Outcome LBN_D_3.1

Strengthened inclusive social contract grounded in human rights and justice to enhance good governance, effective and accountable institutions, and women's participation.

During 2023, UN women contributed to strengthening good governance, effective and accountable institutions, and women's participation. The main results included: Over 858 women increased their capacity to run for elections and two state institutions, the National Commission for Lebanese Women (NCLW) and Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF), scaled up efforts to advance the Lebanon National Action Plan (NAP) on Women Peace and Security (WPS). Over 858 women increased their knowledge on how to run for municipal elections. Under the WPP programme over 600 women from 26 districts strengthened their capacities on how to run campaigns and build constituencies at the community level with UN Women support, 64% of which report increased their knowledge. In addition, through the Women’s Peace and Humanitarian Fund (WPHF) 258 women increased their knowledge to run the municipal election of those 95% reported an increase in their knowledge on Governance, Municipal laws, Advocacy, campaigning, developing electoral programs. The targeted women demonstrated acquiring skills on the above-mentioned topics through forming 17 women committees, designing, planning and leading community event based on their assessment. NCLW adopted an evidence-based, inclusive approach to monitoring and evaluating the progress of the Lebanon NAP. To achieve this, NCLW conducted a desk-review to assess the achievements, challenges and learning from the implementation of the first NAP and to inform and advocate for the development of a second-generation NAP (2024-2028). In addition, NCLW established an online monitoring and reporting system using Activity Info to make data on the progress of the NAP accessible in a timely and a systematic manner and capture efforts by all actors. More than sixty (60) actors including UN agencies, unions, political parties, civil society organizations and up to forty (40) state entities contributed to reporting through this online system on their efforts to advance the NAP and the WPS agenda. LAF increased its commitment to gender equality and women’s rights. Commanders and officers of LAF have a framework to achieve gender-responsiveness and realize meaningful participation of women in the security sector and in peace operations, as a result of the LAF Gender Mainstreaming Strategy (GMS). The LAF Gender Department finalized the GMS and action plan, aligned with the Lebanon NAP for UNSCR 1325, which was endorsed by the Commander of the Lebanese Armed Forces in January 2024. In the development of the strategy, the LAF was supported by the LAF Gender Working Group, in which UN Women is an active member. Further to the above, the Lebanon CO provided substantive inputs on the situation of women’s rights in Lebanon to the Universal Periodic Review mid-term review for Lebanon as part of OHCHR compilation of credible information.

Strengthened inclusive social contract grounded in human rights and justice to enhance good governance, effective and accountable institutions, and women's participation.

In 2024, UN Women continued to work with all parts of the Lebanese society to strenghten social cohesion and contribute to good governance, effective and accountable institutions, as well as owmen's participation in decision-making processes. At community level, 387 women promoted peace and reconciliation in their communities and actively contributed to de-escalation of conflict. These women are very diverse and represent all Governorates in Lebanon (25% are below the age of 35 and 3.1% are with disability). During the Lebanon conflict in Q4, 85% of these women peacebuilders led humanitarian actions in their communities (half of them through Women Led Organizations) while contributing to reducing tensions between displaced and host communities . In January 2024, the Women Peacebuilding Network in Lebanon was officially launched, as the first ever women peacebuilding network in Lebanon, convening 35 women peacebuilders from all walks of life. The network's mandate was to act as a a community of practice that strengthens the role of its members but quickly evolved to become an advocacy platform. The WPNL issued two advocacy statements addressed to the UNSG, the international community in Lebanon and State entities demanding an immediate ceasefire and an inclusive recovery and reconstruction process after the Lebanon's conflict. Moreover, 25 women politicians participants in the women national political dialogue reported higher tolerance levels among each other and a commitment to preventing and de-escalating conflict in Lebanon through their political parties and influence. The Center for Research Education and Development at the Ministry of Education and Higher Education committed to a more gender inclusive history teaching. The curriculum review committee for history textbooks is being supported by UN Women and the Lebanese Association for History to incorporate new teaching modules on women and the history of Lebanon in the new textbooks. This process is important for transitional justice and a more inclusive society in Lebanon.