NNA - The Lebanese Association for Democratic Elections, LADE, launched on Friday, September 23, its 2022 elections monitoring report from a gender perspective in Radisson Blu Hotel, Verdun.
The launching ceremony included speeches for the German Ambassador to Lebanon, H.E Andreas Kindl, UNDP Resident Representative, Ms, Melanie Hauenstein, Head of Elections and Education Programs at the EU Delegation to Lebanon, Mr. Maxence Daublain, and LADE’s Secretary General, Rony Al Assaad,
Afterwards, there was a video screening of the report’s most prominent findings, followed by an overview presentation on the findings and recommendations.
In accordance with its goals of promoting democracy, equality, and equal opportunities, LADE monitored the 2022 parliamentary elections from a gender perspective in order to promote women’s rights and political participation. To highlight the obstacles women face, and understand the social, cultural, political, and economic challenges that limit their access to parliament, LADE assessed the participation of female voters, candidates, observers, as well as political parties, in the electoral process.
Summary of Findings:
LADE’s monitoring and documentation showed a major imbalance in the level of women’s political representation in Lebanon, which is clearly evident in the fact that only eight women reached the parliament in 2022. This proves that the problem is not only numerical, but extends to the election law and several other discriminatory laws, in addition to many social and political challenges. Also, the number of female candidates has made no significant progress in the 2022 elections, increasing by only 2.02% in comparison to the 2018 elections.
The 2022 elections were characterized by massive violations and pressures at all levels (family, social, and political), as female candidates are still exposed to gender-based violence, while no measures are taken to protect them. They also have weak financial, administrative, and logistical resources related to electoral campaigns, which requires exceptional efforts at the legislative, supervisory, and social levels in order to secure better opportunities for women.
In order to improve women's political participation in the electoral process particularly, LADE makes a number of recommendations, including:
• Imposing a 50% women’s quota in the composition of lists as a provisional measure, abolishing the preferential vote, and adopting the closed list system with a pre-arranged order of candidates (Zipper System).
• Reducing the electoral spending limit and canceling or significantly reducing the candidacy fee, with the possibility of reclaiming it in certain cases.
• Revoking paragraph 2 of Article 62 of the Electoral Law, which legalizes electoral bribery under the name of “aid” and thus gives preference to male candidates with greater financial and political resources.
• Establishing mega centers in all electoral districts to facilitate the voting of female voters, especially those pregnant and/or with disabilities.
• Adopting a civil code regulating personal status matters and allowing Lebanese women to pass on citizenship to their children and husbands.
• Increasing the number of female members in the Supervisory Commission for Elections by no less than one third of the commission's members.
• Ensuring equal and fair access of female candidates to various media outlets.
• Strengthening the position of women within political parties and giving them non-stereotypical leading political roles (committee for women's affairs,
organizing a party, etc.).
• Adopting a unified support mechanism for male and female candidates within
political parties without gender discrimination.
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