Experts of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women Commend Lebanon on its COVID-19 Recovery Programmes and Ask about the Beirut Port Explosion and Vulnerable Women
The Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women today concluded its review of the sixth periodic report of Lebanon, commending the State party on its COVID-19 recovery programmes and asking questions about the port explosion in Beirut and vulnerable groups of women.
A Committee Expert commended Lebanon on its recovery programmes for COVID-19, despite the lockdowns and other difficult circumstances. The Expert asked questions about the port explosion in Beirut, noting that 550,000 women and girls were displaced following the disaster. Had measures been taken by the Government to offer shelter and asylum to these displaced women? A Committee Expert asked the delegation about vulnerable groups of women, including the elderly, refugees, poor and rural women, and what was being done to specifically assist these groups.
Responding to the questions about the Beirut port explosion, the delegation said that safe spaces and shelters had been provided, in conjunction with the United Nations Children’s Fund. There had been a 35 per cent increase in Lebanese women seeking assistance, largely due to the port explosion. Responding on the topic of vulnerable women, the delegation said that social and health services were provided to all women, regardless of their nationality. Elderly, disabled and poor women received these services free of charge. Many projects targeted rural women, including to ensure access to training courses, with transport provided in order for the women to attend these courses. A special afternoon shift had also been opened in school for Syrian refugees, with a curriculum especially designed in accordance with the needs of internally displaced students.
Claudine Aoun, President of the National Commission of Lebanese Women and Head of Delegation, said that the discussion came at a time when Lebanon was facing financial and economic collapse. Key factors which had contributed to this crisis situation included the COVID-19 pandemic and the Beirut explosion in 2020. Ms. Aoun said that women’s representation in politics remained a key issue for Lebanon and this would continue even after the election. Workshops had been organized with representatives of the media to allow women to participate in political life without harassment or violence and to ensure the media played a constructive role in this.
The delegation of Lebanon was comprised of representatives of the Ministry of Social Affairs; the Ministry of Economy and Trade; the Ministry of Justice; the Ministry of Public Health; the Ministry of Labour; the Ministry of Defence, the Ministry of Education and Higher Education, the Ministry of Agriculture; the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Emigrants; the Internal Security Forces; the National Commission on Lebanese Women; and the Permanent Mission of Lebanon in Geneva
In concluding remarks, Ms. Aoun reiterated Lebanon’s willingness to continue its reforms in order to offer women in Lebanon all of their rights.
Aruna Devi Narain, Committee Rapporteur, commended the State party for its efforts and encouraged Lebanon to take all measures to address the recommendations of the Committee, for the benefit of all women and girls in the country.
The Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women’s eighty-first session is being held from 7 to 25 February. All the documents relating to the Committee’s work, including reports submitted by States parties, can be found on the session’s webpage. Meeting summary releases can be found here. The webcast of the Committee’s public meetings can be accessed at http://webtv.un.org/ .
The Committee will next meet in public at 3 p.m. on Friday, 18 February to conclude its consideration of the eighth periodic report of the Dominican Republic (CEDAW/C/DOM/8) .
Report
The Committee has before it the sixth periodic report of Lebanon (CEDAW/C/LEB/6).
Presentation of Report
CLAUDINE AOUN, President of the National Commission of Lebanese Women and Head of Delegation, said the discussion came at a time when Lebanon was facing financial and economic collapse. This had led to a devaluation of the currency by 90 per cent, with nearly half the Lebanese people living under the poverty line. The COVID pandemic and the Beirut explosion in 2020 had contributed to these conditions. In light of upcoming Parliamentary elections, the National Commission was working with civil society and the Committee on Women and Children to implement a quota for women in parliament as women representation there currently stood at 4.7 per cent. No measures had been taken so far to increase the participation of women in decision-making positions. This was being investigated, in order to empower women in the current election. Workshops had been organized with representatives of the media, to allow the media to play a constructive role and allow women to participate in political life without harassment or violence. Ms. Aoun said the issue of women’s representation in politics remained a key issue for Lebanon and this would continue even after the election. A legislative bill, which outlined that a third of those participating in politics should be women, had been drafted. On a local level, a pilot project had been implemented to improve the position of women in municipal councils.
Ms. Aoun said there had been great progress in the military institution, with the first unit on gender created in the Lebanese army, and a clear increase in women joining the army. Thirty-nine per cent of the national plan on gender had been implemented with the remaining part under implementation or outstanding. A report was drafted with a clear analysis of all legislation which could influence the economic situation of Lebanon. Ms. Aoun expressed hope that the upcoming parliamentary elections would lead to the election of women, who would support necessary reforms and recognise the full citizenship of women. Awareness raising needed to be carried out in Lebanon.
The national authority had established a study which set out the impact of not providing Lebanese women with the right to convey their nationality to their children. This had led to the drafting of a plan with a new approach, to allow women to grant their children their nationality. Regarding legislation to criminalise sexual abuse and harassment, national policies were being drafted, especially in regard to harassment at the workplace. A plan had been drafted with authorities to combat such cases. A study had been drafted on the ideal standards for refugees. An observatory had been developed, to gather information, and provide clear, evidence-based information to decision makers, with a view to adopt appropriate legislation with a gender balance.
Regarding combatting violence against women, Ms. Aoun said two media campaigns had been organized with support from the GIZ Institute. These consisted of two short video clips which considered issues concerning electronic blackmail and gender harassment, containing definitions of victims and their rights. In light of the current situation and the problems which took priority over everything else, Ms. Aoun said it was difficult to separate the rights of women from the issues of providing basic living conditions for men and women in Lebanon. Ms. Aoun said she hoped the dialogue would provide Lebanon with the necessary conclusions to develop and improve the conditions of women living in Lebanon.
Questions by Committee Experts
A Committee Expert welcomed the discussion and thanked the Head of Delegation for her forward-looking and courageous statement. Despite Lebanon being in a difficult social, economic and political situation, the country had been able to present the report. The Committee Expert asked about women, peace and security, noting that commissions and coordination committees had been set up, with a view to implementing the Security Council resolution. What had women been able to achieve during these crises and what was the percentage of women who held decision-making posts? The Committee Expert asked about the explosion in Beirut, noting that 550,000 women and girls had been displaced following the disaster. What measures had been taken by the Government to offer shelter and asylum to these displaced women? Regarding the COVID pandemic, the Committee Expert asked about the Committee which had been established in response. Had any exceptional measures for women been adopted during the pandemic to mitigate the impact on women?
A Committee Expert appreciated the tangible legislative progress recently made, regarding legislation on violence and harassment. The Committee Expert noted the multi-dimensional crisis which had plunged 80 per cent of the population into poverty and led to a regression of women’s rights. What role was given to civil society and how would national cohesion be bolstered? What role would be played by the review committee on the implementation of the Convention? The Committee Expert said that the draft law on lifting reservations should be revisited. It was paramount for Lebanon to adopt a general discrimination law and establish a definition of equality. Could the review committee say if an institutional reform constituting constitutional review was under consideration? Was a reform of the State being studied? Was a constitutional review being considered? Were women involved in these crucial debates for the future of Lebanon? Would the profile of the Convention be raised in the courts to assist women with accessing justice? The Committee Expert asked about the death penalty in Lebanon. Were women on death row receiving adequate legal assistance?
Responses by the Delegation
CLAUDINE AOUN, President of the National Commission of Lebanese Women and Head of Delegation, said a 30 per cent representation of women had been reached in the last council of ministers, but this had unfortunately regressed today. There was a widespread patriarchal culture which meant the political sphere remained the domain of men. However, progress had been noticed, particularly in the army, with the appointment of a woman colonel. A member of the delegation said that bold decisions had been adopted to allow Lebanese women to join the army, when they were previously only permitted at an administrative level. Lebanon aimed to institutionalise the participation of women in the army, a process which had already begun. Great priorities were attached to issues of gender.
A member of the delegation responded to questions regarding the explosion in Beirut, stating that safe spaces had been provided in conjunction with the United Nations Children’s Fund; 15,500 women and young girls had benefitted from services from the Ministry of Social Affairs; the number of beneficiaries had soared compared to previous years. There had been a 35 per cent increase in the number of Lebanese women seeking assistance, largely due to the explosion in the port. The range of services had been expanded to the neediest families in Lebanon, and together with the United Nations Children’s Fund, a programme had been adopted to aid families and children living in precarious conditions. Partnerships had been established with Lebanese non-governmental organizations and cooperation with different bodies had been established to provide refuge for displaced women. Women in the front line were trained to ensure they could work effectively to distribute emergency services.
Concerning the COVID pandemic and its effects on women with low incomes, the delegation said that during the course of the pandemic, more women had died, with 17 maternal deaths of women with low-income backgrounds during this period. These women had passed away because they lacked access to appropriate hospital care. Memos had been distributed to ensure that pregnant women were given extra support. The delegation said there had been an increase in domestic violence, with the context of lockdowns exacerbating this. Two hotlines had been established for all women victims of domestic violence. A national treaty was being established to provide support and services for rape victims, including legal and medical support. The delegation said that guidelines on mother and child health were also being developed. These guidelines were a pioneering plan in the Arab world and involved assessing the mental health of women during pregnancy and following childbirth, with training on these topics also provided. Free mental health care was provided to Lebanese and refugee women.
A member of the delegation said Lebanon lacked women in decision-making positions. The Government had decided to work to effectively promote women in decision-making positions and ensure gender mainstreaming at all levels. Challenges remained and the access of women to Parliament was the only way to adopt all laws and contribute to the elimination of discrimination against women. This could lead to the financial empowerment of women, which was needed at the political level. The delegation addressed the question of coordinating with civil society organizations, saying a coordination mechanism existed, and there was daily coordination with United Nations agencies.
Follow-up Question by a Committee Expert
The Committee Expert insisted on the urgency of ensuring parity in the legislative branch, stating that Parliament needed to adopt urgent measures.
Responses by the Delegation
CLAUDINE AOUN, President of the National Commission of Lebanese Women and Head of Delegation, said that there was no constitutional reform to achieve equality. Activities had been undertaken to improve legislation.
Questions by Committee Experts
A Committee Expert asked how the role of mechanisms in place could be enhanced, to allow for more influence at decision-making levels. It was noted that less attention to women’s issues had been given during the crisis. Would the Government seek support from civil society? The Committee Expert noted that civil society was active and knowledgeable on the role of women. How could the Government enhance cooperation with civil society to make it more influential, especially in the cases of submitting draft laws to Parliament?
A Committee Expert addressed the application of temporary special measures, acknowledging positive steps towards using measures by several ministries and institutions. These measures encouraged women to join the labour market and participate in public life. However, the Committee Expert said the use of temporary special measures needed to be extended to many areas, including politics, where women faced the highest levels of discrimination. Was there an intention to free women candidates from candidacy fees, as an incentive, and to stimulate political parties to nominate more women?
Responses by Delegation
CLAUDINE AOUN, President of the National Commission of Lebanese Women and Head of Delegation, said the current economic circumstances in Lebanon meant that full financing was not received. Civil society provided a supportive role in the field of women’s rights and further support was being provided in terms of a person’s status. This was undertaken through national organizations and local institutions.
A member of the delegation responded on the national strategy for Lebanese women, which strove to achieve full equality and would be enhanced over the year. This included legislative equality between men and women, with laws which required amendment being identified. A draft bill was being compiled to allow Lebanese women to confer their nationality on their children. There was also a draft bill in the works prohibiting marriage before the age of 18. The strategy also aimed to enhance women’s participation in political and public life. A hinderance to Lebanese women’s economic participation was women’s family obligations. The new strategy would encourage men to take on their fair share of family obligations and household activities. The delegation said full cooperation and participation with civil society organizations had been adopted, with the partnership being beneficial to both parties.
Follow-up Questions by a Committee Expert
A Committee Expert repeated a question about high fees during elections and said it would be an incentive if the State party waived these fees, which would encourage parties to nominate more women. There was an opportunity for the State party to be dynamic and implement incentives for women to participate in politics. Was the State party planning to introduce temporary special measures to bring more women into politics in Lebanon?
Responses by the Delegation
CLAUDINE AOUN, President of the National Commission of Lebanese Women and Head of Delegation, said that the fees during elections were high, however, it was stipulated for the need for equality between men and women candidates. This aspect would be worked on for future elections.
Questions by Committee Experts
A Committee Expert commended the Government on the COVID recovery programmes, despite the lockdowns and the Beirut explosion. Had a fund been created to help women victims of violence? The Committee Expert noted a sexual harassment law which Lebanon had adopted, which fell short of international standards, asking if this would be ratified. Concern was expressed about patriarchal attitudes and deep-rooted stereotypes in the family and society and the media that over-emphasised women’s traditional role as mothers and wives. Was there a code of conduct for media professionals? How was this being monitored?
The Committee Expert asked about efforts being made to ensure that credible allegations of torture in detention were investigated promptly.
A Committee Expert asked questions on trafficking, noting that a special complaints system had been established, with inspectors visiting to investigate exploitation. How effective was the complaints system? How many complaints had been received from refugees and foreign workers? How were non-governmental organizations involved? How many shelters and hotlines were available for victims of trafficking? The Committee Expert noted that although prostitution was legally prohibited, up to 3,000 women were recruited to Lebanon each year, which allowed traffickers to exploit women from over 40 countries. If women were found to be engaged in prostitution, they were automatically deported and deprived of any access to justice. Lebanon should rethink what measures could effectively reduce the situations of prostitution and make sure that the other perpetrators involved were punished.
Responses by the Delegation
CLAUDINE AOUN, President of the National Commission of Lebanese Women and Head of Delegation, said the 2020 law on domestic violence was an achievement. A member of the delegation said that workshops had been hosted with press members and journalists to introduce gender-mainstreaming into the media. A subsequent questionnaire had been sent and recommendations had been provided as a result of this. Dialogue had been hosted with the press regarding female candidates in politics, exploring how the press could help and support them, moving away from traditional stereotypes of women. The delegation spoke about combatting gender-based violence, referencing a hotline which received 60 complaints in 2019 and 124 calls in 2020, a 108 per cent increase.
The delegation addressed the issue of trafficking, saying a law had been tabled to monitor the existing law on trafficking in order to enshrine a specific law on women. The bill sought to prohibit trafficking and to offer victims assistance to restore their rights comprehensively. Other goals involved actively cooperating with other countries to combat trafficking.
Responding to questions on trafficking, the delegation said that 1,200 officers had been trained in the field of trafficking. Directives had been provided regarding principles of detention. In cooperation with civil society, a survey had been undertaken to combat trafficking. Concerning women working as entertainers in nightclubs, they were interviewed and informed of their rights and provided guidelines to help them avoid being exploited. A hotline had also been established. Nightclub owners were interrogated in the case of alleged sexual misconduct, which would result in consequences.
Ms. Aoun said she had investigated cases when female domestic workers had asked for repatriation, following mistreatment and violence at the hands of their employers. Lebanon had a system which sought to provide both Lebanese and foreign domestic workers with a safe living environment. In some circumstances, women enticed other women into prostitution activities, encouraging them to leave domestic employment. These women became victims of violence at the hand of women in their own communities. Ms. Aoun said that many young girls had been repatriated as a result of the hotline.
Questions by a Committee Expert
A Committee Expert noted that the fight against corruption was important and that a special committee on women’s rights was being established. Real development in the presentation of women in parliament had not yet been seen. The Committee Expert said that many women did not have the resources or support to successfully participate in electoral campaigns. What kind of strategies would be adopted for the participation of women in politics? How would non-governmental organizations working in this field be supported? What was being done about the development of the participation of women as diplomats in Lebanon? Could the delegation provide statistics on women in leadership positions and female lawyers? What would be done in terms of training?
Responses by the Delegation
CLAUDINE AOUN, President of the National Commission of Lebanese Women and Head of Delegation, said that coordination with civil society was in place, with a large number of civil society institutions active in the field. Lebanon had cooperated with these institutions, especially regarding a law to combat violence against women. A member of the delegation said that more women than men were working in the judiciary. Women held many posts, including as general prosecutors, and a woman had been elected as President of the Bar Association. Ms. Aoun said a plan of action would be put in place to increase the number of women in decision-making positions. A taboo had been broken in the Arab world, with women in Lebanon appointed to lead ministries for the first time, showing clear progress.
Questions by Committee Experts
A Committee Expert noted that the inability of Lebanese women to transmit nationality to their children affected these children’s rights. The draft bill to amend the current nationality law had been submitted but was still under consideration. What was the current status of the bill and what was the reason for the delay? What obstacles did the bill face and how would these be tackled? Did the State party intend to take further measures to increase acceptance of the new nationality law? How many individuals in Lebanon were currently stateless? Women refugees had less rights compared to men in terms of residency, said the Expert, asking what measures were being taken by the State party to address this issue.
A Committee Expert noted that the health sector in Lebanon did not have enough capacity, saying that 50 per cent of hospitals in Beirut were unable to function properly. What measures were being taken by the Government to deal with these serious circumstances? In the clinical strategy to address rape, were medical cases free of charge and what services were provided to the victims? The Expert noted that abortion was penalised in Lebanon, asking about the situation in cases of rape and incest. Were the health risks of women taken into consideration? The aggregated impact of the COVID-19 crisis on rural women could be seen. What specific measures had been taken to address this situation and respond to the crisis? The Committee Expert commended the strategy which had been developed for the elderly. The implementation of this plan needed to be ensured. The Committee Expert spoke about refugees in Lebanon, asking how female refugees could be protected from violence, exploitation and early marriage.
A Committee Expert commended Lebanon for the innovative field schools which had been established following the port explosion. The Expert also commended the encouragement of young men to become teachers and girls to pursue scientific subjects, in order to combat gender stereotypes. It was noted that women were dominant in many industries, including medicine, however the low number of men in the educational sphere was raised. How were jobs for girls ensured? What traditional stereotypes and structural barriers remained for girls? Were there incentive packages to enable children to return to school? How would adequate public funding for schools be ensured? The Committee Expert said the refugee population in Lebanon was the highest per capita in the world, noting that many refugee children were not attending school. What was being done to increase attendance rates and mitigate dropout rates in the refugee community?
Responses by the Delegation
CLAUDINE AOUN, President of the National Commission of Lebanese Women and Head of Delegation, said the impact of the economic collapse in Lebanon had been felt in all sectors, with the Government unable to provide services to all the population, including refugees. The Government was cooperating with the United Nations Children’s Fund to conduct campaigns to prevent child marriage, which was increasing due to the pandemic. Ms. Aoun said that Lebanon’s education infrastructure could not accommodate the number of children, with special schools being opened for refugees. The international community must support the Government in order to provide those services.
A member of the delegation said a strategy for unified education had been adopted for all students. The programme targeted the marginalised populations, including persons with disabilities, refugees and poor children. The impact of the Syrian crisis was taken into account. The infrastructure did not allow for all services to be provided immediately. The education centre had launched a programme for literacy and enabled digital training for teachers. Despite the challenges, the Ministry was trying to create an environment conducive to education by providing the necessary resources to promote gender equality.
Questions by Committee Experts
A Committee Expert said that there were over 250,000 migrants in Lebanon, many of whom were women who experienced sexual harassment. The labour law explicitly denied these people protection which was enjoyed by other workers. What efforts were being made to amend the labour law to extend rights to domestic migrant workers? What measures had been taken to ensure that migrant workers had fair access to responsive justice services? The Committee Expert noted that the labour law was not enforced in some areas. What measures had been taken to improve the rate of employment among women by 5 per cent? What measures had been taken to close the gender pay gap?
Responses by the Delegation
The delegation responded to the question of sexual harassment, stating that the legislation in place was advanced and sought to protect women against gender-based violence. A plan had been adopted, including media campaigns which addressed the law, and the ways and means of protecting women. A meeting was held with certain lawyers to simplify the meaning of the law and ensure victims were protected. Ideal practices were concluded, which were to be adopted in Lebanon.
The wages of foreign workers were higher than many workers in Lebanon. A contract had been established for domestic foreign workers which provided protection and guarantees against forced labour. Work was being done with civil society organizations to draft new contracts which would guarantee full rights to these workers. New legislation was being drafted for domestic workers, whether domestic or foreign, which would provide the necessary legal protection. A hotline had been set up for domestic workers, with social workers allocated to receive complaints 24 hours a day. Many complaints had been received and were being followed up in cooperation with civil society organizations. The Labour Law in Lebanon did not discriminate between men and women and all complaints stating that women received lower wages than men were being followed up. The State was suffering great problems and as a result, work was given to Lebanese citizens as a priority, especially women.
Questions by a Committee Expert
A Committee Expert underlined the difficulty the State had faced due to the COVID-19 pandemic, noting this had particularly impacted women and girls. What kind of support was the State providing for women entrepreneurs? How many women had access to bank operations? How many banks were managed by women? What was being planned to resolve the economic situation in Lebanon?
Responses by the Delegation
CLAUDINE AOUN, President of the National Commission of Lebanese Women and Head of Delegation, said Lebanon was currently facing a banking crisis. The economic financial crisis had heavily impacted men and women and obtaining loans was a problem for all. In the future in better circumstances, they hoped to provide better incentives for women.
A member of the delegation said that all workers in both the informal and formal sector had been impacted by the banking crisis. A Ministry was drafting legislation for small-medium enterprises which was gender sensitive and sought to provide support to women looking to set up their own enterprises.
Question by a Committee Expert
A Committee Expert repeated questions on vulnerable groups amongst women, including the elderly, refugees, poor and rural women, asking specifically about the age of marriage.
Responses by the Delegation
The delegation said social and health services were provided to all women, regardless of their nationality. Elderly, disabled and poor women received services free of charge. Live-in services were also provided to the elderly. These services came in the context of social empowerment for women and sufficient financing for these initiatives needed to be provided. In the current situation, these services were impacted, however, Lebanon still strove to provide quality services.
Many projects targeted rural women. Women were provided with training courses and transport to be able to attend the courses. They were also encouraged to be part of agricultural operatives. A member of the delegation spoke about the Syrian crisis, saying that an afternoon shift had been opened in schools for Syrian refugees. An intensive curriculum had been put in place in accordance with the needs of internally displaced students.
Questions by a Committee Expert
A Committee Expert said there was no one single code on personal status, which resulted in religious courts which did not favour women. The Expert said that judicial proceedings discriminated against women through high fees and the absence of legal advice. The Committee had recommended a voluntary civil contract and expressed hope that this matter would be reviewed. What measures were being taken to put this contract before the parliamentary committee? Why was there not a clear stipulation that the marriable age was 18, in accordance with the Convention?
Responses by the Delegation
The delegation said that the personal status law in Lebanon was in accordance with the Constitution, with leaders from religious confessions given their rights and full independence in regard to full personal status matters. A civil marriage contract had been requested, but many obstacles remained. There was a need for political and grassroots support. There was a real will to discuss having a civil marriage contract, with support shown through an open letter signed by 6,000 citizens. Draft laws had been provided and meetings and workshops held with religions leaders to find solutions which allowed Lebanese women to have equality and exercise their rights.
CLAUDINE AOUN, President of the National Commission of Lebanese Women and Head of Delegation, said many initiatives had been made in the personal status code, highlighting projects supported by France and the European Union. Judges had received training on the strategic law to enable them to defend the rights of women when it came to personal status.
A member of the delegation spoke on child marriage and said that despite efforts to reach a unified formula and enact a single law, not much progress had been achieved. More members of parliament were in support to try and push the bill forward. A law on early marriage was before parliament. A member of the delegation said that this matter must be supported by efforts at a cultural and social level. An action plan had been adopted based on the participation of various stakeholders in Lebanese society, in order to improve cooperation with the State. A number of messages warning against the marriage of minors had been launched, as well as outreach campaigns pertaining to sexual reproductive health. A member of the delegation noted that Lebanon continued its efforts to ensure it commitments were observed, despite the difficult situation the country faced. Lasting progress required resources and the delegation called on the international community to help Lebanon and allow displaced people to return home.
Follow-up Questions by a Committee Expert
The Committee Expert said that the Committee trusted that the draft law would once again be submitted to Parliament. What were the procedures involved which would allow swift progress for the justice system?
Responses by the Delegation
The delegation said that the right to remedy before the courts was guaranteed for every Lebanese and non-Lebanese citizen. The Ministry of Justice, in efforts to cooperate with civil society, had undertaken an agreement with United Nations organizations to provide legal aid services to every citizen. The provision of legal aid to the most vulnerable groups was underway, with three centres opened. Legal aid was provided to detainees to enable them to pay fines before their release and to help inmates.
Concluding Remarks
CLAUDINE AOUN, President of the National Commission of Lebanese Women and Head of Delegation , thanked everyone who had taken part in the constructive dialogue. Ms. Aoun reiterated Lebanon’s willingness to continue its reforms in order to offer women in Lebanon all of their rights. Lebanon raised the banner of human rights high despite obstacles, and the country would rise again. Lebanon aimed to provide all citizens with equality without discrimination in line with the Constitution.
ARUNA DEVI NARAIN, Rapporteur of the Committee, thanked the delegation for the constructive dialogue with the Committee, which invited an insight into the conditions of women in Lebanon. The Committee commended the State party for its efforts and encouraged Lebanon to take all measures to address the recommendations of the Committee for the benefit of all women and girls in the country.
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