My nationality is a Right for me and my Family Campaign addresses the President of the Republic at the end of his mandate: What about Lebanese women Mr. President?

My Nationality is a Right for me and my Family Campaign addressed an open letter to the President of the Republic Mr. Michel Suleyman as the highest authority entrusted with the task of safeguarding the Constitution and implementing the law in a way that guarantees equality between women and men and ensures transparency and accountability.  The letter reminds the President that Lebanese women, notably those married to non-nationals have been struggling for a long time to secure their natural and inherent right in dignity and equal citizenship.  However, and because of the historical discrimination against them which is reinforced by patriarchy, they remain in a subordinate position whether economically, social, or politically and suffer unprotected from all forms of violence namely legal and physical violence.
The Campaign’s letter notes that the struggle of women during the mandate of President Suleiman to achieve any quantum leap which may lead to recognition of their rights by the political circle was not very successful despite all efforts, sacrifices and mobilizations which were undertaken by women and women organizations during this period.  The main achievement is only at the level of adopting a mutilated law to protect women from domestic violence as well as some partial and minimal reforms of some of the discriminatory laws in place.
The letter further deplores the official approach of Suleiman’s consecutive governments which continued to deny the importance of liberating women from discriminatory shackles and allowing them to play a role which will ensure a role with their full potential so that, together with other members of society, they can contribute to rid Lebanon of its current crisis.  The letter further reiterated that the worst failure during this mandate was during the tenure of PM Mikati whose cabinet refused to recognize Lebanese women’s right to transmit their nationality to their families according to an unfortunate outcome of the discussions of a ministerial committee created for this purpose whilst using the same old excuse of fear of implantation of Palestinians and demographic imbalance.
The letter commented on the recent news shared by the media about a possible presidential decree which will grant nationality as a presidential gift to some 700 individuals.  Whilst deploring this act if verified, the Campaign had hoped that the President will end his mandate with an initiative to challenge the denial of women’s right to transmit nationality on the form of an egalitarian nationality law.  The letter finally hoped that the upcoming elections will bring in a President who will be ready to overcome confessional interests and will realize the rule of law and bring about equal citizenship through ensuring equality between women and men particularly through a just and fair nationality law.
Source: Al-Nahar, Al-Akhbar, NNA, Al-Safir, Al-Mustaqbal 23 May 2014