Charbel Submits Draft Law to Grant Women Full Citizenship Rights

BySCEME

Charbel Submits Draft Law to Grant Women Full Citizenship Rights

We were delighted to learn that, following years of protest, Lebanese Interior Minister Marwan Charbel has submitted two versions of a draft law that could potentially allow women to pass their nationality on to their children.

At present, women simply do not have the same citizenship rights as men. Whilst Lebanese men are permitted to pass their nationality on to their children should they choose to marry a non-Lebanese woman; Lebanese women – and their children – have been denied this right.

However, SCEME is concerned that Charbel’s laws are still not going to be enough.

One version of the law excludes women who choose to marry Palestinian men. The discriminatory view held by some political groups within Lebanon, who fear allowing women the right to pass on their nationality to their children and husbands may result in Palestinian men marrying purely to obtain citizenship, is a large hurdle that must be overcome if all mothers are to finally be allowed such basic rights.