AiW wins the Best Research Project of the Year at the Times Higher Education Awards Arab World 2024 for its project titled "Countering Backlash: Reclaiming Gender Justice." (Credit: Photo Times Higher Education)
The Arab Institute for Women (AiW), affiliated with the Lebanese American University (LAU), has won the Best Research Project of the Year Award at the Times Higher Education Awards Arab World 2024 for its project titled “Countering Backlash: Reclaiming Gender Justice.”
This recognition comes at a significant moment, as LAU celebrates its centennial and AiW marks 50 years of advancing gender issues and bridging the gap between academia and activism.
“It's very gratifying to receive this award, especially at such a critical time for our country and our region. It gives us greater visibility, opens more doors and highlights the Institute's day-to-day efforts to develop a culture of change,” said Myriam Sfeir, director of the AiW.
Part of a six-year work program led by the Institute of Development Studies (IDS) at the University of Sussex, AiW’s project was funded by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida) and spanned six countries: Uganda, India, Bangladesh, Kenya, Brazil and Lebanon.
The project aimed to generate the necessary knowledge and identify opportunities for women's rights organizations and other gender justice defenders to counter backlash and address the erosion of gender objectives within development.
“The AiW worked on three intersecting strands: women’s ‘voice’ and everything that has to do with feminism, ‘patriarchy’ and the need to engage men in this fight, as well as ‘policy and practice’ or, in other words, amendments relating to the themes being addressed,” she explained.
The project’s tangible outcomes include a clear definition of the Middle Eastern backlash, an article on the regional context, a documentary featuring feminists, activists, and gender equality advocates that spans a significant period in Lebanese history, as well as three policy briefs and a practical election guide for women in politics.
The AiW also held a conference on this topic two years ago and is currently preparing to publish a special edition of its Al-Raida Journal, focused on the same topic.
Selected in its category among eight finalist universities, the AiW works to bring about change through research, education, awareness-raising, publications, policy and legislation.
Since its inception in 1973, the Institute has involved academics, researchers, policymakers and students in key debates on gender equality and women's rights.
“Its collaborative model generates studies and work that have the power to break social taboos and encourage creative thinking, particularly among young people,” Sfeir said.
The results of the studies carried out are transformed into practical tools used in awareness campaigns, advocacy and training courses offered to students in different disciplines.
“We're especially keen to involve students in all our activities and to raise their awareness of gender issues because they're the ones who'll be taking over and ensuring continuity. The future belongs to them,” she added.
“In fact, many students have participated in the ‘Countering Backlash: Reclaiming Gender Justice’ project. Recently, we launched an art competition in collaboration with UNFPA [The United Nations Populations Fund] as part of the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence, and six of our students won prizes. In addition, we have created the Food 4 Thought series, which enables them to attend webinars or take part in training courses on gender issues and the empowerment of women and girls,” she continued.
“Last year, the Times Higher Education MENA Awards presented LAU with the Leadership and Management Team of the Year award. The university was one of 10 finalists rewarded for excellence in this same category thanks to the AiW’s innovative project entitled ‘Equality for Everyone: Gender Reform from Grassroots to Government.’ This project was aimed at reforming parental leave in the private and public sectors, with a focus on policy change at the national level. LAU became the first institution in the country to adopt and implement this policy, extending maternity leave and instituting paternity leave,” Sfeir stated.
On the occasion of its golden jubilee, and after having postponed the celebrations due to the recent war with Israel, the AiW is planning to organize five events in the near future.
The first event will be TEDxLAU Women, during which 17 Arab women will come to Beirut to discuss themes relating to the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and specifically gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls within each goal, including sustainable cities and communities, clean water and sanitation, responsible consumption and production.
In late January, the AiW will present a play entitled “Leila, Latifa, Chimamanda.” Directed by Lina Abyad, it features African, Arab and Lebanese dimensions and revolves around the novels of three exceptional women: Lebanese novelist Leila Baalbaki, Egyptian writer and activist Latifa al-Zayyat and Nigerian writer Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie.
Events will also be held to unveil the special edition of Al-Raida Journal and to celebrate the publication of a book written by the late Mona Khalaf, former director of the AiW.
Additionally, a second play will be presented, focusing on Wadad Halawani, a leader and emblematic figure who fought for the right to know the fate of those missing in Lebanon during the war. The script was co-written with Halawani herself, and the play is scheduled for April 2025.
This article was originally published in French in L'Orient Le-Jour.
