NCLW: The Constitution guarantees women’s rights to transmit nationality || Newapapers (Arabic)

The NCLW General Assembly was convened yesterday in its premises in Baabda and was presided by Ms. Randa Berry, the vice-President.  During the meeting, the Assembly expressed its disappointment with the results of the work of the Ministerial Commission entrusted with the review of Lebanon’s Nationality Law.  NCLW especially noted that the Ministerial Commission based its arguments on the decision of the Constitutional Council (2/2001) and which indicates that higher national interests take primacy over the principle of equality.  NCLW noted that this decision was made in relation to the right to own property by non-Lebanese and especially by Palestinians and which was argued to be in violation of the Palestinians right to return.  This, according to the NCLW, cannot be used to justify inequality between women and men as Clause 7 of the Constitution guarantees equality amongst citizens and guarantees women’s right to transmit their nationality to their children.
In concluding its meeting, NCLW called for civil organisations and public institutions to join efforts in order to achieve key demands namely a non-discriminatory nationality law, a quota for women in politics, a law to protect women from violence, a non-discriminatory penal code as well as the reform of all remaining discriminatory laws.
Source: Al-Mustaqbal 15 March 2013