Lebanon Makes World’s Worst Headline… Again

I bet you all read the "wonderful" news on the status of Lebanon being among the worlds worst ten countries for women this morning.  Resurfacing online via the Huffington Post, the article comes one week after Nisrine Rouhana's death; Lebanon's latest domestic violence victim.  


The murder of Nisrine Rouhana is not the first, and sadly will not be the last given the state of affairs in the country and how women’s issues are constantly pushed aside and dismissed as trivial and unworthy of attention.

Lebanon being placed among the world’s worst countries for women should spark outrage especially since nations like Saudi Arabia and India seem to be moving forward in terms of improving the status of women.

How so? Confusing, I know. But the information is all available in the World Economic Forum Global Gender Gap Report for 2014.  Here's a video that will explain it all.      

            




Lebanon has failed to improve the status of women over the years, dropping a whopping 19 spots since 2010.







On the other hand, Saudi Arabia –relative to itself- is the country that has made the most progress on economic participation.

As for India, well the numbers speak for themselves.


The report is based on economic participation, educational attainment, health and survival rates and political empowerment; all of which are considered non-priorities by Lebanese lawmakers who also fail to see the importance of voting (conveniently so).

And while we remain distracted by heroic campaigns and quick fixes that seem to be doubling in numbers in recent weeks, the status of women will continue to slide downwards.

I for one have lost the will to have children in Lebanon, lest they be raised in an environment that promotes inequality and violence against men, women and children.

And until this issue is properly addressed, I see no point in promoting Lebanon as the beacon of freedom and justice in the Middle East.