Resident Coordinator's Remarks at the UNWomen and NCLW Closing Event

H.E. Prime Minister Najib Mikati,

Excellencies,

H.E. Ms. Claudine Aoun, President of the National Commission for Lebanese Women,

Distinguished guests, Ladies and gentlemen,

I am honoured to be present here today as we gather to celebrate the remarkable achievements of Lebanon's first National Action Plan on 1325. And I salute NCLW’s President ongoing efforts as Lebanon embarks on the journey towards its second National Action Plan. 

This endeavor truly embodies a multi-stakeholder approach, therefore, I would also like to pay tribute to the critical role played by the Lebanese civil society.

Gielan, it would be remiss of me not to acknowledge the key role of UN Women in advancing progress on the Women, Peace, and Security Agenda in Lebanon. I extend my sincere thanks to you and your colleagues for your continuous commitment and efforts.

While we are here to commemorate Lebanon's progress in creating peaceful, thriving communities by supporting women and their key role in peacebuilding, it is imperative to acknowledge the challenging circumstances that surround us. 

In an era of escalating global conflicts, it's crucial for us to come together to find collective solutions and prevent further conflicts, emphasizing the critical role of national actors in establishing mechanisms for peacebuilding, relief, recovery, and in creating more inclusive societies capable of managing tensions.

The WPS Agenda, along with National Action Plans on 1325, stand as impactful tools for uniting national actors during crises, helping everyone work together to achieve sustainable peace and gender equality. 

The United Nations continues to be committed to support Lebanon navigating these uncertain times; and here allow me to thank the donor community and our partners who have always supported us in these efforts.

Ladies and gentlemen, 

Lebanon's Action Plan on 1325 has yielded remarkable achievements, across its five pillars despite a challenging context, since its initiation in 2019.  Allow me to underline some of the key accomplishments, which we at the United Nations believe hold particular significance for Lebanon's future:

• At the institutional level, the NCLW has spearheaded increased participation and the appointment of gender focal points across every state institution. 
• The Action Plan has laid crucial groundwork for increased participation of women in security sector reform, paving the way for more women to join LAF for example.
• Furthermore, it has supported the positioning of women as peacemakers with increased leadership and participation in community-level reconciliation processes, conflict-prevention, and mediation efforts. 
• The National Action Plan has also provided a framework to make progress towards gender-responsive legislative reform to better protect women from sexual and gender-based violence. Here I would like to highlight the adoption of Law No.205 in 2021, which criminalizes sexual harassment. 
• It has also achieved significant milestones in providing relief and facilitating recovery. 

Investing in prevention, and in local initiatives led by women, stands at the forefront of the UN Secretary General’s New Agenda for Peace, and I am very pleased to witness that Lebanon's progress in establishing resilient infrastructures for peace is already well underway.

The success of these efforts was made possible by the consistent advocacy of the feminist movement, which tirelessly demanded that their voices be heard, and their requests considered.

Excellencies, distinguished guests, UN colleagues,

While today is about honoring the strides achieved under the first National Action Plan, we must acknowledge that our journey is far from over. In this regard, allow me to present a wish list of priorities:

First, accelerate progress through targeted actions that ensures women’s equal leadership and representation at all levels of political decision-making, including through gender quotas. It's time to revive Lebanon's leading role from the 1950s, when it was the first Arab country to give women the right to vote

Second,  speed up women's economic empowerment by investing in their education, jobs, and skills, and by putting more into gender-friendly social support and care services.

Third, despite progress achieved in Lebanon, violence against women and girls remains a pervasive issue, impeding equal rights and jeopardizing the well-being of women across the nation. I encourage Lebanese stakeholders to come together to enact necessary laws and establish mechanisms to protect and prevent violence against women and girls. 

Fourth, there must be sustained and substantial investments in women's leadership in conflict prevention and peacebuilding, both at the local and national levels, to shore up Lebanon's development gains. 

Looking forward, I believe it's crucial for Lebanon to focus on connecting humanitarian aid, development, and peace, particularly in light of the mass displacement occurring in the south.

It is imperative to address the distinct needs of the over 90,000 displaced populations, predominantly composed of women and children, who were already severely impacted by the economic and social crisis facing Lebanon. Moreover, acknowledging the remarkable humanitarian assistance being provided within the affected communities, with many initiatives led by women, is crucial in Lebanon's path towards sustainable development and resilience.

As I draw to a close, I once again congratulate H.E. Claudine Aoun and the government of Lebanon on the remarkable achievements of Lebanon’s National Action Plan on 1325. 

Thank you.