Outcome LBN_D_3.2

Strengthened security, stability, justice, and social peace.

The program contributed to strengthened security, social stability, and pathways to justice in Lebanon by reinforcing community-based conflict prevention, gender-responsive humanitarian action, and rights-based dialogue on memory, accountability, and non-recurrence. Through the expansion and sustained engagement of the national network of 73 Women Local Mediators, communities across conflict-affected and displacement settings increased their capacity to manage tensions, resolve disputes, and promote social cohesion, reinforcing trust between community members, local authorities, and security actors. Gender- and conflict-sensitive approaches were further institutionalized within humanitarian delivery systems through the partnership with the World Food Programme. 24 Frontline women workers and five implementing partners strengthened their ability to prevent and de-escalate tensions during assistance delivery, while women mediators played an active role in monitoring distributions and addressing grievances in real time. The development and dissemination of operational guidance, including the case study “Women Local Mediators Lead Tension Management in Food Assistance Across Displacement and Recovery Settings in Lebanon” and the tip sheet “Gender-Responsive and Conflict-Sensitive Food Distributions,” supported the uptake of good practices across humanitarian and social stability actors, contributing to safer and more accountable service delivery in volatile contexts. At the community level, 24 women mediators and 49 women peace leaders strengthened inclusive dialogue and local problem-solving through initiatives that addressed digital safety, electoral tensions, municipal engagement, violent extremism, and family and commercial disputes. These processes elevated women’s leadership as legitimate peace actors, increased access to mediation and psychosocial support, and supported the peaceful resolution of conflicts (including 14 food security-related tensions in Aley, Beirut, and South Lebanon during aid and food distributions), contributing to improved community resilience and social cohesion. The publication and community-based piloting of “Transforming Family Dynamics: A Handbook to Enhancing the Role of Women in Conflict Prevention and Local Mediation in South Lebanon” further strengthened awareness of gender-based violence, promoted healthier family dynamics, and reinforced the role of women mediators in preventing and resolving conflicts at the household and community levels. Progress toward justice and non-recurrence was advanced through national and regional platforms on dealing with the past, the missing and forcibly disappeared, and gender-sensitive historical narratives. Engagement with national commissions, civil society, educators, and academic institutions strengthened public awareness, multi-perspective learning, and policy dialogue on truth, memory, and accountability, benefitting at least 5,663 individuals, in cooperatoin with the WFP (53.4% female and 46.6% male). Educational initiatives, including the launch of Lebanon’s first gender-focused university course, “Education for Justice: A Gender-Transformative Course on the Missing and Disappeared,” and the dissemination of gender-sensitive history teaching modules, contributed to embedding these principles within formal and informal learning spaces, supporting longer-term cultural shifts toward peaceful conflict resolution and respect for human rights. Building on these foundations, the Women Peacebuilders Network in Lebanon strengthened cross-border and inter-institutional collaboration through its engagement with the Syrian women-led platform Space for Collaboration , reinforcing regional dialogue and collective action on peace processes, public participation, and documentation and memory. These linkages supported a more coordinated and inclusive peacebuilding ecosystem, contributing to sustained efforts to enhance security, stability, justice, and social peace across diverse Lebanese contexts.

Strengthened security, stability, justice, and social peace.

During 2024, UN Women continued its efforts to advance the Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) agenda in Lebanon despite the significant challenges facing the country, working both at the policy level and within communities in line with the Humanitarian-Development-Peace Nexus approach. Activities originally planned under the WPS project were adapted to the risks and challenges arising throughout the year, while women peacebuilders and mediators stepped up their role to lead in social cohesion and humanitarian actions across the country. This includes enabling women mediators directly affected by the conflict (coming from the areas of South Lebanon, Beirut and Bekaa) to have access to protection emergency cash assistance. As a result, the impact of the escalation on women mediators was mitigated, as they could travel to safer areas, pay for emergency rent and buy necessary medication, clothes and food. At national level, the National Commission of Lebanese Women (NCLW) continued its work to develop, implement and evaluate the National Action Plan (NAP) on UNSCR 1325, and the Presidency of the Council of Ministers mandated NCLW work on a second NAP, demonstrating the value of the first. The NAP is a nationally-led and nationally-owned tool to advance policy, legislation and advocacy issues related to the status of women in Lebanon, in line with UN Security Council Resolution 1325 and its four pillars (participation, protection, prevention, relief and recovery). The commitment to develop a second NAP is a significant result and recognition of the wider political commitment to advancing the WPS agenda in Lebanon across the political specturm - as Lebanon was facing two years of political instability, the caretaker government could have stalled on this issue and not demanded an immediate renewal of the NAP. Seven national institutions demonstrated commitment to the validation and implementation of the WPS agenda in Lebanon; three ministries developed plans in line with the NAPs’ logical frameworks; and four civil society actors meaningfully participated in, influenced and monitored the implementation of WPS commitments in Lebanon through collaborating with NCLW. Following its launch in 2024, the Women Peacebuilding Network in Lebanon (WPNL) expanded its membership from 17 to 35 women peacebuilders paving the way for a subsequent shift from a community of practice to a full-fledged advocacy body. WPNL statements and appeals during the war promoted the voices of women peacebuilders and advocated for priorities at the core of the country’s peace efforts. Additionally, WPNL contributed to the development of NAP II through two targeted consultations with NCLW. At community level, a total of 134 women mediators and peacebuilders from across the country had more opportunities to participate and lead in social cohesion and conflict prevention efforts as a result of this project. Women mediators also played a crucial role in the humanitarian response as the war in Lebanon erupted, bridging the gaps between immediate relief efforts, long-term development goals, and peacebuilding initiatives, while ensuring that solutions are more inclusive, sustainable, and effective. Finally, forty-four (44) women benefited from emergency cash assistance for protection issues arising from the conflict and displacement. This is a result of UN Women being able to recognize emerging priorities as a result of the escalation, and, in agreement with the donor, adapt its programming to provide an immediate response.

Strengthened security, stability, justice, and social peace.

In 2023, progress was made towards strengthening security, stability, justice and social peace. Achievements included 1) more than 3900 targeted individuals (3318 adult women, 143 men, 511 individuals of diverse SOGIESC, and 5 girls) across Lebanon increasing in their capacities and knowledge to participate in peacebuilding efforts across the country through the efforts of 24 women-led grassroot civil society organization supported by the Women’s Peace and Humanitarian Fund (WPHF); 2) 306 women across 20 women peacebuilding and mediation groups reaffirmed their commitments to promoting sustainable peace; and 3) 25 senior women from Traditional Political Parties (TPP) and Emerging Political Movements (EPM) engaged in a dialogue process. A total of 306 women across 20 women peacebuilding and mediation groups reaffirmed their commitments to promoting sustainable peace and human security through leading inclusive political dialogue processes and reconciliation and mediation processes at the national and subnational levels through UN Women’s support. These women reported changes in their personal views and levels of trust and understanding with women from different backgrounds because of their engagement in peacebuilding processes. In addition, at the national level, 25 senior women from Traditional Political Parties (TPP) and Emerging Political Movements (EPM) engaged in a dialogue process characterized as an informal, inclusive, safe space for women political actors oriented towards a “stable and reconciled Lebanon” (vision set by the women political actors). The dialogue process is a) political dialogue table where women political actors meet with key policy stakeholders to discuss and shape policies relates to peace and security that is relevant towards a stable and reconciled Lebanon; and b) a knowledge and skills space, which offers women political actors the possibility to increase their knowledge on issues discussed at the dialogue table related to civil peace and security in addition to relevant skills, such as negotiation Through the WPHF, 24 women-led grassroot civil society organization working on women participation and peacebuilding enhanced their role in advocating for and ensuring accountability on Women Peace and Security commitments. More than 3900 targeted individuals (3318 adult women, 143 men, 511 individuals of diverse SOGIESC, and 5 girls) across Lebanon witnessed an increase in their capacities and knowledge to participate in peacebuilding efforts across the country. As a result. these women created 17 committees in South Lebanon and west Bekaa to implement initiatives responding to the needs of their communities, three clubs promoting debate as a medium to resolve conflicts and conducting peacebuilding initiatives and one safe space that served as medium for people of diverse SOGIESC to participate and include their voices in the national discourse of peacebuilding, stability and security. Furthermore, Syrian and Lebanese women created and performed original theatre plays focusing on women role in justice, social cohesion, and social peace.