Flamboyant political declarations on the occasion of IWD

In commemoration of International Women’s Day (IWD) in Lebanon, An Nahar newspaper interviewed the newly-appointed minister of state for administrative development affairs, Dr. Inaya Ezzideen (the only woman member of the cabinet), and the minister of state for women’s affairs, Jean Ogassapian, to highlight the required measures needed to realize women’s rights. Ezzideen explained to An Nahar that demands related to the rights of women should not be linked to an elections event only, “but should represent a comprehensive endeavor involving all elements society.” Ezzideen called for changing the stereotypes of women in textbooks, as well as, in the media, urging Lebanese women to work more on self-development as a means for accessing politics and public life. Ezzideen reiterated her commitment, as a woman and as a minister, to endorse the women’s quota, notwithstanding the stubborn hurdles on the way. Ogassapian, for his part, disclosed to An Nahar a 3-axes plan based on “the empowerment, strengthening and education of women’, as he said. On the other hand, the First Lebanese Lady, Nadia Shami Aoun, in her message on this special day, said that despite the burdensome challenges facing them, Lebanese women play a pivotal role in all aspects of life, and inspired them to be bold and contribute to the sought-for change. On the civil society front, Kafa Enough Violence and Exploitation organization recalled in a statement released yesterday the dirty game of confessionalism in Lebanon, aided with the macho mindset, that have taken their toll in the past few years to substantiate deprivation of the rights of women. And the list is long, the statement wrote: prevention of criminalization in marital or spousal rape cases, prevention of protection of domestic violence children victims, substantiating monopoly in family planning matters, as well as, fostering male dominance inside families, deprivation of women from their rights to grant nationality to family members and, last but not least, the consecration of the marriage of minors. Kafa pledged to continue its struggle against confessional hegemony. Similarly, Green Party Lebanon hailed the achievements by women in Lebanon, notably in ratification of a law against violence, pointing out that women’s political participation requires inclusion of the quota, provisionally, in any electoral legislation. It called on all political parties to encourage their women members to reach senior posts. (An Nahar, March 8, 2017)