Women Essential Partners in Recovery and Reconstruction Phases
Date:
In light of the ongoing crises our country, Lebanon, is experiencing and the violation of its sovereignty, particularly during the brutal aggression that escalated in September 2024, which inflicted casualties, massive displacement and destruction, the Women Peace Building Network in Lebanon calls for adopting a comprehensive approach to recovery and reconstruction in Lebanon, based on the values of justice, inclusion, and sustainability. Lebanon's adoption of a National Action Plan that aligns with Security Council Resolution 1325, issued in 2000 on women, peace, and security, is a significant investment in building a more peaceful and stable future and serves as a practical roadmap that promotes justice and equality, enabling women to contribute effectively to nation-building.
Based on Resolution 1325, a pivotal tool for enhancing women’s role in peace and security building, we emphasize the need to adopt in reconstruction and recovery a comprehensive approach that includes strengthening women's participation in all stages of political and social decision-making, ensuring them an effective role in shaping the future, protecting women from all forms of violence, and providing a safe environment that enables them to realize their full potential, while adopting preventive strategies to avert future conflicts.
Implementing this approach is a fundamental pillar for establishing sustainable peace built on justice and social cohesion. Building genuine peace requires an honest and bold confrontation with the past in the face of the silence and erasure of memory that have exacerbated wounds and deepened divisions within society. Thus, a comprehensive review of past experiences and their acknowledgment represents an inevitable entry point for achieving sustainable internal peace that restores trust among the people of this nation and paves the way for building Lebanon on the foundations of justice, dignity, and fairness.
To achieve comprehensive and sustainable recovery, we demand:
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Family Recovery |
· Providing psychological, health, and logistical support to families, with special attention to the needs of women and children. · Integrating the specific needs of women into national recovery plans and ensuring their sustainability in future development plans. |
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Societal Recovery |
· Promoting the values of humanitarian solidarity and social relations that emerged during crises, transforming them into a lasting foundation for achieving social cohesion. · Confronting inciting rhetoric and hate speech, focusing on disseminating a national discourse that promotes peace, social cohesion, and respects human rights. |
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National Recovery |
· Committing to the unity of Lebanon and enhancing public trust in national institutions as a fundamental pillar for justice and stability. · Ensuring women's participation in the national dialogue, reflecting their experiences and effective roles in decision-making. · Enhancing the role of women in national initiatives, such as recruitment campaigns to increase the number of women joining the army and security institutions. · Empowering women in municipal councils to actively contribute to reconstruction efforts and ensure the establishment of a more inclusive and sustainable society. · Supporting organizations working in the fields of human rights, psychological support, and social cohesion to ensure the continuity of their role in building civil peace. |
We emphasize the necessity of adhering to Resolution 1325 as an essential tool to ensure women's participation as changemakers in building genuine and sustainable peace in Lebanon. This transitional phase represents a unique opportunity to establish a culture of reconciliation and social justice, turning challenges into pillars for building a nation that guarantees dignity and equality for all its sons and daughters.
Lebanon deserves peace.