political participation

In its meeting of 12 December 2011, the current Cabinet endorsed a draft law to reinstate Lebanese nationality to emigrants of Lebanese descent.  However, the draft law was endorsed after “minor modifications” according to the current Minister of Interior, Brigadier Marwan Charbel.  The “minor modification” was the specification that Lebanese descent shall be limited to fathers and grandfathers only - Not mothers or grandmothers.  The “minor modification” is yet again further proof of Lebanon’s persistent patriarchal mindset which clearly considers citizenship to be a male attribute.WLP would like to share the following statement on behalf of the Arab Women's Right to Nationality Campaign in Lebanon, part of WLP's regional Claiming Equal Citizenship campaign.

On February 7-13, 2011, BAOBAB for Women's Human Rights held a political education training for young women in Kogi State, Nigeria, using WLP's political participation manual Leading to Action. The training promoted gender sensitive culture within academic institutions, shared the principles of horizontal leadership, promoted women's visibility and involvement in strategic decision making positions, and contributed to building the self-esteem and confidence of participants to act as leaders in challenging situations.