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.
Completed in January 2011, this qualitative and quantitative study succeeded in identifying needs and priorities of women and young girls in various aspects and in determining the influence and opportunities of local leaders and relevant stakeholders in supporting and advancing women empowerment.
Main findings of the quantitative study carried out among women and girls revealed the following: 65% don’t go to reproductive health checkups, 51% had unplanned pregnancy, 71% of interviewed women dropped out from schools, 56% of working women do so to increase the family income, 90% of respondents support women participation in social and political life, only 15% of women are involved in solving conflicts whereby 52% of them consider resolving conflicts as a man’s business, 27% knew of a woman or a girl who is being exposed to violence, and 64% are against early marriage.
As for the qualitative study among community leaders, it highlighted the following findings: major internal migration due to unavailability of universities, lack of comprehensive health services, lack of job opportunities for women, few respondents admit to presence of GBV in some cases while the majority deny or justify its occurrence, absence of GBV referral system, limited role of women in conflict resolution, absence of women participation in public activities, and cultural and security barriers reflecting negatively on women participation.
During the month of February, 3 technical meetings were conducted in the surveyed communities to disseminate the findings and translate the recommendations into concrete activities while analyzing challenges and opportunities.