Women’s Right to Vote in Lebanon
Lebanese Women’s Day / February 18, (1953)
The Long Road: Women’s Right to Vote in Lebanon
In the tapestry of Middle Eastern history, Lebanon stands as a complex case study in the struggle for women’s suffrage. Despite being considered one of the more progressive countries in the region, Lebanese women faced a prolonged battle before securing their right to vote and full political participation.
The Early Struggle
Lebanon’s path to women’s suffrage began in earnest during the early 20th century, when the country was still under French mandate. While neighboring countries like Turkey had already granted women voting rights in 1934, Lebanon lagged behind despite its reputation for relative liberalism in the region.
- 1920s: Early women’s organizations begin forming, with educated urban women leading initial calls for suffrage
- 1943: Lebanon gained independence from France, but women were excluded from the new republic’s electoral process
- 1947: Women’s rights pioneers intensified their campaigns as nearby countries granted women voting rights
Key Figures in Lebanon’s Women’s Suffrage Movement
The movement for women’s political rights in Lebanon was championed by several remarkable women who confronted entrenched patriarchal systems with unwavering determination.
Ibtihaj Qaddoura was among the first Lebanese women to publicly advocate for women’s suffrage. Her 1920s activism laid groundwork for future generations of women’s rights advocates. Emily Fares Ibrahim, another pioneering figure, founded the Lebanese Arab Women’s Union in 1929 and relentlessly campaigned for women’s political participation.
Perhaps most notably, Laure Moghaizel emerged as a formidable force in Lebanese feminism. As a lawyer and activist, she co-founded the Democratic Party of Women in Lebanon and was instrumental in securing the final push toward suffrage.
The Breakthrough
After years of organized protests, petitions, and advocacy, Lebanese women finally achieved a significant victory:
- February 18, 1953: Lebanon grants universal women’s suffrage with the amendment of the electoral law, removing the previous educational requirement
- Prior to this, on February 6, 1952, a law had been passed granting suffrage only to educated women who had completed elementary education
- 1957: The first Lebanese election with women voters takes place
This two-step process to universal suffrage highlights how educational barriers were initially used to limit women’s political participation before finally granting voting rights to all Lebanese women in 1953.
Post-Suffrage Challenges
Gaining the right to vote was just the beginning of a longer struggle for political equality:
- Women’s representation in Lebanese parliament remained extremely low for decades
- The Lebanese Civil War (1975-1990) disrupted political progress for all citizens
- The confessional political system, which allocates seats by religious sect, created additional barriers for women’s political participation
- Traditional family structures continued to limit many women’s political engagement
Modern Context and Setbacks
In recent years, Lebanese women have made gradual but important advances in political representation:
- 2004: Six women were elected to parliament, a record at that time
- 2018: Six women were again elected to parliament out of 128 total seats (less than 5%)
- 2022: Eight women were elected, showing incremental progress
The First Lebanese Women’s Day Controversy
In 2018, then-President Michel Aoun announced November 4th as the first official Lebanese Women’s Day, chosen to commemorate the date when Lebanese women first obtained the right to vote and stand for election. The announcement was meant to celebrate women’s political achievements and highlight ongoing challenges.
However, controversy quickly erupted:
- Historians and activists pointed out that the date was historically inaccurate—women’s universal suffrage was actually secured on February 18, 1953, not on November 4th
- Women’s rights organizations criticized the declaration as empty symbolism without accompanying substantive reforms
- The celebration was ultimately cancelled amid public criticism and ongoing political instability
- Many activists viewed the episode as emblematic of the government’s superficial approach to women’s rights issues
The Ongoing Struggle
Today, Lebanese women continue to fight for full political equality:
- Despite having voting rights for over 70 years, women remain severely underrepresented in political leadership
- The 2019 Lebanese uprising saw women at the forefront of protests demanding systemic change
- Economic crisis and political instability have complicated progress on gender equality
- Women’s rights advocates continue pushing for gender quotas in parliament and other reforms
The story of women’s suffrage in Lebanon reflects both progress and persistent challenges. While Lebanese women secured the right to vote earlier than many of their regional counterparts, true political equality remains an unfinished journey. The cancelled Women’s Day celebration of 2018 stands as a reminder that commemorations ring hollow without substantive commitment to women’s full political participation.
As Lebanon continues navigating political and economic challenges, the struggle for women’s complete political equality remains intertwined with broader questions of representation, governance, and democracy in this complex Mediterranean nation.
(Cancelled)
Office of the Minister of State for Women’s Affairs
1st Lebanese Women’s Day / Women’s Day Lebanon – Nov 4, (2018)
May 17, 2017
The Minister of State for Women’s Affairs, Jean Oghassabian, announced that the Cabinet approved November 4 as Lebanese Women’s Day. Women in Lebanon gained suffrage on November 4 in 1952, only five years after men did (in the year 1947).
Women’s Minister For Affairs Has Declared A National “Lebanese Women’s Day”
Last night it was announced that Lebanon will celebrate its first Lebanese Women’s Day on November 4th next year. On choosing this date, Jean Ogasapian, Women’s Minister for Affairs noted, “I chose Nov. 4 because on that day a decree was signed by the government giving women the right to vote for the first time.”
It is worth noting that Lebanese women gained the right to vote before Switzerland by almost twenty years. However, that was probably the only notable progression in terms of women’s rights since Lebanese independence in 1943, and currently, there is only one female minister and a few female MP’s.
From stay at home mothers, to women with families and full time jobs, this Lebanese Women’s Day aims to recognise and understand the “struggle of women in Lebanon”, noted Ogasapian, going on to say “we want to show what Lebanese women did for the country.”
Although a small step, it is indeed one in the right direction.
> beirut.com/womens-minister-for-affairs-has-declared-a-national-lebanese-womens-day
Journée de la femme au Liban
Le gouvernement fait du 4 novembre la Journée de la femme au Liban
“Le ministre d’État pour les Droits de la femme, Jean Oghassabian, a annoncé hier que, suite à une décision du Conseil des ministres, le 4 novembre sera désormais célébré comme la Journée nationale de la femme. Pourquoi cette date ? « Parce que c’est le 4 novembre 1952 que le premier décret stipulant l’amendement de la loi électorale et permettant à la femme libanaise de voter et de se présenter aux élections, a été émis », a-t-il répondu.
M. Oghassabian a dans ce contexte affirmé que son ministère œuvre, en concertation avec les autorités concernées, à « accorder à la femme tous ses droits ». « Le jour où j’ai pris mes fonctions au sein de ce ministère, j’ai su que j’avais un grand défi à relever, parce que je considère que la femme doit bénéficier de tous ses droits », a-t-il ajouté.”
> lorientlejour.com/le-4-novembre-sera-la-journee-de-la-femme-au-liban