UNFPA Contributes to the 16 Days of Activism Against GBV Campaign

Type of News: News
Release Date: February 09, 2012

For the third consecutive year, UNFPA Lebanon contributed to the campaign and advocacy efforts led by KAFA (enough) Violence & Exploitation and the National Coalition for Legislating the Protection of Women from Family Violence, in partnership with the Danish Center on Gender, Equality and Ethnicity KVINFO, the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, Norwegian People's Aid, the Norwegian Embassy in Beirut, the Swedish organization Kvinna till Kvinna, UN Women, and UNDP. This year’s campaign was critical as the draft law for the protection of women from family violence supported by the National Coalition for Legislating the Protection of Women from Family Violence was under discussion by a sub-committee within the Parliament. However, was (and still is) fear that the draft law will be changed to weaken some of its provisions in response to the demands of an opposition campaign introduced by some religious groups.

Double Launch: SWOP 2011 and Statistical Booklet on “Lebanon in a World of 7 Billion: New Figures … Pending Issues”

Type of News: News
Release Date: January 16, 2012

In the context of the 7 Billion Campaign and in an effort to focus attention on the urgency of population issues and need to find solutions on the global and national levels, UNFPA Lebanon launched the State of World Population (SWOP) report 2011 as well as the national statistical booklet “Lebanon in a World of Seven Billion: New Figures … Pending Issues”, developed by the Population and Development Project (PD), a joint collaboration between the Ministry of Social Affairs (MOSA) and UNFPA Lebanon. This double event was held on December 12, in presence of the Minister of Social Affairs and UNFPA Representative, along with mass media coverage and participation.

Engaging the Media in Ending Gender Based Violence

Type of News: News
Release Date: January 16, 2012

Since 2008, UNFPA Lebanon has been collaborating with GBV actors in Lebanon to support national efforts for ensuring appropriate prevention of and response to GBV. Given the vital role of media in fighting GBV and building on findings and recommendations of four national studies on GBV completed in 2010, notably the “Assessment of Media Coverage of GBV issues in Lebanon”, UNFPA partnered with the Journalism Training Program at the American University of Beirut for organizing a training workshop in November targeting local media personnel from all types of media (print, electronic, audio-visual). The workshop aimed at enhancing the participants’ capacities to acquire the know-how, skills and approaches for investigating, analyzing and processing socially complex and taboo issues such as GBV from a human rights perspective.

A Multi-Faceted Campaign to Promote Awareness around Challenges of a World at 7 Billion

Type of News: News
Release Date: November 21, 2011

In the context of the 7 Billion Campaign, UNFPA Lebanon conducted a series of activities to focus attention on the urgency and importance of population issues in Lebanon.

Date of Birth: 31/10/2011, Name: Lebanese 7 Billionth Baby, Place: All of Lebanon

Type of News: News
Release Date: November 01, 2011

UNFPA Welcomes Newborns and Promotes Awareness on the Day of the 7 Bilion - On 31 October 2011, world population reached seven billion people. This is a unique moment in human history. It constitutes an achievement and a challenge at the same time. In a world of seven billion people live longer and healthier lives and couples choose to have smaller families. However a world of seven billion also brings on new challenges such as inequality, empowerment of youth and women, access to health services and environmental sustainability. What is certain is that October 31, the Day of the 7 Billion, provides a rare opportunity for a renewed commitment to a healthy and sustainable world.

Improving Media Approach to Women Health Issues

Type of News: News
Release Date: October 18, 2011

October 19, UNFPA Lebanon collaborated with the Lebanese Society for Obstetrics and Gynecology (LSOG) for organizing a roundtable on “Media Approach to Women Health Issues” with the objective of improving media coverage of women’s health issues in Lebanon. The event was organized in collaboration with the Ministry of Public Health and the Ministry of Information.

TANSEEQ for Ending GBV in Lebanon Newsletter Attracts Stakeholders’ Interest

Type of News: News
Release Date: August 01, 2011

Since its launching, TANSEEQ has been attracting and ever-growing interest. In a constant growth throughout the issues, the number of contributors reached 18 governmental, NGO and UN actors in the area of GBV, 2 of which are promising youth women NGOs newly entering the national scene.

Let’s Talk Campaign in Lebanon: a New Partnership Established

Type of News: News
Release Date: June 23, 2011

Planning for the Lebanese version of the Let’s Talk campaign just kicked off the ground. In May 2011, UNFPA Lebanon partnered with MASAR, a local NGO experienced in youth empowerment activities, for managing the campaign, in close collaboration with the national Y-PEER network. A young project coordinator was also recruited in June, to enhance manpower dedicated to such project.

Expanding Reproductive Health in School Based Extra Curricular Education: A Multi-Level Partnership

Type of News: News
Release Date: May 11, 2011

In May 2011, and building on previous collaboration with the Educational Center for Research and Development (ECRD) and the Ministry of Education and Higher Education (MEHE) and successful development and issuance of the Gender-Sensitive Life skills Reproductive Health Education curriculum in 2009, UNFPA Lebanon partnered with the Saint Joseph University (USJ) for expanding reproductive health (RH) in school-based extracurricular education.

Updating National Women's Strategy in Lebanon

Type of News: News
Release Date: March 19, 2011

The absence of an updated national women strategy reflecting emerging needs and priorities constitutes one of the main obstacles impeding a change in policies and laws to effectively establish gender equality in Lebanon. That was the main drive behind the thorough review and updating of the ten-year national women strategy by the National Commission for Lebanese Women (NCLW), with the support of UNFPA and in partnership with civic society, governmental and public administrations as well as grassroots organizations. After completion of a first draft in 2010, the ten-year National Women's Strategy in Lebanon was adopted in a national validation meeting held on 18-19 March and gathering representatives of some 65 organizations. Future UNFPA-supported steps will consist of the development of an operational plan of action in a participatory approach.

4 National Studies Provide Evidence for Better Response to Gender Based Violence

Type of News: News
Release Date: March 10, 2011

Since 2008, UNFPA has been leading the implementation of a project aiming at mainstreaming and institutionalizing Gender Based Violence (GBV) in national planning and development, with the support of the Government of Italy. The project specifically aims at developing performance and quality standards and protocols; identifying needs and gaps in referral, resources, and research; strengthening of coordination and knowledge sharing; supporting to the establishment of a monitoring system; as well as contributing to national advocacy efforts for ending violence.

Strengthening Reproductive Health and Maternal Health Services along Border Areas

Type of News: News
Release Date: February 19, 2011

Following a series of consultations throughout 2010, UNFPA Lebanon office signed in early January 2011 a new project with the Ministry of Public Health aiming at supporting the sector reform by strengthening health performance and systems along border areas – mostly in underserviced regions - with emphasis on reproductive health and maternal health. This partnership complements an ongoing joint collaboration between the Ministry and the Italian Cooperation. The key interventions that will be supported by UNFPA will focus primarily on expanding the RH package to include GBV and VCT services, strengthening referral services from primary to secondary care, enhancing outreach services on safe motherhood at secondary care level, and developing an RH commodity security strategy. The Ministry’s contribution to this project amounts to $372,000. A high level steering committee chaired by the Ministry’s director general meets monthly to review and oversee progress.

Needs Assessment and Situation Analysis of Women and Girls in North Lebanon: A Pioneer Study

Type of News: News
Release Date: February 19, 2011

In the context of the MDG-F Conflict Prevention and Peace Building joint program in North Lebanon with 5 UN agencies, UNFPA conducted a “Needs Assessment and Situation Analysis of Women in North Lebanon” covering the regions of Akkar, Tripoli as well as Palestinian camps in the North and surrounding villages. This study constitutes Lebanon’s first and only study about women situation for the areas of Akkar and Tripoli.

UNFPA Lebanon Contributes to the First White Ribbon Campaign in the Middle East

Type of News: News
Release Date: December 12, 2010

From November 25 till December 10, Lebanon joined over 55 countries around the world by organising the first White Ribbon Campaign in the Middle East. The focus of the campaign was on mobilising men and boys to endorse the draft law on the Protection of Women from Family Violence. A wide range of activities were planned during the 16 day period: a television documentary, songs on the radios, public awareness sessions, wall graffiti by survivors of violence, educational pit stops, distribution of various promotional materials as well as a massive White Ribbon Campaign including 475 billboard and unipoles throughout the country. In addition, a human chain was organised during the closing ceremony where women and men stood hand in hand in a message of solidarity to support the law.

Y-PEER Lebanon Uses Games, Theatre and Dance to Raise HIV/AIDS Awareness among High-School Children

Type of News: News
Release Date: December 10, 2010

On the occasion of World AIDS Day, Y-PEER Lebanon organized “Our Health, Our Right... Let’s Take a Stand” a two-day event for raising HIV/AIDS awareness among high school students. The event was organized under the patronage of H.E Minister of Public Health, in partnership with the National AIDS Control Program and with the support of UNFPA Lebanon. More than 800 high school students, boys and girls, aged 15-18 years and belonging to 10 public and private schools from various regions and communities in Lebanon took part in this event.