Input from ABAAD - Resource Centre for Gender Equality to the High Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development 2018

Transcription

1 Input from ABAAD - Resource Centre for Gender Equality to the High Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development 2018 July 7, 2018 Building stable, prosperous, inclusive and sustainable societies requires the full and equal enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms by all women and girls. ABAAD, as an organization based in Lebanon and serving the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, aims to achieve gender equality, as an essential condition to sustainable social and economic development in the MENA, through policy development, legal reform, direct service provision, gender mainstreaming, in addition to supporting the advancement of women and empowering them to fully participate at all levels of decision-making in political, economic, public and private life. In light of this year s theme of the High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) on sustainable development: "Transformation towards sustainable and resilient societies", this input provides an overview of the context in Lebanon and main issues of concern related mainly to SDG 11, targets 11.1, 11.6 and 11.7 specifically, and aims to shed light on the situation of the most vulnerable and marginalized groups, such as refugee women and girls. The refugee crisis has now become a global issue that needs a global solution. Forced displacement is now at a record high, with 25.4 million refugees who have fled their countries to escape conflict and persecution 1. Syrian refugees form the biggest population of displaced persons resulting from a single conflict, with over 4.6 million Syrian refugees in neighbouring countries and the wider region. Countries bordering Syria are reaching an alarming saturation point, particularly Lebanon, which hosts almost 1.1 million Syrian refugees and has, along with Jordan, the largest per capita refugee population in the world. How can the Government of Lebanon (GoL) ensure that no one is left behind amidst an immensely challenging situation? 1 UNHCR, Global Trends Study. Available at 1

2 Target 11.1: Ensure access for all to adequate, safe and affordable housing and basic services and upgrade slums. With 87% of the population living in urban areas, Lebanon is considered as one of the most urbanized countries in both the world and the Arab region. Uncontrolled urban stretch, with inadequate planning regulations, has increased urban disparities over the years. Before the current refugee crisis, there were 24 slums/impoverished poor neighborhoods only in the metropolitan area of Beirut 2.The refugee crisis has exuberated the situation. In recent years, Lebanon underwent major demographic changes, including a high level of conflict-induced urbanisation and waves of external and internal displacements. Poverty levels have once again risen and, as there are no formal camps, refugees have been following the urbanization pattern of the host population; finding shelter mainly through the formal and informal market channels. According to the Lebanon Crisis Response Plan, 33% of displaced Syrians live in inadequate or overcrowded shelter conditions 3. The country s fragile political equilibrium and weak public services are sources of increased tensions between refugees and host communities. Furthermore, the lack of local planning, along with the poor services, have made the process of mitigating the urban divide even more challenging. Due to harsh financial conditions and the humanitarian agencies difficulty in identifying and attending to all their needs, urban refugees are unable to access services 4. This has led to higher protection risks, as families are forced to resort into negative coping mechanisms that further expose them to risks of exploitation and abuse. The situation has deadly implications, mainly on Syrian children and women, who are forced to engage in child labor, sexual work and exploitation. It is estimated that nearly half of Syrian refugee children do not have access to any form of education, exposing them to physical and/or psychological violence, child labor and exploitation, early marriage, and recruitment by armed groups. Furthermore, major shifts in traditional gender roles for refugees in Lebanon has been causing severe family conflicts and domestic violence. Women reported increased burdens and responsibilities, as 19% of refugee households in Lebanon are female-headed 5, while men reported feeling helpless and weak 6. Such complex conditions make it harder for the Lebanese Government to preserve social coherence. Appropriate policies must 2 UN Habitat, ''Lebanon - Urban Issues.'' Available at 3 Lebanon Crisis Response Plan, Available at 4 UN Habitat, (2015). ''No Place to stay? Reflections on the Syrian refugee shelter policy in Lebanon.'' Available at 5 UNHCR, ''Vulnerability Assessment of Syrian Refugees in Lebanon.'' Available at 6 ABAAD, ''Capacity Needs and Resources of Mental Health Practitioners in Syria.'' Available at 2

3 be developed to reduce urban inequalities and provide comprehensive responses to the challenges of urban poverty. Such policies should take into account not only the situation of refugees, but also that of host communities, as well as national economic, societal and political realities. This furthers target 11.a, which aims to support positive economic, social and environmental links between urban, peri-urban and rural areas by strengthening national and regional development planning. Local authorities, together with humanitarian actors, are also expected to mainstream social cohesion in humanitarian response strategies and operational plans and ensure equitable access. We call on Member States to assist developing countries to cope with the crisis and stabilize the situation internally, by strengthening municipalities, national and local institutions ability to alleviate resource pressure. Specific strategies and infrastructures must be developed to protect the most exposed 7 and to help address the specific needs of marginalized groups, especially women, who are not receiving sufficient attention - including access to safe spaces and specialized services, such as mental health and critical medical lifesaving services, especially clinical management for sexually assaulted women - Furthermore, we urge the shelter sector to better target persons with special physical and mental health needs and those with vulnerabilities, such as female-headed households, with tailored shelter assistance. Target 11.6: By 2030, reduce the adverse per capita environmental impact of cities, including by paying special attention to air quality and municipal and other waste management. Lebanon s population has increased by approximately 40% with the massive influx of the Syrian refugees, since the onset of the Syria War in 2011, increasing consequently waste production, greenhouse gas emissions and demand for power, electricity, water and transport. Being a developing country with scarce water resources and high population density in the coastal areas, Lebanon is facing significant environmental challenges. Landfills and dumpsites have existed across Lebanon since the 1990s but a lack of solid waste management strategy, together with the shutdown of Beirut s main landfill in 2015, resulted in a waste crisis that has been ongoing ever since. Dumping and burning waste on the streets became widespread and, even though the government eventually moved the garbage off the streets of Beirut, more than 150 dumps across Lebanon are openly burning trash at least once a week 8, posing extreme environmental health risks, along with damages to the marine life and ecosystem. Lebanon has been relying on emergency short term plans and the government has rarely discussed cohesive sustainable solutions, including convenient recycling options. In January 2018, a waste management plan that calls for gradually closing and rehabilitating open dumps was presented by the Ministry of 7 Children, female migrants and refugees, older women, women living in poverty, women in rural areas, women with disabilities, women at risk of exploitation and human trafficking, girls at risk of being subjected to sexual violence, girls in or at risk of being subjected to early marriage and women head of household with children in charge. 8 Human Rights Watch Campaign ''Stop Burning Waste in Lebanon.'' Available at 3

4 Environment (MoE) and approved by the cabinet 9. The MoE, however, is still in the process of developing a detailed national strategy, on the basis of this plan 10. Despite aspirations of improving solid waste management, mentioned in Lebanon's national report to the UN conference on sustainable development (Rio +20) in 2012, the GoL has yet to adopt a national waste management law and strategy that cover the entire country and comply with environmental and public health best practices and international law. Authorities lack of action to put an end to open burning of waste across Lebanon is causing grave health risks for nearby residents - children and older people are at particular risk. The situation not only violates Lebanon s own environmental protection laws, but also the country s obligations under international law, including the government s duties to respect, protect, and fulfill the right to health. It is noteworthy to mention that, besides the lack of adequate laws and financial resources, the challenge remains mostly due to the corruption in all sectors of the GoL. Lebanon s current rank on the corruption perception index is 143 out of 180 listed countries 11. We urge the GoL to reduce corruption, enhance governance and empower local authorities through administrative decentralization, so as to improve economic and social planning for sustainable local development. Finally, instead of focusing on economic sectors separately (tourism, agriculture, industry), the approach to development should be in a holistic and comprehensive manner, taking into consideration societal aspirations and a strengthened national identity. Target 11.7: Provide universal access to safe, inclusive and accessible, green and public spaces, in particular for women and children, older persons and persons with disabilities Sexual harassment and other forms of violence against women and girls in public spaces are major problems in all MENA countries, yet efforts employed to combat GBV in general are arguably limited. Moreover, few laws or policies are in place to address sexual harassment (45 countries around the world have no legislation that specifically addresses it 12 ). In Lebanon, due to patriarchal dominance, negative masculinity roles and unequal power relations between men and women, women frequently experience discriminatory and exclusionary practices in public spaces. The issue however is often normalized, inhibiting the rights of many women and girls to move freely. Two laws were recently 9 Human Rights Watch, (2018). ''Lebanon: Campaign to End Waste Crisis - Pass National Law; Create Long-Term Plan'' Available at 10 Ministry of Environment, (2018). ''Updated plan for closing and rehabilitating open dumps. Available at 11 Transparency International, (2017). ''Corruption Perceptions Index.'' Available at 12 World Bank, Women, Business and the Law Database. Available at Washington, DC: World Bank. 4

5 drafted, one of which calls for incorporating SH policies at the level of the penal law 13 (article 521). This represents a crucial step towards protecting women s right to public space free from threat of harassment, violence and discrimination. However, the challenge remains in addressing the particular sensitivity to societal and gendered norms, especially when it comes to the socio-economic vulnerability and marginalization of refugees. According to the most recent Lebanon Crisis Response Plan, out of the 986,942 Syrian refugees in Lebanon registered by UNHCR (as at 30 April 2018), 90% Reported SGBV incidents involving women and girls 14. Sexual advances towards refugee women in public spaces sometimes involved men offering financial or other assistance in exchange for sex, and used weapon as a form of threat 15. Such conditions violate women and girls basic right of living safely and having a normal productive and reproductive life, posing a huge burden to their mental health and well-being. The physical and psychological harm caused by GBV affects the victims ability to develop socially and participate effectively in their communities and in public life, and eliminates their right to live in dignity and hope. GBV therefore is not only detrimental to women victims but also to the society as a whole, as it weakens the community by preventing women from playing their full role and society from benefiting therefrom. We urge the GoL to comprehensively review national laws and policies and ensure that key aspects of international legal obligations are being addressed and implemented, in order to eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls in public and private spheres - including trafficking and sexual and other types of exploitation. Implementation should focus on both preventing and responding to sexual violence in public spaces. Furthermore, perpetrators of violence against women and girls should be investigated, prosecuted and rehabilitated. For example, 37 countries still exempt rape perpetrators from prosecution if they are married to or subsequently marry the victim 16. In June 2017, the Lebanese parliament repealed article 522, which was considered as a blatant discrimination against women and girls and their human rights as it allowed men, who had been convicted of committed sexual assault, abduction, or statutory rape against a woman, to avoid penalty if a valid contract of marriage could be provided. Nevertheless, there s still a long way to go when it comes to other articles mentioned in the Chapter Seven of the Lebanese Penal Code. The GoL is strongly requested to effectively manage risk, provide adequate protection and remedies to the victims and survivors and promote victim safety and empowerment, while ensuring offender accountability. Furthermore, inclusive access to justice for women and girls should be made easier, with simplified applicable legislations. As for civil society actors, more work should be done to raise awareness towards breaking the silence and normality surrounding SH within society. 13 AUB Policy Institute, (2018). ''Examining Sexual Harassment Draft Laws in Lebanon: Women's Equal Right to Public Space.'' Available at 14 LCRP, (2018). ''Key Facts and Figures.'' Available at 15 Amnesty International, (2016). ''I Want a Safe Place'' p.6 Availabe at 16 Ibid. 5

6 Priorities of the International community and Member States Help strengthen the resilience of communities hosting refugees, particularly in developing countries Adopt a holistic and inclusive approach that targets vulnerable persons during times of peace, war and disasters, irrespective of gender, nationality and special needs. Recognize that international legal and institutional commitments that ensure the recognition and implementation of women s rights, accelerate the implementation of the 2030 Agenda as a whole. Uphold commitments agreed upon in the Responsibility to Protect to adequately protect civilian populations targeted by violence Commit to humanitarian action plans that include globally endorsed standards and guidelines, which help remove barriers to equal access in the context of situations of risk. Engage civil society, specifically women s organizations, as equal partners in decision making, so as to ensure the integration and progress of the gender equality agenda in achieving the relevant targets of each SDG. ABAAD gained ECOSOC Special Consultative Status in 2016 Contact 51 Bustani Street, Sector 5, Najjar Building, Furn Chebbak P.O.Box: Beirut-Lebanon Telefax: +961 (1) /1; +961 (70) abaad@abaadmena.org 6