Lebanese Advocate for Intersectional Rights
Access to and education about sexual and reproductive rights is stigmatized and at times withheld from Lebanon’s most marginalized populations, such as low-income families, refugees, migrant workers, young victims of trafficking and people with disabilities. For the first time ever, Lebanese civil society organizations (CSOs) submitted a joint intersectional report to the United Nations Universal Periodic Review (UPR) that considered these human rights violations.
The "PATH Coalition: Power in Inclusion and Diversity," comprised of diverse CSOs under the International Foundation for Electoral Systems’ (IFES) “Identify, Interpret and Respond” project, completed a report for the UPR mechanism, which provides an opportunity for civil society to report on human rights conditions through the submission of shadow reports.
In partnership with the Arab Institute for Human Rights, IFES sponsored a series of workshops focusing on the UPR process and provided the platform for participants to identify an intersectional issue area and build consensus around their key recommendations. Their report documents the shortcomings of Lebanon’s legal framework and provides 13 recommendations to government stakeholders, including a call to develop a comprehensive national strategy.
“Sexual and reproductive rights are interrelated and linked to all human rights; whether civil, political, economic, social or cultural.” – Introduction to the PATH Coalition’s report
The training and development of the UPR occurred prior to the COVID-19 outbreak in Lebanon; however, the pandemic delayed the UPR Working Group’s 37th session. On January 18, 2021, the opening day of the session, the working group reviewed the findings of the shadow reports from Lebanon, including this report submitted on behalf of 19 CSOs representing the rights of women, refugees, youth, persons with disabilities and the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) community.
To read the report, visit the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights website. Arabic and English editions are available for download next to “LUPD - Lebanese Union for People with Physical Disabilities.”
Published on January 26, 2021.
