity of those perpetrating gross human violations.

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March 9, 2012

The Daily Star - First lady: Role of women in politics is crucial, March 9, 2012



BEIRUT: On the occasion of International Women’s Day Thursday, First Lady Wafaa Sleiman said that Lebanese women are still far from assuming a tangible role in politics, a step which would help to achieve peace.
“Women in my country are still far from being actual partners in decision-making in politics,” Sleiman said.
“Despite the fact that Lebanon was the first Arab country allowing women to vote and run for elections in 1952 ... their presence in decision-making is still limited, whether in successive Cabinets, Parliament or administrative appointments,” said Sleiman, who heads the National Commission for Lebanese Women.
Sleiman’s remarks came during a ceremony in Tyre to honor women participating in the U.N. Interim Forces in Lebanon and the launching of the National Campaign for Supporting Women in Decision and Peacemaking.
Sleiman said that women’s limited role in politics was behind the commission’s decision to launch the national campaign.
The other main inspiration, Sleiman added, was to enhance women’s role in achieving long-lasting peace, which would result from their enhanced role in political life.
“The woman who raises [children] on the values and principles of tolerance and cooperation should not be deprived from taking part in making these moral principles a trend in politics,” she added.
“There is no peace without enhancing women’s presence in decision-making, and we cannot have a strong presence without having socio-economic and legal conditions improved.”
The first lady praised the role of women in UNIFIL, saying they played an important role in peacekeeping.
During the ceremony, the National Commission for Lebanese Women handed out awards to 17 women peacekeepers from UNIFIL, among other members of the force.
For her part, Randa Berri, the wife of Speaker Nabih Berri and the deputy head of the National Commission for Lebanese Women, said that women have a “a national and humanitarian duty” in state and society.
She said that women peacekeepers in Lebanon have participated in projects of sustained development and sacrificed their lives while on duty.
Also Thursday, former Prime Minister Saad Hariri saluted Lebanese and Arab women, Syrians in particular.
“On International Women’s Day, I salute all Lebanese and Arab women, and particularly women of the Syrian Revolution in their heroic struggle,” Hariri said on Twitter.
The head of the Future Movement said that the “the Arab Spring has put Arab women in the forefront and of revolutions for dignity and freedom. Every day deserves to be Arab Women’s day.”
Elsewhere in Lebanon, women’s rights associations marked the day by calling for an enhanced role in politics.


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