Women’s Minister For Affairs Has Declared A National “Lebanese Women’s Day”

It wasn’t long ago that we were thrilled to learn that the government had announced a Ministry of State for Women’s Affairs, however, we were ridiculed worldwide after learning that our new minister was a man.

Last night it was announced that Lebanon will celebrate its first Lebanese Women’s Day on November 4th next year. On choosing this date, Jean Ogasapian, Women’s Minister for Affairs noted, “I chose Nov. 4 because on that day a decree was signed by the government giving women the right to vote for the first time.”

It is worth noting that Lebanese women gained the right to vote before Switzerland by almost twenty years. However, that was probably the only notable progression in terms of women’s rights since Lebanese independence in 1943, and currently, there is only one female minister and a few female MP’s.

From stay at home mothers, to women with families and full time jobs, this Lebanese Women’s Day aims to recognise and understand the “struggle of women in Lebanon”, noted Ogasapian, going on to say “we want to show what Lebanese women did for the country.”

Although a small step, it is indeed one in the right direction.

Minister Ogasapian is also fighting for a women’s quota in the new electoral law, and told The Daily Star, “Men should think about the obstacles they have [laid down] on the path of women that prevented them from reaching high places in society. Women are an added value and their presence would lead to better productivity in Parliament.”

And, let’s not forget what our now PM once told us:

Women are humanity’s better half and Lebanon would be a better place if ruled by women

— Saad Hariri (@saadhariri) March 8, 2014

Today marks a small, but reassuring victory for the Lebanese population, for all of our mothers, sisters, daughters, aunts, grandmothers and friends. Hand in hand with incredible organisations such as ABAAD and KAFA, we are witnessing small changes, in legislation, society and attitudes that move towards gender equality, acceptance and the protection of fundamental rights that should have been guaranteed a long, long time ago.

Main picture courtesy of AFP