Women, Religion and Human Rights in Lebanon
In Lebanon, there is no secular family law. Instead, religious communities each have their own set of family laws, often discriminating against women and children. Danmission works with local partners to promote dialogue and push for reforms that strengthen equal rights – regardless of religion or gender.
Promoting women’s rights and pushing for reforms in Lebanon
Lebanon’s legal system is built on 15 separate sets of family laws, each tied to a religious community. While this pluralism reflects the country’s diversity, it also creates inequality. Across all traditions, women and children face unequal treatment, and many families experience uncertainty in matters of marriage, divorce, inheritance and custody.
Together with our partner Adyan Foundation, Danmission engages religious leaders, ecclesiastical judges, and civil lawyers in dialogue and reform processes. The collaboration raises awareness of the challenges women and children – both Christians and Muslims – face under the current legislation and builds the foundation for change.
It is beautiful to see that we can reach common ground. People fear what they don’t know. When we meet and get to know each other, all the stereotypes vanish.
Building dialogue and reform
Through dialogue sessions, religious and civil judges from across Lebanon meet to address sensitive issues of family law. The project has facilitated discussions on possible reforms and contributed to the drafting of proposals aimed at strengthening respect for human rights and women’s rights within existing frameworks.
Saja Abou Zeid from the Lebanese women’s rights organisation Abaad explains:
We have seen that some religious courts have already implemented reforms, and we hope others will be inspired to follow. Change does not happen overnight, but we can start with small steps – such as putting the best interests of the child first in legislation.
Our Impact
With our project, civil judges, legal experts, and religious leaders have been engaged in reform discussions and draft proposals have been developed to inform parliament and religious courts. We launched a nationwide advocacy campaign reaching broad public audiences and engaged 12 universities to raise awareness and strengthen legal expertise on personal status laws.
0
religious communities included in dialogue on personal status laws
0
law students participated in a Moot Court on personal status laws
0
religious leaders and judges engaged in roundtable discussions
0
legal and procedural reform recommendations drafted
Part of a bigger change
Our work in Lebanon is part of Danmission’s work for peace, democracy and interfaith dialogue. Together with partners across the Middle East, East Africa, and Asia, we support inclusive governance and democratic participation for groups living in marginalisation.
Learn about our work on Peace & Democracy here.