The Lebanese First Lady, Neemat Aoun at the UN. Photo ANI. The Lebanese First Lady, Neemat Aoun at the UN. (Photo: NNA)
BEIRUT — Lebanon’s first lady, Neemat Aoun, placed Lebanon at the center of her speech marking the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, noting that “today, Lebanon stands at a crossroads.”
“Today, Lebanon stands at a crossroads. The recovery and stability of our country depend on ending the war on Lebanon and advancing a political and economic reform agenda, which also passes through the empowerment of women and confidence in their capabilities.” Aoun said. “Their role is not symbolic but essential and fundamental in building peace, justice and prosperity.”
“From this perspective, Lebanon cannot remain captive to the calculations of war imposed by the surrounding powers, whose repercussions only increase the suffering of Lebanese people, especially women,” she said, adding that “those responsible for the challenges facing women in Lebanon are both external and internal actors.”
The first lady emphasized the link between national and regional stability. “Lebanon’s peace and the end of war within it are central to the peace of the Middle East. When Lebanon stabilizes and regains its peace, neighboring countries stabilize and benefit from its radiance, along with the situation of Lebanese women and all women in the region, who reclaim their role and dignity.”
Aoun also addressed the women's domestic situation, underscoring that “there can be no true sovereignty in Lebanon unless women are masters of their own destiny, no reconstruction or real state-building if women are absent from the corridors of power, and no economic prosperity if women are denied their rights to education, work, and equality.”
In her speech, the first lady reiterated Lebanon’s commitment to turning the commitments of Beijing into concrete action. “We are fully prepared to work with all partners to ensure every girl and woman in Lebanon lives with dignity, equality and peace,” she said.
She concluded her address with these words: “And in the countries represented here today, there are Lebanese women — look at their creativity and contribution to building your nations, and imagine with me the face of the Middle East if Lebanese women were given the opportunity to live in peace.”
The Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, adopted in 1995 by 189 governments at the Fourth World Conference on Women, is the most comprehensive framework ever developed to promote equal rights for all women and girls.
The platform is organized around twelve “critical areas of concern,” covering fields such as employment and the economy, political participation, peace, the environment and the elimination of violence against women. The year 2025 marks the 30th anniversary of this declaration and program.
