Lebanon recorded 70 points out of 100 in the 2021 Regional Index on VAWG. Lebanon seeks to combat VAWG by conducting a series of general, legal, and service-related reforms at all levels. Lebanon ratified the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW). However, there are still reservations to articles: 9, 16, and 29. Also, the Constitution does not prohibit discrimination based on sex explicitly.
Despite the absence of a comprehensive law on VAWG, Lebanon has other laws for tackling different forms of VAWG such as the law No. 293/2014 on the protection of women and other family members from domestic violence, and the law 205 on criminalising sexual harassment and rehabilitation of victims. However, the approaches of criminalisation of perpetrators, protection, and prevention are scattered in different laws.
Women’s protection is within the powers of many national bodies and institutions, most prominently the National Commission for Lebanese Women (NCLW). NCLW also leads the national awareness-raising campaigns on combating VAWG.
The National Strategy for Gender Equality (2017-2030) was adopted as an action plan to combat all forms of VAWG, in all fields, and in cooperation with several ministries including the Ministries of Justice, Foreign Affairs, and Social Affairs, as well as a number of concerned Civil Society Organisations (CSOs).
Lebanon government cooperates with CSOs for providing shelters for women victims of VAWG. There are cooperation mechanisms established between police, shelters, hospitals, courts/judiciaries, ministries, and civil society.
For more information, please download Lebanon National Report