Lebanon Country Briefing

This brief on Lebanon from the Gender, Justice and Security Hub looks at the country context, including issues such as the ongoing unrest caused by the previous civil war as well as conflict in neighbouring countries, challenges with recovery, rebuilding and reform, and ongoing security challenges. Gender issues in Lebanon are complex; while there have been notable periods of advancement in women’s education and participation in the workforce, political representation remains low, and personal status laws differ significantly across religious groups, affecting rights related to marriage, divorce, and inheritance. The 2019 protests showed that there is a widespread demand for change, with women playing a significant role, yet entrenched societal and political structures pose challenges to gender equality. The political and economic crises have threatened the limited social progress made in previous years. Women and marginalized communities, including refugees and the LGBTQI+ community, are particularly vulnerable in the current climate. Although Lebanon is known for being more liberal than some of its neighbours in terms of women’s and LGBTQI+ rights, the economic collapse has had a detrimental impact on these advances. Moreover, the entrenched sectarian power-sharing system often impedes comprehensive and progressive social reforms. Hub research in Lebanon explores the dynamics of conflict, displacement, gender, and labour migration, including the influences of the Syrian Civil War, the COVID-19 pandemic, economic crises, and significant socio-political events like the Beirut port explosion. Hub projects investigated the impacts of these crises on individuals of diverse Sexual Orientations, Gender Identities and Expressions, and Sex Characteristics (SOGIESC), and the experiences of migrant women in abroad spectrum of labour sectors. Research methods used included interviews and focus group discussions with SOGIESC individuals in Lebanon, and interviews with women and NGO workers across multiple cities. The research offers insights into the direct and indirect effects of conflict, displacement, economic challenges, and migration on women and people of SOGIESC in Lebanon. It focuses on the lived experiences of these communities and individuals, their rights, agency, and interactions with urban spaces, against the backdrop of gender backlash and socio-cultural drivers influencing migration within these volatile contexts. This brief details gendered challenges in the region, key findings and recommendations for local policy makers and international actors.
Gender Justice and Security GCRF Hub (2024) Lebanon Country Briefing