CAROLINNE BAZZI

Beirut - National Commission For Lebanese Women (NCLW) President Claudine Aoun spoke to our news agency about the organization’s works. In June, the NCLW held “Women's Entrepreneurship and Women's Empowerment Forum” and the aim of the NCLW is to encourage the economic empowerment of women with the contributions of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization.

“The rate of women’s participation in the labor force is below 30%”

Although the NCLW has worked to increase the number of women in the labor force for more than 10 years, the rate of women’s participation in the labor force is below 30%, Claudine Aoun said, “Gender equality hasn’t been achieved in education.” In 1994, Lebanese women were granted the right to work without their husband's permission, “There is no concrete or legal reason to prevent Lebanese women from entering entrepreneurship. But there is no economic support for women to start a business, either. Financial opportunities offered to women are not enough for women to start a business.”

“We will organize activities to raise awareness”

In 2020, the Ministry of Social Affairs in Lebanon launched its 2020-2027 Strategic Plan for the Protection of Women and Children in partnership with UNICEF to prevent child marriage, child labor, and violence against girls, boys, and women in Lebanon. “As NCLW, we will organize awareness-raising activities for combating gender-based violence. We have already carried out many works for women and achieved significant gains,” Claudine Aoun told our news agency.

Lebanese nationality law

Talking about Lebanese nationality law, Claudine Aoun said the Lebanese Parliament expanded the scope of a law penalizing domestic violence, as a result of their works. “The expansion of the scope of the law paves the way for the punishment of perpetrators, who inflict domestic violence. We have also carried out works in cooperation with the security forces and NGOs against violence.”

“More women have taken part in decision-making processes”

Claudine Aoun also talked about women’s participation in politics. “More women have taken part in decision-making processes in Lebanon recently because there are six female ministers in the government.  We should also note that half of the members of the judicial branch are women.”

Who is Claudine Aoun?

Claudine Aoun is the daughter of the Lebanese President Michel Aoun. She is a senior communications expert who was engaged for more than 20 years in political advocacy, media, entrepreneurship, as well as environmental and women rights activism. She holds a master's degree in Cinematographic and Audio-visual Studies from the Sorbonne University in Paris. She is the president of the National Commission for Lebanese Women, where she works to empower Lebanese women, protect their rights, as well as to ensure their effective participation in society. She is also an environmental activist who is working on several important matters of which protecting migratory birds as well as preserving the environment and ensuring its cleanliness.