Lebanon marks 25 years of the Women, Peace and Security agenda with the launch of a new documentary showcasing women’s leadership in times of crisis

Tyre, Lebanon – 16 October 2025
UN Women Lebanon in partnership with the Union of Tyre Municipalities and INITIATE, and with the generous support of the Government of the Republic of Korea, hosted the screening of the documentary “Beneath Our Battles.” The event took place as part of the commemoration of the 25^th anniversary of the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 (2000) - under the global theme “Women Lead, Peace Follows.”

UN Women Lebanon and partners came together in Tyre to mark 25 years of #WomenPeaceSecurity and honor women’s leadership in peacebuilding.

Directed by Reem Al Mohtar and produced by INITIATE in partnership with UN Women, under the “Seeds of Sour” project implemented in Tyre with funding from the Governments of Austria and the Republic of Korea, the documentary captures powerful stories of women in South Lebanon who, during the 2024 conflict, sustained and supported their communities amid displacement and loss. Through their voices, “Beneath Our Battles” reveals the strength, leadership, and peacebuilding role of women who carried their communities through crisis and are now rebuilding their lives beyond it.

UN Women’s Seeds of Sour project adopts an innovative approach that goes beyond traditional food assistance by integrating local food production with humanitarian aid to address both immediate needs and long-term resilience from the onset of crises. It empowers displaced populations, particularly women, to participate actively in food production, enhance nutrition and food diversity, and promote agroecological practices that strengthen sustainability and community recovery. Through targeted training, women learned agroecological methods that they can apply when they return to their lands, and acquired leadership skills, ensuring they remain central actors in post-crisis recovery and peacebuilding.

Dr. Inaya Ezzeddine addresses the audience during the screening of Beneath Our Battles in Tyre. Photo: UN Women Lebanon

Ms. Gielan Elmessiri, UN Women Representative in Lebanon, emphasized the importance of sustaining women’s voices and leadership at the heart of recovery and peace efforts: “Women’s role should not be confined to resilience in the face of crises; it must also encompass participating in shaping the future and in public policymaking. When women are in decision-making positions, and at the very heart of economic, social, and environmental processes, recovery becomes faster, more equitable, and sustainable”. She noted that women in South Lebanon demonstrate extraordinary resilience, and that initiatives such as Seeds of Sour embody the Women, Peace and Security agenda by linking women’s economic empowerment with sustainable local recovery.

Echoing these reflections, H.E. Mr. Geon Gyusuk, Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to Lebanon, reaffirmed Korea’s commitment to advancing women’s leadership in crisis response and recovery: “We remain committed to working hand in hand with Lebanon, UN partners, and local communities to advance the Women, Peace and Security agenda and to ensure that women’s voices continue to shape the peace and development of this country.”

UNIFIL’s Korean Battalion joined the screening of “Beneath Our Battles” in Tyre. Photo: UN Women Lebanon

Dr. Inaya Ezzeddine, Chair of the Women and Child Committee, and National Convener for Food Systems Transformation in Lebanon, reflected that the documentary mirrors the lived realities of women who have carried peace through crisis: “Even in the harshest of circumstances, human dignity and women’s dignity in particular remains a red line that cannot be crossed.
Women who face war, loss, and displacement do not only need support and relief; they need initiatives that respect their humanity and dignity initiatives in which women are involved not merely as beneficiaries, but as partners and decision-makers”.

Mr. Hassan Dbouk, President of the Union of Tyre Municipalities, underscored the importance of local leadership in recognizing women’s contributions to community resilience and peacebuilding: “Human compassion remains the bond that unites all members of society in the pursuit of good, no matter how different their backgrounds may be. In the face of tragedy and the cruelty of war, the commitment of those who stand with people becomes a gentle light, softening pain, restoring dignity, and offering solidarity to those who suffer. We wish peace for the world. Every person deserves to live in peace. We hope that the days ahead will grant us the chance to continue working hand in hand with communities, in conditions more humane and hopeful than those of the past."

Mr. Tarek Moneim, Executive Director of INITIATE, who highlighted the role of civil society in documenting women’s experiences and amplifying their voices, said: “In a time when homes shake under the weight of war and the days grow harsh on people, women remain the living memory—and the last wall that does not fall.”

Following the screening, a panel discussion brought together women peacebuilders and community leaders from South Lebanon. The panel discussion addressed the gendered impact of the war in South Lebanon, exploring how women and girls have been uniquely affected by conflict, displacement, and loss, while also highlighting their resilience, solidarity, and leadership in sustaining their families and communities. It provided a space for women to share personal experiences, coping strategies, and community-based solutions, and to voice their priorities and messages to decision-makers on how to better protect and support women and girls in times of crisis.

The event reaffirmed a powerful truth: Lebanon’s path to peace is inseparable from women’s leadership. The voices and experiences shared in Tyre echo the enduring vision of the Women, Peace and Security agenda — that sustainable peace can only be achieved when women are equal partners in preventing conflict, shaping recovery, and building the future.

After the screening, participants explored the Photoville exhibition “Through Her Lens: Women Rising for Peace.” Photo: UN Women Lebanon

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For media inquiries: Roula Rached, Communications and Advocacy Specialist, UN Women Lebanon, [ Click to reveal ]