In Lebanon, marital rape remains legal, perpetuating the notion that a man who forces sexual intercourse on his spouse without their consent has committed no crime. This form of domestic violence and sexual abuse violates the bodily autonomy and dignity of the victim and is recognized as a human rights violation by international law and conventions (UN Women, 2019). The legalization of marital rape in Lebanon is symptomatic of a pervasive culture of rape and impunity that normalizes and condones this heinous act. The consequences extend beyond the control of women’s sexuality and marriage, reflecting and reinforcing systemic gender inequality that pervades all aspects of Lebanese society.

Lebanese women are subjected to discrimination and oppression in various domains. They are unable to pass on their nationality to their children, affecting their access to education, health care, and social services (Human Rights Watch, 2020). They are underrepresented in the Lebanese labor market, with only one in three women acquiring paid work (World Bank, 2020). Patriarchal laws and practices favor the rights of men over women. Personal status matters such as divorce and child custody are often decided upon in religious courts that apply different standards and procedures for different sects, resulting in unfair treatment of women (Amnesty International, 2015). The combination of patriarchal laws and practices with a culture that openly disrespects women makes it increasingly difficult for women to challenge the status quo and advance their rights.

In 2020, Lebanon passed a law identifying sexual harassment as a crime. However, this legislation has been criticized for being inadequate and ineffective in punishing perpetrators or protecting victims. The new law defines sexual harassment as any act or speech that violates the dignity or privacy of a person with the intention of obtaining sexual benefits or causing harm (The Legal Agenda, 2020). Legal experts and human rights groups have identified several flaws and gaps in the law:

1. The burden of proof is placed on the victim rather than the accused perpetrator.
2. The law does not apply to all forms of sexual harassment, including online harassment and harassment by strangers.
3. Clear procedures or mechanisms for reporting, investigating, or prosecuting cases of sexual harassment are not provided.
4. Adequate protection or support for victims is not provided, such as confidentiality, anonymity, or compensation.

No steps have been taken to implement a law criminalizing marital rape or legislation removing the disadvantage of women in divorce and child custody cases. Lebanese women have made significant contributions to their country, particularly during recent protests and crises. Yet their country has failed to recognize their contributions and respond to their demands. In conclusion, Lebanon appears to have ignored their outcries and will continue to deny them their rights and dignity for as long as possible.

Note: This article was created with the help of ChatGPT.

References

Amnesty International. (2015). Unequal and unprotected: Women’s rights under Lebanese personal status laws. https://www.amnesty.org/en/documents/mde18/002/2015/en/

Human Rights Watch. (2020). Lebanon: Discriminatory nationality law. https://www.hrw.org/news/2020/10/14/lebanon-discriminatory-nationality-law

The Legal Agenda. (2020). Sexual harassment law: A step forward but not enough. https://english.legal-agenda.com/sexual-harassment-law-a-step-forward-but-not-enough/

UN Women. (2019). Marital rape: Where is it illegal? https://interactive.unwomen.org/multimedia/infographic/violenceagainstwomen/en/index.html#/maritalrape

World Bank. (2020). Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages 15+) (modeled ILO estimate) – Lebanon. https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SL.TLF.CACT.FE.ZS?locations=LB