UN Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director of UN Women Concludes Official Visit to Lebanon
Date:
Beirut, Lebanon, 18 January 2026, UN Women Lebanon
UN Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director of UN Women, Dr. Sima Bahous, conducted an official visit to Lebanon from 14 to 16 January 2026, during which she reaffirmed UN Women’s steadfast commitment to supporting Lebanon at a critical moment marked by intersecting political, economic, and humanitarian challenges, while underscoring the central role of women’s leadership in recovery, stability, and peacebuilding.
UN Women Executive Director Dr. Sima Bahous meets H.E. President of the Lebanese Republic Joseph Aoun, reaffirming the importance of women’s leadership and inclusive governance for Lebanon’s recovery. © Lebanese Presidency
Dr. Bahous stated:
“Being in Lebanon today holds special meaning for me. This is a country dear to my heart, one that has long been a space for diversity and dialogue. Despite the significant challenges it faces, Lebanon continues to demonstrate a genuine capacity for resilience and renewal. During this visit, I sensed a strong feeling of shared responsibility and a real determination to work toward the next phase.”
She added:
“UN Women reaffirms its strong commitment to partnering with Lebanon in advancing its development trajectory and women’s empowerment in the coming phase - one we all hope will usher in recovery and reconstruction. We firmly believe that sustainable progress cannot be achieved without the full, equal and meaningful participation of women, not only as beneficiaries of policies, but as partners in shaping them, decision makers in their adoption, and leaders in their implementation.”
Dr. Sima Bahous meets H.E. Prime Minister Nawaf Salam to discuss advancing women’s rights, leadership, and participation in policy reform as a foundation for sustainable recovery. Photo: UN Women / Georges Roukoz
During the visit, the Executive Director met with H.E. President of the Lebanese Republic Joseph Aoun, H.E. Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, and senior officials, where discussions emphasized shared priorities related to women’s rights and leadership, and the importance of ensuring women’s full and effective participation in decision-making, policy formulation, and reform implementation as a prerequisite for sustainable recovery. She also welcomed the increased representation of women in the current Cabinet and noted the gradual progress in women’s participation at the municipal level as an important indicator of inclusive governance.
Dr. Bahous expressed UN Women’s solidarity with the Lebanese people amid the country’s compounded crises, underscoring that women and girls continue to bear a disproportionate share of the impacts of conflict and crisis. She highlighted the need for policies and responses that address their specific needs and strengthen their economic and social security.
Dr. Sima Bahous meets First Lady Nehmat Aoun, President of NCLW, as UN Women Lebanon signs a new MoU advancing gender equality and the Women, Peace and Security agenda. Photo: UN Women / Georges Roukoz
The Executive Director also met with H.E. First Lady of Lebanon Ms. Nehmat Aoun, President of the National Commission for Lebanese Women (NCLW), alongside Vice President Ambassador Sahar Baassiri Salam and members of the Executive Board, commending the Commission’s pivotal role in advancing national efforts to promote gender equality and women’s empowerment. The visit also witnessed the signing of a new Memorandum of Understanding between UN Women and the NCLW, marking a significant step forward in their strategic partnership and strengthening cooperation on gender equality, legislative reform, women’s economic empowerment, and the Women, Peace and Security agenda.
As part of the visit, Dr. Bahous participated in a roundtable discussion with women civil society leaders, underscoring the importance of advancing women’s rights and leadership alongside efforts to restore stability, and recognizing the crucial role of feminist civil society in shaping national priorities and Lebanon engagement at regional and global platforms.
During a field visit to Access Kitchen in Mar Mikhael, Dr. Sima Bahous highlights community-led initiatives advancing the economic inclusion of women, including women with disabilities. Photo: UN Women / Georges Roukoz
On the ground, the Executive Director Bahous visited Access Kitchen in Mar Mikhael, highlighting successful community-led models of change. She observed initiatives promoting the economic participation and social inclusion of women with disabilities, and met with Ms. Sylvana Lakkis, commending her leadership of the Lebanese Union for People with Physical Disabilities and its approach to empowering women, advancing their economic inclusion, and safeguarding their rights.
The Executive Director also held coordination meetings with senior UN leadership, including the UN Deputy Special Coordinator, Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Lebanon, Mr. Imran Riza, and the Acting Executive Secretary of ESCWA, Mr. Mourad Wahba. The discussions focused on strengthening coordination between humanitarian response and recovery efforts, while ensuring that gender equality and women’s leadership remain central to all responses.
At the conclusion of the visit, the Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director reaffirmed that UN Women will continue to stand with Lebanon - supporting reforms, strengthening good governance, and championing women’s role as a driving force for recovery, stability, and sustainable peace.