Beirut: Marking the centenary of the 1925 Lebanese Nationality Law, which remains in force despite perpetuating inequalities, Banque BEMO, in partnership with the Embassy of Belgium in Lebanon, organized a national conference titled 'Her Children are Lebanon's Children' at the ‰cole Sup©rieure des Affaires (ESA). The event aimed to initiate a national dialogue on this century-old law that continues to deprive Lebanese mothers of the right to pass their nationality to their children, affecting their fundamental rights and those of their families.
According to National News Agency - Lebanon, the conference was attended by the Ambassador of Belgium to Lebanon, His Excellency Mr. Arnout Pauwels; Banque BEMO's Chairman and General Manager, Dr. Riad Obegi; the Minister of Tourism, Her Excellency Mrs. Laura Khazen Lahoud; Members of Parliament Paula Yacoubian, Imad Al-Hout, and Waddah Sadek; former ministers Nassif Hitti and Ziad Makari; Mrs. Jihane Asmar representing MP and Head of Al Kataeb party Sami Gemayel; Mrs. Madonna Salameh Ayanian and Mrs. Lina Comaty Abou Adal representing the National Commission for Lebanese Women; Mrs. Christine Azoury representing the President of the Beirut Bar Mr. Imad Martinos. Also present were representatives from UN Women, UNESCO, and numerous women's and social associations, along with diplomatic, legal, cultural, and educational figures.
In his address, Dr. Riad Obegi emphasized that the responsibility of institutions extends beyond economics to societal concerns, noting that the nationality law is not just an old text from 1925 but a source of suffering for thousands of Lebanese families. He asserted that denying Lebanese women the right to pass on their nationality amounts to an unspoken exile and discrimination that undermines their dignity. He further stated that nationality is central to gender equality, and maintaining the current law deprives Lebanon of half of its potential.
Belgian Ambassador Arnout Pauwels stressed that a mother's right to transmit her nationality is a fundamental right linked to human dignity, recalling that Article 9 of CEDAW is unequivocally clear. He noted that reform is achieved through incentives rather than sanctions and through open, value-based dialogue, adding that conditioning international assistance on nationality-related criteria underscores the importance of continued discussion.
Mrs. Karima Chabbo, Director of the campaign 'My Nationality: A Right for Me and My Family', stated that the right to transmit nationality is not merely a legal matter but a human-rights demand linked to citizenship and equality among all Lebanese. She highlighted that this reality violates the rights of thousands of women and children who face the consequences of legal discrimination daily. She affirmed that the violation of the right of even a single woman is enough to make amending the law an urgent legislative, reformist, and national duty.
Mrs. Brigitte Chelebian, founder and director of Justice Without Frontiers, highlighted the contradiction between Lebanese legislation and international conventions, asserting that reform is both a legal and ethical obligation. She explained that equality is not a theoretical concept but a right exercised before the law.
Moderating the discussion, Mrs. Joelle Abou Farhat, founder and president of Fifty-Fifty, underlined that depriving women of their right to transmit their nationality is the core issue, calling for a bold and honest debate to achieve a fair, inclusive solution.
The event, presented by Mrs. Claudine Feghali, Executive Director at Banque BEMO, featured a documentary by Carole Mansour showcasing testimonies from Lebanese women married to non-nationals and their children. These accounts highlighted the profound social and legal injustice they endure.
A subsequent open discussion explored the social and legal repercussions of the current law and proposed avenues for reform aimed at restoring the rights of mothers and their children within a fairer citizenship framework. Live testimonies from affected families reinforced the human dimension of the issue, confirming that reform is no longer an individual demand but a national necessity.
This event reaffirms Banque BEMO's commitment to human rights and social justice and its dedication to raising national awareness about a law that continues to deny Lebanese mothers a fundamental right. The Bank remains steadfast in supporting initiatives that contribute to building a more just, conscious, and equitable society.