Foreign Minister Gebran Bassil Friday signed a draft law allowing an amendment in his ministry\u2019s internal regulations under which married women could apply for employment in the diplomatic corps, an opportunity that was previously limited to single females.<\/p>\n
A ministry statement said the move came as part of Gebran\u2019s bid to reform the ministry\u2019s bylaws to achieve more gender equity.<\/p>\n
The proposed draft demanded the amendment of clause 4 in Article 12 of the ministry\u2019s bylaws, which required potential female diplomats to be unmarried.<\/p>\n
The draft was referred to the Council of Ministers for approval, the statement said.<\/p>\n
The decision was applauded by female activists from the Lebanese Democratic Women\u2019s Gathering, who had addressed an \u201copen letter\u201d to Bassil Thursday, urging him to rectify the \u201cflagrant discrimination\u201d against married women.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Lebanese Democratic Women\u2019s Gathering underlines the importance of such a move by Minister Bassil, and congratulate Lebanese women for that achievement, hoping that more such moves will come in order to reach total (gender) equality,\u201d the group said in a second statement issued shortly after Bassil had signed the draft law.<\/p>\n
In their open letter on Thursday, the group said: \u201cPersistence in excluding Lebanese women who had fulfilled their natural right for marriage, and depriving them from applying to employment (in diplomatic corps) amounts to a violation of the Lebanese constitution which provides for equality between all citizens.\u201d<\/p>\n
– See more at: http:\/\/www.dailystar.com.lb\/News\/Lebanon-News\/2015\/Jan-30\/285839-bassil-inks-draft-to-allow-married-women-to-become-diplomats.ashx#sthash.35AHYQcE.dpuf<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Foreign Minister Gebran Bassil Friday signed a draft law allowing an amendment in his ministry\u2019s internal regulations under which married women could apply for employment in the diplomatic corps, an opportunity that was previously limited to single females. A ministry statement said the move came as part of Gebran\u2019s bid to reform the ministry\u2019s bylaws …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":99,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"spay_email":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_is_tweetstorm":false,"jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true},"categories":[12],"tags":[33,6],"post_format":[],"flags":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.rdflwomen.org\/eng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/875405-01-08.jpg?fit=940%2C604&ssl=1","jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pa0Zsl-1A","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":3104,"url":"https:\/\/www.rdflwomen.org\/eng\/meeting-for-cooperation-between-rdfl-and-the-ministry-of-social-affairs\/","url_meta":{"origin":98,"position":0},"title":"Meeting for Cooperation Between RDFL and the Ministry of Social Affairs","date":"June 4, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"A delegation from RDFL, consisting of the organization\u2019s President, the Head of programs, the Head of Communications and Campaigns, and the Head of the Legal Committee, met with Her Excellency the Minister of Social Affairs, Ms. Haneen El Sayed, to explore avenues for cooperation between the two parties. 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The meeting focused on highlighting the importance of gender equality in women's participation in administrative roles.\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "News"","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.rdflwomen.org\/eng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/\u063a\u0627\u062f\u0629-\u0627\u062c\u062a\u0645\u0627\u0639-\u0645\u0639-\u0648\u0632\u064a\u0631-\u0627\u0644\u062a\u0646\u0645\u064a\u0629-\u0627\u0644\u0627\u062f\u0627\u0631\u064a\u0629.png?fit=1080%2C1080&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":137,"url":"https:\/\/www.rdflwomen.org\/eng\/rdfl-submits-a-draft-law-aiming-to-protect-children-in-lebanon-from-early-marriage\/","url_meta":{"origin":98,"position":2},"title":"RDFL submits a draft law aiming to protect children in Lebanon from early marriage","date":"April 5, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"When a young girl is pushed into marriage, the damage can last long after her wedding day. Research shows that girls who marry before the age of 18 receive less schooling than those who marry later, face a higher risk of domestic abuse, and suffer a lifetime of adverse effects\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "News"","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.rdflwomen.org\/eng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/stop-ma.jpg?fit=420%2C300&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":150,"url":"https:\/\/www.rdflwomen.org\/eng\/a-historical-overview-of-womens-achievements-in-lebanon\/","url_meta":{"origin":98,"position":3},"title":"A Historical Overview of Women\u2019s Achievements in Lebanon","date":"May 3, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"--- Article developed by Lebanon Support in partnership with the Lebanese Women Democratic Gathering (RDFL). 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