Debate on women’s quota in Lebanon

Under the sponsorship of the UN Information Center in Beirut (UNIC), and in partnership with the International Debate Education Association (IDEA), SMART Center organized yesterday a debate on ‘women’s quota in Lebanon’. Participants included women who had previously partook in parliamentary, municipal and mukhtar elections, candidates for upcoming elections, as well as representatives of women’s associations, civil society groups and media figures. The debate coincided with the launch of so-called Debate Club Association aimed at endorsing consensus and exchanging viewpoints among people. On the occasion, UNIC director, Margot Helou, underlined the vitality of women’s participation in political decision making as it contributes to reducing the gender gap at all levels, as she said. For her part, the CEO of SMART, Randa Yassir, pointed out that the Center has been implementing a training on public debates project since 2012 with the aim to promote the notions of citizenship, democracy and community building in Lebanon and the Middle East. IDEA deputy director in the MENA region, Malek Msahel, announced the launch of a debate incubator in Lebanon that brings together debate organizations and active clubs in Jordan, Lebanon, Tunisia, Egypt and Morocco. The purpose is to support and coordinate debate initiatives, merge debate skills as tools of expressing one’s opinion in a civilized way and bring about social change among the youth. (Al Hayat, March 28, 2017)