DGLAC Talk Show Series: Episode on Gender and Local Governance
As part of its continuous engagement to strengthen the responsiveness of national and local authorities to communities, MERP supported the Directorate General of Local Administrations and Councils (DGLAC) in organizing the fourth episode of the DGLAC Talk Show Series. During this episode, DGLAC invited mukhtars, municipalities and unions of municipalities (UoMs) to discuss the importance of gender equity and inclusion at the local level, including in terms of municipal planning and service provision as well as political representation at municipal level, particularly in run-up to the 2023 municipal elections. The event was broadcasted online to participants across the country, and for the first time it was also open to in-person attendance.
The discussion highlighted socio-economic, capacity, and political barriers to gender inclusion in local governance. Major challenges highlighted included 1) weak engagement between national government, municipalities, UoMs and gender focused actors, 2) lack of data on gender, local governance, and political participation/representation, and 3) lack of political will to integrate women into local political systems, among others.
During the talk show, Gaetane Wicquart, Country Director of the Agency for Technical Cooperation and Development (ACTED), provided an overview of ACTED activities in support of gender inclusion in local strategic planning. “Social norms define roles that are taught, learnt, absorbed. They also define what it means to be feminine or masculine, often preventing women to work in non-traditional sectors”, Gaetane said. She added that “social norms also make it difficult for women to decide on the course of their career. Social norms are also a limitation to men, as they may face judgment if they assist in household tasks or earn less than their wives.”
“The participation of women in public life is improving each year, but this is not sufficient to ensure that women are fully represented in decision-making processes in parliament or in local councils. This is due to historical reasons pertaining to the traditional roles in Lebanese society, but it is also connected to sectarian, political, and family considerations, and the traditional patriarchal thinking behind this”, said DGLAC Director General Faten Abou Hassan. She also emphasized that “the adoption of a quota that reserve seats for women will, as a first step, ensure the representation of women in politics. This should be supported until women are able to fully participate in political life without the need for a quota.”
You can watch the full episode on gender and local governance through the following link: https://youtu.be/kLmxl3jSc0w
