Support Lebanese Women's Right to Nationality: Letter to the Prime Minister

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Mr. Fouad Siniora
Prime Minister of Lebanon
Ryad Soloh St. - Palace bldg
Lebanon
Fax: +961-1-865630/+961-980500

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Dear Sir:

I am writing in solidarity with women's groups in Lebanon to express my support for women's right to nationality.  Women's equal citizenship rights are protected by the Lebanese Constitution and by international law, including the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women. Yet women in Lebanon cannot confer their nationality to non-national spouses or to their children.

The current state of the law discriminates against women and undermines their status as equal citizens. Until women are recognized as full nationals and citizens in Lebanon, they cannot participate fully in the development of their families, communities, and societies, nor claim their rights in other areas of life.

Furthermore Lebanese women with dual-nationality families suffer a great deal because they are unable to confer their nationality to their spouses and children. In particular, their children are considered foreigners in their home country, required to obtain residence permits, and limited in their access to healthcare, higher education, and employment. This creates a great deal of family stress and unhappiness.

I urge you to advocate for the reform of nationality law in Lebanon to ensure:

• Legal reform enabling women to confer their nationality to their husbands and children without condition
• Full implementation of reformed nationality laws and equal access to these laws for all women
• Recognition of women as equal citizens in all areas of life

Please put women's nationality rights high on your agenda, recognizing women as equal citizens, and ending the suffering of dual nationality families.

Sincerely,