Resident Coordinator's Remarks at the Launch of the Women’s Peacebuilding Network in Lebanon

Excellencies, Distinguished Participants, Colleagues,

Good evening,

It’s an honor to be here tonight, to launch the Women’s Peacebuilding Network in Lebanon.

This initiative arrives at a pivotal moment for Lebanon and the region. Lebanon is facing tremendous challenges – internally as well as externally. The impacts of conflict in the region, particularly on women and children, unfold daily before our eyes, including continuous hostilities across the Blue Line, which has led to the displacement of over 82,000 people in Lebanon.

This highlights the urgent need for sustained investment in conflict prevention and peacebuilding efforts in Lebanon, but also in the region, alongside comprehensive reforms, that Lebanon so desperately needs to achieve inclusive and sustainable development, which is the best defense against the risks of violent conflict.

Lebanon stands at a crossroads, and as we navigate these challenges, women must continue to be actively engaged in shaping the future trajectory of the country. This is not just about meeting a quota or fulfilling international mandates such as UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security – it is because women’s unique perspectives, experiences, leadership, and knowledge are urgently needed during these critical times. 

There is a growing body of evidence that shows that women’s equal and full participation contributes to more robust democracies and longer-lasting peace. And beyond being a moral issue, gender inequality stands as a pressing national security concern that every nation should address.

Therefore, today’s launch of the Women’s Peace Building Network represents an important step towards pushing for a radical shift in women’s leadership and participation in conflict prevention, resolution, and peacebuilding in Lebanon. Aligned with identified priorities, this initiative takes center stage in the UN Secretary-General’s report on the Security Council Resolution 1325 in October and the New Agenda for Peace.

The Secretary-General’s report paints a concerning picture, underscoring our shared responsibility to reverse trends and prevent any regression in the hard-fought progress of women’s rights, gender equality, and peace, both globally and in Lebanon. Two main points to highlight here:

• Women continue to face entrenched barriers to participate in peace and political processes. Globally, women only count for 16% representation in conflict party delegations in UN-led or co-led peace processes – a gradual decline from 19% in 2021 and 23% in 2020.
• Women’s organizations are under attack, and they struggle to find resources while military spending continues to grow every year.

The same trends are mimicked in Lebanon. The country holds a low score on the 2023 Global Peace Index, and women’s representation in elected bodies is at a record low, ranking 144 out of 146 countries.[1] 

Historically, Lebanese women have systematically been excluded from formal negotiations in political processes – from the Ta’if Accords in 1989 to the National Dialogue Committee in 2010. No women were represented, although Lebanon was the first country in the Arab region to grant women the right to vote in 1952. 

Amid these challenges, Lebanon has made commendable strides in advancing women’s role in matters pertaining to peace and security. I will name a few:

• Under the leadership of the National Commission for Lebanese Women, Lebanon established its first National Action Plan on UN Security Council Resolution 1325 in 2019, setting benchmarks to include women in peacebuilding processes and recognizing their leadership in conflict prevention, governance, security sector and peacebuilding. A new plan is underway. 
• There are more than 20 functioning local women peacebuilding and mediation groups in the county, engaging hundreds of women across different age groups, geographic areas, and political and religious affiliations. These groups tirelessly implement community-focused initiatives nationwide, that promote conflict prevention and reconciliation. Investing in these local women groups is critical for building robust infrastructures for peace.
• Lebanon also has more women across the officer level of the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) than most other UN member states. Actively striving to increase and retain women in their ranks, the LAF took a significant step by establishing a Gender Department in 2022 -- another milestone to be hailed.

Distinguished participants,

Tonight, we celebrate women’s leadership in peacebuilding – we celebrate your leadership. In my capacity as the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Lebanon, representing all my UN colleagues, I seek your expertise and support to realize our shared vision for this country – a vision of inclusivity, peace and prosperity. I also look forward to showcasing good practices of this network in my upcoming reporting. 

My sincere appreciation goes to the Ambassador of Switzerland for hosting this event and for spearheading support for this network's establishment. 

Equally, I thank the Ambassador of Finland for their pioneering role in Women, Peace, and Security, and for joining forces with the Government of Switzerland in advancing this network – building on the support you have provided to women’s role in local mediation.

A sincere appreciation to UN Women, the UN’s lead agency on women, peace, and security, for championing the cause in Lebanon, and around the world. Your work ensures that women's involvement in peace and development becomes the norm, not just an aspiration.

Lastly, a special salute to the women peacebuilders present with us today. Your unwavering commitment and determination in challenging times inspire us all.  Your contributions lay the groundwork for a more stable and peaceful Lebanon.

Thank you.