Lebanon WILPF Speaks: Join the February 9 Webinar!
Published on February, 35 2021
Women inside an abandoned construction site occupied by Syrian refugees in Saida, Lebanon in October 2015. Photo credit: Richard Juilliart / Shutterstock.com.
By Nada Farhat, Tura Campanella Cook, Theresa El-Amin, and George Friday
Middle East Peace & Justice Action Committee
February 2021
“Lebanon WILPF Speaks: Challenges and Hope,” a webinar featuring Diala Chehade, Hala Kilani, Shirine Jurdi, and Ferial Abu Hamdan, will be held on Tuesday February 9, 2021 at 9 am Pacific / 12 noon Eastern / 7 pm Lebanon. [Note the unique time!]
In this webinar, you will be able to hear directly from our distinguished sisters in WILPF Lebanon. The Lebanon section, established in 1962, has played a pivotal role in formulating WILPF policy statements on the Middle East for nearly 60 years. Lebanon today is challenged by local impacts of war, political instability, and government corruption. Some of the topics that will be discussed include:
- How does WILPF Lebanon bring the voices of women into decision-making at national and international levels?
- What is the role of US foreign policy in the crises facing Lebanon?
- How can we build solidarity?
Send questions in advance for the speakers to LebanonWebinar@gmail.com
Speaker Bios
Our four speakers come with vast experience in human rights, gender equity and equality, climate action, and peace and disarmament advocacy.
L to R: Diala Chehade, Hala Kilani, Shirine Jurdi, Ferial Abu Hamdan. All photos used by permission of speaker.
- Diala Chehade - Attorney in Beirut advocating for human rights protection
- Hala Kilani - Senior Communication officer at the Climate Action Network
- Shirine Jurdi - WILPF MENA International Board Representative, Global Partnership for the Prevention of Armed Conflict MENA Liaison, Campaign to Stop Killer Robots team leader
- Ferial Abu Hamdan - a past member of The Lebanese Council of Women who has served as Vice President of WILPF Lebanon and as a representative to WILPF's International Board
Lebanon Hosts Huge Number of Refugees
Lebanon, with a population of 5.5 million, hosts the largest number of displaced persons per capita in the world: one in every four people is a refugee. The Syrian war has spilled over to Lebanon for years and the tension between Israel and Iran is a dance of horror tormenting every Lebanese, regardless of religion or political affiliation. People in Lebanon are longing for peace and prosperity in their homeland.
In June 2020, the United Nations Refugee Agency reported on the dire living conditions for Syrian refugees and how they had worsened with the COVID-19 pandemic: See "Economic Misery Engulfs Syrian Refugees and Their Hosts" by Walid Saleh and Warda Al-Jawahiry.
According to a United Nations Population Fund report on the Lebanon Humanitarian Emergency, struggles between refugees and their host communities are causing deteriorating living conditions and compounding the economic crisis in Lebanon.
Register here for the Zoom webinar to learn more and discover how you can join in solidarity with our WILPF sisters in Lebanon.
