BySCEME
Lebanese Activists Say, ‘No Spring without Women’
Women’s rights activists marched and proclaimed there is “No spring without women.”
Nadine Abou Zaki, the executive chair of the NAWF, said that the key message the protesters wished to spread was that any successful revolution depends on the contribution of women.
Revolution cannot be fulfilled without the participation of all members of society. It will remain incomplete if all members of society do not participate.
A woman has to stand by men in everything that she does, and in politics she is side-lined. Women need to take back their rights, and not be treated as second-class citizens.
A Palestinian whose mother is Lebanese, said the main issue she takes offence with is the lack of equal citizenship rights for women in Lebanon, which means her mother cannot pass her nationality on to her.
Over the last 20 years, women have won some rights, but there is still a long way to go.
Perhaps the most urgent thing that needs to change is the attitude of society toward women. This must gradually change so that women have a chance to be themselves.
The demands presented to the Prime Minister Najib Mikati, included the criminalization of domestic violence, the right for women to pass on their nationality, the right to move freely and equal property rights.
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