The Rotary Club discusses women’s empowerment in Lebanese society

The Rotary Beirut Cosmopolitan Club organized two days ago a dinner at the Phoenicia Hotel convened by its President, Ms. Lina al Shaer.  The event included a discussion on women’s empowerment as key to Lebanese society.  Al Shaer described the journey of women who joined the Rotary Club around the world, stating that the Rotary was exclusively male until 1987.  Presidential candidate, Nadine Mussa said that Lebanon is the second worst country worldwide after Brunei in terms of women’s participation in political life.  She added that her presidential candidacy was driven by her desire for change and to push Lebanese to think about alternatives to traditional candidates and to demonstrate that “women are better than men in politics”.

Princess Hayat Arslan considered that women remain marginalized in Lebanon because of traditions, general legislation and a particularly unfair electoral law which does not ensure proper representation and participation of women.  She added that the solution lies in adopting a contemporary electoral law which will include a women quota.  Arslan pointed out to injustice in the current religious family laws as well as the mutilation of the newly approved law to protect women from violence as well as custody laws which separate women from their children (at the age of 9 years for girls and 7 years for boys) and finally the fact that Lebanese women still cannot transmit their nationality to their families.  She concluded by saying that the solution is in adopting a civil family law.

 

(Source: Annahar 29 January 2015)