Woman laws at Lebanon
Here’s a clear and updated overview of women’s legal rights and protections in Lebanon, based on the most recent information:
1. Constitutional Equality & Political Rights
Lebanon’s Constitution (Article 7) asserts equality under the law for all citizens yet does not explicitly prohibit gender discrimination, leading to gaps in equal rights protection
Women were granted the right to vote in 1952, later than men (1947), and the literacy requirement for voting (dropped in 1957) disproportionately affected them
2. Personal Status Laws & Sectarian System
Personal matters—marriage, divorce, custody, inheritance—are governed by 15 separate religious laws, each enforced by their own religious courts. These significantly vary by sect and often discriminate against women
For instance, Muslim women typically receive half the inheritance of men, while Christian women lose inheritance rights if they marry outside their faith
Citizenship laws are also discriminatory: a Lebanese woman cannot automatically pass nationality to her foreign spouse or children, unlike a Lebanese man
3. Protecting Women from Violence & Sexual Crimes
Article 522 of the Penal Code, which allowed rapists to evade punishment by marrying their victims, was repealed in 2017, following a powerful campaign by activists (e.g. ABAAD’s “A White Dress Doesn’t Cover the Rape”)
In 2014, Lebanon passed the Law on Protection of Women and Family Members from Domestic Violence (Law No. 293), introducing measures such as restraining orders, shelters, and legal aid—but it remains limited in scope and excludes considerations like marital rape
The 2020 amendment (Law No. 205) criminalizes some forms of sexual harassment and psychological and economic abuse, yet marital rape remains unaddressed, and implementation is weak
4. Gender Representation & Political Quotas
Women's political representation remains low: in 2023, women made up only 21% of cabinet positions, and parliament seats remain disproportionately male
In December 2023, MPs signed a gender quota proposal for municipal elections with support from UNDP and FiftyFifty, aiming to boost women’s political involvement
5. Citizenship & Nationality Discrimination
Despite having ratified CEDAW in 1997, Lebanon retains reservations on key articles (such as nationality and family rights), which limits women's civil rights and nationality transmission
Human Rights Watch recommends Lebanon enact a civil personal status law and reform citizenship rules so women can equally pass nationality to their children
6. Child Marriage
Child marriage remains legal in many religious communities, with minimum marriage age varying by sect, and in some cases below 18. The Islamic Sharia Council raised the minimum to 18 in 2021 for Muslims, but civil law hasn’t been reformed
Advocacy groups emphasize the need for a national ban on child marriage and uniform marriage age for all citizens
7. Migrant Domestic Workers & the Kafala System
The Kafala system binds migrant domestic workers (mostly women) to their sponsors, preventing them from leaving or changing employers without consent. These workers are excluded from labor protections and vulnerable to abuse
They are not covered by family violence laws or the Labor Code, compounding their vulnerability
8. Advocacy & Institutional Support
Despite challenging structural barriers, several NGOs provide essential support:
ABAAD led the campaign to repeal Article 522.
Haqi Awrath supports women fighting inheritance disputes.
FiftyFifty and UNDP are actively pushing for gender quotas
Governmental bodies like the National Commission for Lebanese Women (NCLW) exist but wield limited power and resources
Summary Table
| Domain | Current Status & Challenges |
|---|---|
| Constitutional Equality | Equality claimed but lacks explicit anti-discrimination clause |
| Personal Status Law System | Sect-based laws discriminate in divorce, inheritance, custody, and marriage |
| Domestic & Sexual Violence | Reforms enacted, but marital rape and loopholes remain |
| Rape Law Repeal | Article 522 repealed in 2017 after landmark activism |
| Gender Representation | Low female political representation; quotas proposed |
| Child Marriage Wells | Legal under some sects; Muslim communities raised legal age to 18; civil law lagging |
| Citizenship Disparities | Women cannot pass nationality to spouse/children; CEDAW reservations remain |
| Migrant Workers Rights | Experienced exploitation under Kafala; lack of legal protection |
| Advocacy & Institutional Effort | NGOs active, but government bodies under-resourced and often symbolic |
Lebanon has seen notable legal reforms—such as ending the “marry-your-rapist” clause and passing domestic violence and sexual harassment laws—but deep-rooted structural and sectarian systems continue to hinder women’s full legal equality. Major gaps remain in personal status laws, citizenship rights, enforcement, and protections for vulnerable groups like migrant workers.
Let me know if you'd like to explore one of these topics further—like inheritance reform, civil code efforts, or comparative regional laws.
RELATED Blog
0 comments