Article 1
For the purposes
of the present Convention, the term “discrimination against women” shall mean
any distinction, exclusion or restriction made on the basis of sex which has
the effect or purpose of impairing or nullifying the recognition, enjoyment or
exercise by women, irrespective of their marital status, on a basis of equality
of men and women, of human rights and fundamental freedoms in the political,
economic, social, cultural, and civil or any other field.
Commentary
Article 1 defines
what constitutes discrimination against women and thus establishes the
Convention as a special international human rights instrument that only deals
with discrimination directed against women. The term “discrimination” refers to any distinction,
exclusion or restriction, it being intentional or unintentional, that prevent
women, married or not, from reaching full equality. Furthermore, the principle of equality of rights should be
applied to areas of law and social institutions, which perpetuate the
continuation of discrimination against women, as well as to political,
economic, social, cultural, and civil fields where discriminatory actions are
still practised, such as in the work place.
Questions
1. Does the Lebanese
constitution guarantee equality between men and women so as to protect the
human rights of women? Is the principle of non-discrimination stated in the
Constitution with regards to gender and marital status of women? Is this
principle implemented in practice? If the principle of non-discrimination is
not included in the Constitution, what measures are being undertaken to modify
the Constitution and include the proper amendments? Are there any obstacles
preventing such amendments? If so, please specify.
2. Are there any
Lebanese laws or decrees that define the term “discrimination against women”?
Please specify. Does the
definition of discrimination include provisions that call for different
treatment of men and women? Does
it also include laws, customs and policies that fail to recognise women or
deprive them of the enjoyment of their civil, political, economic, social and
cultural rights?
3. Does the legal
definition of “discrimination against women” cover all aspects of
discrimination? Is this definition
in conformity with the principles of the Convention?
4. Does the
definition include practices that are unintentionally discriminatory against
women and that cannot be considered justified? Please specify.
5. Does the legal
definition of discrimination against women include discrimination when
practised by private companies and by individuals? Does it also include discrimination in specific areas or
within the family? Please specify.
6. Does the legal
definition of discrimination include violent behaviour directed towards women
based on their gender?
Article 2
States Parties
condemn discrimination against women in all its forms, agree to pursue by all
appropriate means and without delay a policy of eliminating discrimination
against women and, to this end, undertake:
a) To embody the
principle of equality of men and women in their national constitutions or other
appropriate legislation if not yet incorporated therein and to ensure, through
law and other appropriate means, the practical realisation of this principle;
b) To adopt
appropriate legislative and other measures, including sanctions where
appropriate, prohibiting all discrimination against women;
c) To establish
legal protection of the rights of women on an equal basis with men and to
ensure through competent national tribunals and other public institutions the
effective protection of women against any act of discrimination;
d) To refrain from
engaging in any act or practice of discrimination against women and to ensure
that public authorities and institutions shall act in conformity with this
obligation;
e) To take
appropriate measures to eliminate discrimination against women by any person,
organisation or enterprise;
f)
To take all appropriate measures, including legislation,
to modify or abolish existing laws, regulations, customs and practices which
constitute discrimination against women;
g) To repeal all
national penal provisions which constitute discrimination against women.
Commentary
According to
article 2, States Parties shall take all measures, including, legislative and
administrative measures, to ensure the principle of equality rights between men
and women. In this regard, each
State Party should examine its constitutional and legal provisions so as to
identify all discriminatory laws and take measures to eliminate or modify
them. By having an
appropriate constitutional and legal structure to guarantee equality, each
State Party will be able to provide remedies and sanctions for public and
private acts of discrimination.
However, discrimination against women is not only confined to legal
provisions, it is lived by women in their everyday life. Therefore, in order to eliminate all
forms of discrimination against women, it is also important for each State
Party to examine whatever in practice threatens the enjoyment of the rights set
forth in the Convention and undertake the appropriate measures to eliminate
them.
Questions
1. Do government and
public institutions' practices, laws and policies discriminate against women?
Please specify, and indicate the fields in which such practices take place? Are
amendments being brought to these laws and administrative practices? Please
specify.
2. Are there any
current laws or bills that provide legal remedies against discrimination in
basic fields such as education, health and labour?
3. Are there laws,
rules and policies set for governmental establishments and officials regarding
discrimination against women?
Please specify. Do these policies also apply to private establishments
and individuals?
4. Have national
studies been conducted regarding the existence of discriminatory laws against
women? Please specify.
5. Are there any
remedies currently under development to stop discrimination against women?
Please specify the nature of these remedies. Do women have access to it in
order to make their rights prevail?
6. Please indicate
the number of cases involving discrimination that have been brought before the
courts or other authorities during the last four years? Please indicate the outcome of the
decisions handed down in such cases.
7. Please indicate
whether a special body exists for the promotion and protection of women in
Lebanon. Has any national
machinery or ombudsman been created to oversee the implementation of the
Convention? If yes, please specify its role and accomplishments.
8. Did Lebanon,
bring, through legislation and different programs, changes in customs and
practices that lead to discrimination against women? Please specify.
Has the Lebanese government taken any measures to combat, through
legislation and other programs, any type of violence inflicted on women?
9. Are sanctions or
punitive measures (such as fines) brought upon those who practice
discrimination against women?
Please indicate the nature of those measures and provide information on
their effectiveness.
10. Are measures
adopted to encourage the development and improvement of women’s situation? Are
measures taken to ensure her fundamental freedoms and equality in her
rights? Please specify.
11. What are the real
obstacles women encounter in the exercise of their fundamental rights and
rights of equality with men?
Article 3
States Parties
shall take in all fields, in particular in the political, social, economic and
cultural fields, all appropriate measures, including legislation, to ensure the
full development and advancement of women, for the purpose of guaranteeing them
the exercise and enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms on a basis
of equality with men.
Commentary
In order to
ensure the “full development and advancement of women”, as stated in article 3,
and the enjoyment of their rights and freedoms, States Parties should take the
appropriate measures to guarantee equality between men and women. These measures will mostly depend on
the fields and institutional structure specific to the State Party, as well as
on the level of progress within the reporting State. Therefore, it is important for each reporting State to
identify areas of priority where the status of women should be improved and, to
develop appropriate programs regarding education, employment and other matters
of concern.
Questions
1. Do legislation,
practices and administrative policies guarantee the development and the
improvement of women’s status? Do women enjoy the right to participate in
political activities and take advantage of social services, health and medical
protection, education, and development programs for literacy, employment, the
mastering of skills and social well-being as well as property ownership?
2. Do the Lebanese
constitution and other laws guarantee equality in rights and fundamental
liberties and the full enjoyment by women of these rights? Following the steps
towards equality with men, what are the obstacles encountered by women
regarding the enjoyment of their human rights and fundamental liberties?
3. What are the
measures undertaken to carry out the full development and improvement of
women’s status in society, and to encourage the exercise and enjoyment of their
human rights and fundamental liberties?
4. Have any bills
been passed or political measures undertaken to positively influence the
political participation of women, or their participation in the social,
economic and cultural life? Did
women participate effectively in the drafting of such laws or policies? Are
these laws and policies implemented to women’s advantage and satisfaction?
Article 4
Adoption by
States Parties of temporary special measures aimed at accelerating de facto
equality between men and women shall not be considered discrimination as
defined in the present Convention, but shall in no way entail as consequence
the maintenance of unequal or separate standards; these measures shall be
discontinued when the objectives of equality of opportunity and treatment have
been achieved.
Adoption by
States Parties of special measures, including those measures contained in the
present Convention, aimed at protecting maternity shall not be considered
discriminatory.
Commentary
Equality before
the law between men and women does not always mean genuine de facto
equality. Therefore, as stated in
article 4, it is sometimes necessary to promote equality by positive action in
order to overcome the effect of stereotype role division. To this effect, affirmative action
measures may be desirable to ensure and accelerate the full enjoyment by women
of their fundamental rights and freedoms.
Moreover,
paragraph 2 of article 4 specifies that the adoption of special measures aiming
at the protection of maternity shall not be considered discriminatory. Indeed, this function, unique to women,
requires special measures of protection for mothers and children. These measures are necessary because of
the importance of maternity to the individual and to the community, and because
the interests of children require that the effect on the health, income and
earnings of the mother be taken into consideration.
The Committee has
adopted two general recommendations regarding the implementation of article
4. General recommendation no 5
(seventh session 1988), states the requirement to use more temporary special
measures such as positive action, preferential treatment or even quota systems,
to advance women’s integration into education, the economy and employment. As for general recommendation no
8 (seventh session 1988), it states that reporting countries should take
further direct measures, in accordance with article 4 of the Convention, to
ensure to women the opportunity to represent their Governments at the
international level and to participate in the work of international
organisations.
Questions
1. Is there an
official policy to help accelerate the effective realisation of equality
between men and women? If so, what
are the steps taken to implement it?
Have any laws been enacted to help enforce this policy?
2. Are there any
positive special measures, including preferential treatment and quota systems,
that have been adopted to reach equality between men and women? Are there measures undertaken to
protect pregnancy, motherhood, and women’s health and their well being in the
work place? Please specify.
3. What are the
means considered in order to implement the measures stated above? Are these
measures implemented?Is the implementation of these measures being monitored in
any way?
4. Are these special
measures considered non-discriminatory according to the law?
Article 5
States Parties
shall take all appropriate measures:
a) To modify the
social and cultural patterns of conduct of men and women, with a view of
achieving the elimination of prejudices and customary and all other practices
which are based on the idea of the inferiority or the superiority of either of
the sexes or on stereotyped roles for men and women;
b) To ensure that
family education includes a proper understanding of maternity as a social
function and the recognition of the common responsibility of men and women in
the upbringing and development of their children, it being understood that the
interest of the children is the primordial consideration in all cases.
Commentary
Article 5(a)
recognises the obligation of States Parties to achieve “the elimination of
prejudices and customary and all other practices” which give false concepts of
inferiority or superiority of either of the sexes. It should however be noted that modifying the social and
cultural patterns of conduct of men and women remains a difficult task. Indeed, various customs and traditions,
strongly rooted in different countries, represent serious obstacles to the
progress to equality and the full participation of women in society. Therefore, in order to modify the
thinking and attitude of both men and women, action must be taken by society in
different areas including the upbringing of children, the design of textbooks
and the conceptualization of education in general. As for article 5(b), it establishes that maternity has a
social function. Furthermore, it
states the need for States Parties to recognize that men and women have a
common responsibility in the upbringing of their children and that parents, in
fulfilling their responsibilities, should give priority to the interest of
their children in all cases.
The Committee on
the Elimination of Discrimination against Women, in its general recommendation
no 3 (sixth session 1987), urged States Parties to adopt “education and public
information programs which will help eliminate prejudices and current practices
that hinder the full operation of the principle of the social equality of
women.” It also stated in its
general recommendation no 12 (eighth session, 1989) entitled “Violence against
women” that States Parties are required to take appropriate steps to protect
women against any type of violence within the family, at the work place or any
other area of social life
Questions
1. What are the
existing cultural and traditional practices that hamper the advancement of
women in society?
2. What are the
special measures, information campaigns and programs undertaken in order to
modify the social and cultural behavior patterns that lead to sexual
stereotyping?
3. Do religious
customs or traditions impose practices and beliefs that prevent the development
and improvement of women’s situation in Lebanon? Please specify.
4. What are the
roles of men and women in the Lebanese society and within the Lebanese family?
5. Is there any
sexual stereotyping in school textbooks and in the media? What are the past and ongoing efforts
expended to eliminate sexual stereotyping? What are the obstacles encountered in the elimination of
sexual stereotyping?
6. Who is the head
of the family according to Lebanese laws and customs?
7. Are there any
gender-specific jobs advertising or hiring practices? Please specify (give percentages whenever possible)
8. Please indicate
the jobs that cannot be held by women according to Lebanese laws and customs.
9. Are there
gender-specific task assignments in schools and within the family?
10. What are the
roles assigned to men and women in the family? Do both parents participate in raising the children? Are there any differences between an
urban and a rural environment regarding a stereotypical division of responsibility
for child rearing?
11. In cases of divorce and separation which
parent has custody of the children and why?
12. Are there
specific laws and regulations regarding the family in Lebanon? Please specify.
13. What is the
impact of this article of the Convention on school curricula?
14. Do husbands have
the right to discipline their wives?
Please indicate the Lebanese laws that allow them such conduct? Are there any punitive measures imposed
on those who use violence against their wives?
15. What are the
views of the Lebanese men and women regarding violent behavior between
spouses? Are there any campaigns
undertaken to raise awareness regarding violence against women? Do these campaigns aim at changing
men’s opinion about women?
16. Are there any
programs that educate all women about their rights? If so, does the media help in the promotion of these programs?
17. What are the
measures and guidelines undertaken to bring the authorities to apply the laws
with regards to violence against women, including violence within the
household?
18. Are there any
shelters that cater to women who suffer violence within the household?
19. Is there
regulation regarding the distribution of films and magazines that promote sex
and violence?
20. Are there cases
of sexual solicitation and sexual harassment in Lebanon? What are the measures taken to prohibit
such acts? Are there laws that regulate
such matters?
21. Are there any
special measures undertaken regarding sexual offense on children or sexual
exploitation of children?
22. Are there any
special measures taken to deal with discrimination in matters related to
marriage, divorce, polygamy and female circumcision? Are there programs that raise awareness on the need to
eliminate these practices?
Article 6
States parties
shall take all appropriate measures, including legislation to suppress all
forms of traffic in women and exploitation of prostitution of women.
Commentary
Article 6
recognizes the need to suppress all forms of traffic in women and exploitation
of prostitution of women. This
includes new forms of traffic and exploitation such as sexual tourism and
domestic labor. The measures called
by the Convention are directed against those who profit from the exploitation
of women, including the exploitation of girls. They do not target the women
involved. The Committee stresses
in particular the need for measures to combat conditions which very often are
the root of much of female prostitution, such as poverty, illiteracy, lack of
employment opportunities and underdevelopment. These measures should include training and education and the
creation of job opportunities.
Questions
1. Is there legislation
in Lebanon that prohibits traffic of women and girls? If so, is it effectively implemented? What are the punitive measures imposed
in cases of traffic of women and girls?
2. Is prostitution
legal? In case of illegal
prostitution, are the prostitutes and clients summoned before a court? What are
the punitive measures imposed on a prostitute? What are the punitive measures imposed on a client? Are these measures implemented? Are
there any laws regarding child prostitution? If so please specify.
3. If prostitution
is legal, are there any sanctions imposed in order to protect prostitutes from
being exploited? Are there any
health measures taken to combat sexually transmitted diseases and prevent the
spread of AIDS? What is the widespread opinion of society with regards to
prostitution? Are there any
mechanisms in place to help prostitutes find jobs in other fields?
4. Does the special
law regarding violence against women include rape and sexual aggression? Are the provisions of this law
applicable to all women, including prostitutes? Are these provisions
effectively implemented?
5. Did the war,
armed conflict and occupation of Lebanese territory by foreign armed forces,
have a direct impact on the increase of sexual exploitation of women.
6. What are the
existing special laws regarding women’s exploitation and prostitution?
7. Are there laws
and policies that protect women and adolescent girls from agencies involved in
women’s exploitation? Are there
laws and policies that are being enforced with regards to marriage bureaux,
more precisely with regards to marriage arrangements with foreigners?
8. Is the
involvement of a third party as middleman, in women’s prostitution considered
illegal?
9. What are the
obstacles that prevent the elimination of prostitution and exploitation and
traffic of women? If so please indicate the nature of these obstacles?
10. Are there
Lebaneselaws that sanction family relatives that exploit women and young girls?
Is there any legislation with regards to sexual tourism? If yes, please indicate if it is
implemented effectively?
Article 7
States Parties
shall take all appropriate measures to eliminate discrimination against women
in the political and public life of the country and, in particular, shall
ensure to women, on equal terms with men, the right:
a) To vote in all
elections and public referenda and to be eligible for election to all publicly
elected bodies;
b) To participate in
the formulation of government policy and the implementation thereof and to hold
public office and perform all public functions at all levels of government;
c) To participate in
non-governmental organizations and associations with the public and political
life of the country.
Commentary
Article 7(a)
ensures the right for women to vote and to participate as candidates in all
publicly elected bodies. It
reaffirms the principle that women have the same political rights as men
concerning the right to vote and to be elected already contained in the
Convention on the Political Rights of Women of 1952. Moreover, it not only confirms the right to vote in all
elections, but guarantees also the right to vote in all public referenda. Article 7(b) broadens the meaning of
women’s participation in political and public life by adding the right “to participate
in the formulation of government policy and the implementation thereof”,
thereby widening the scope of political rights of women to include an active
sense of participation. As for
article 7(c), it confirms women’s right to participate in non-governmental
organizations and other associations within the political and public life of
the country. Real equality
requires that there be an equal opportunity to influence law and policy, to
ensure that matters of concern to women are accorded proper priority. Therefore, the States Parties should
take all necessary measures to encourage women’s participation in the political
arena as voter and as political candidate.
Questions
1. What is the
number of women participating in the overall political and public life of
Lebanon? Does a woman enjoy the
right to vote in all elections on equal terms with men? If so, please indicate the laws that
guarantee this right. What is the
percentage of women members of political parties? What is the nature of the work undertaken by women within
these political parties?
2. What are the
measures taken by the political parties to add women’s membership? What is the number of women that run as
candidates for committees that hold general elections, locally and nationally? Please indicate the number of women
elected compared to men.
3. Do women enjoy
the same conditions as men when it comes to running, in general elections, as
candidates for leading positions? Please indicate the percentage of women in
the various levels of central and local government bodies in public elected and
appointed offices. Please indicate
the number of women currently elected to parliament, and appointed to different
governmental and diplomatic offices.
4. Please indicate
the number of women that participate in general elections and referendums?
5. Please indicate
the number of measures taken to ensure the participation of women in the
establishment and implementation at all levels of a developmental
planning. What are the help
services available in Lebanon to enable women to participate in public
life? Are there programs to
attract a bigger number of women to public and political position?
6. Are women members
of different professional corporations?
Have measures been taken to encourage such participation and membership?
7. Is the woman
promoted in her job? Does pregnancy and motherhood have any impact on her
promotion?
8. Is there
discrimination against women or violation of their human rights because of
their political activities as members of women’s organizations? If so please specify.
9. What is the
extent of participation of women’s organizations in the elaboration of
policies? Are there means
undertaken to ensure this sort of participation?
Article 8
States Parties
shall take all appropriate measures to ensure to women, on equal terms with men
and without any discrimination, the opportunity to represent their Governments
at the international level and to participate in the work of international
organizations.
Commentary
This article, in
accordance with article 8 of the UN Charter, addresses the importance of States
Parties to take the appropriate measures to ensure the opportunity for women to
“represent their country at the international level and to participate in the
work of international organizations.”
As for the
Committee, it recommends, in its general recommendation no 8 (seventh session
1988), that States Parties make use of temporary special measures as stated in
article 4 of the Convention “to ensure the full implementation of article 8 of
the Convention and to ensure to women on equal terms with men and without any
discrimination the opportunities to represent their Government at the
international level and to participate in the work of international
organizations”. It also
recommends, in its general recommendation no 10 (eight session 1989), States
Parties to consider “encouraging action to ensure the full implementation of
the principles of the Convention and, in particular, article 8 which relates to
the participation of women at all levels of activity of the United Nations and
the United Nations system”.
Questions
1. Do women enjoy
the right and opportunity to represent their Government at the international
level, and to participate in the work of international organizations on equal
terms with men and without any discrimination?
2. Please indicate
the number of Lebanese women heading diplomatic missions and delegations. Also indicate the number of Lebanese
women that are part of a diplomatic mission and delegation. Please specify their functions.
3. Please indicate
the number of women participating in delegations to international meetings and
conferences. What are their fields
of expertise?
4. Please indicate
the percentage of Lebanese women that are employed in international
organizations and local organizations.
What are their main fields of expertise? Also provide information on the
percentage of women proposed by Lebanon to fill the vacancies within the United
Nations system. If so, what are
the positions held by women, and in what proportion?
5. Are there cases
where, based on her gender, a woman has not been assigned to represent her
country or to participate in the activities of international organizations?
6. Are there
programs that aim at encouraging women to join the diplomatic corps or to seek
employment within international organizations?
Article 9
State Parties
shall grant women equal rights with men to acquire, change or retain their
nationality. They shall ensure in
particular that neither marriage to an alien nor change of nationality by the
husband during marriage shall automatically change the nationality of the wife,
render her stateless or force upon her the nationality of the husband.
States Parties
shall grand women equal rights with men with respect to the nationality of
their children.
Commentary
According to this
article, women, on an equal footing with men, shall have the right to acquire,
change or retain their nationality, and that marriage or a change in the
husband’s nationality during marriage shall not automatically affect the
woman’s nationality. Women shall
also have the same rights as men regarding the nationality of their
children. In its general
recommendation no 21 (13th session, 1994), the Committee stated that
nationality is critical to full participation in society. In general, States confer nationality
on those who are born in that country.
Nationality can also be acquired by reason of settlement, or granted for
humanitarian reasons such as statelessness. Without status as nationals or citizens, women are deprived
of the right to vote or to stand for public office and may be denied access to
public benefits and a choice of residence. Nationality should be capable of change by an adult woman
and should not be arbitrarily removed because of marriage or dissolution of
marriage or because her husband or father changes his nationality.
It should also be
noted that, in implementing, States Parties are obliged to establish the formal
legal equality of men and women with regard to acquiring, changing, retaining
or conferring their nationality upon the spouse or children.
Questions
1. Can the Lebanese
woman, regardless of her marital status, have equal rights with the Lebanese
man to acquire, change or retain her nationality? Please specify the cultural
and socio-economic factors that affect the implementation of these rights.
2. Does marriage to
a non-Lebanese man affect the Lebanese women's nationality in any way?
3. According to
Lebanese law, is a person's citizenship established by birth, by marriage, or
by parentage? In the latter case, does a Lebanese mother's citizenship carry
equal weight with that of the Lebanese father?
4. In Lebanon, do
women and men exercise the same rights with regards to obtaining residence and
employment status for their non-citizen spouse?
5. Can women get a
passport or travel without the permission of their husbands or male guardians?
6. How is the
nationality of the Lebanese child established? Are passports issued for
children? If not, can children travel on their mother's passport? If so, is the
father's consent required to include children on their mother's passport? Is
the consent of the parents of a minor required prior to him/her leaving the
country? Please specify.
Article 10
States Parties
shall take all appropriate measures to eliminate discrimination against women
in order to ensure to them equal rights with men, in the field of education and
in particular to ensure, on a basis of equality of men and women:
a) The same
conditions for career and vocational guidance, for access to studies and for
the achievement of diplomas, in educational establishments of all categories in
rural as well as in urban areas; this equality shall be ensured in pre-school,
general, technical, professional and higher technical education, as well as in
all types of vocational training;
b) Access to the
same curricula, the same examinations, teaching staff with qualifications of
the same standard and school premises and equipment of the same quality;
c) The elimination
of any stereotyped concept of the roles of men and women at all levels and in
all forms of education by encouraging coeducation and other types of education
which will help to achieve this aim and, in particular, by the revision of
textbooks and school programs and the adaptation of teaching methods;
d) The same
opportunities to benefit from scholarships and other study grants;
e) The same opportunities
for access to programs of continuing education, including adult and functional
literacy programs, particularly those aimed at reducing, at the earliest
possible time, any gap in education existing between men and women;
f)
The reduction of female student drop-out rates and the
organization of programmes for girls and women who have left school
prematurely;
g) The same
opportunities to participate actively in sports and physical education;
h) Access to
specific educational information to help to ensure the health and well-being of
families, including information and advice on family planning.
Commentary
This article
recognizes the importance of education in enabling women and men to participate
on an equal footing in all aspects of the life of their countries. Girls should be given the same
educational opportunities as boys to enable them to participate fully in
society, to compete in the workforce on equal terms, and to have an equal
opportunity to gain economic independence. Special measures are necessary to ensure that these
opportunities are available, and that they are taken and to provide for the
needs of women who have not had access to equal opportunity in the past.
According to
paragraphs (a), (b) and (e) of article 10, equal opportunities should be
attributed to women, when it comes to career and vocational guidance, access to
studies and the achievement of diplomas, in educational establishments of all
categories in rural as well as in urban areas. Women should also have access to the same curricula, the
same examinations and the same programs of continuing education. This includes adult and functional
literacy programs; particularly those aimed at quickly reducing any gap in
education existing between men and women.
Paragraphs (c) and (f) aim at the elimination of any stereotyped concept
of the roles of men and women at all levels and in all forms of education and
the reduction of female student drop-out rates. These goals can be reached by encouraging coeducation and
the organization of programs for girls and women who have left school
prematurely. As for paragraph (h),
it states that women and young girls should have access to specific educational
information to help to ensure the health and well-being of families, including
information and advice on family planning.
Questions
1. Are legislative
and administrative measures being undertaken to guarantee equal access to
education for men and women? Are these measures being implemented effectively?
2. Can Lebanese
girls take the same subjects as boys, at primary and secondary school and
university? If so, are these girls aware of the opportunities that are
available to them? What is the percentage of female graduates from primary,
secondary schools and universities?
3. What are the
overall literacy rates for males and females? Please also specify according to the following categories:
a) 15-24
b) 25-44
c) 45 and above
4. In schools that
are not co-educational, are the teaching staff, curricula, examinations, school
premises and equipment of the same quality for boys and girls? Please specify
the differences.
5. Do girls have the
opportunity to pursue the same studies as boys?
6. What is the
percentage of women graduating in the following fields
a) Law
b) Engineering
c) Arts and Sciences
d) Medicine
e) Agriculture
7. Are scholarships
and grants equally available to women and men? What is the average number of women shortlisted per year for
such scholarships and grants as compared to men? Are there any scholarships and
grants available only for men? Are there any scholarships and grants available
only for women?
8. What is the
percentage of women enrolled each year in adult education and literacy
programs? Are there any obstacles
to women's enrollement? Please specify.
Do such obstacles affect a particular group of women (such as migrant
women)?
9. Please identify
the laws and policies that strive to keep girls in school until school leaving
age. Is education compulsory?
Please specify.
10. What educational
programmes are available for girls and women who have dropped out of school?
What are the qualifications and experiences of the teachers in such programmes?
11. Please indicate
the dropout rates for women at primary, secondary and post-secondary levels
(refer to statistics if available).
What are the major causes?