CRTD.A seminar on women’s participation in constitutional reforms in Arab countries

The Collective for Research and Training on Development – Action and the Women Learning Partnership, organized an interactive seminar with Mr. Saul Ortega, the head of the delegation of Venezuelan Parliamentarians visiting Lebanon with the participation of Venezuelan Ambassador to Lebanon, Ms. Suad Karam.  The seminar sought to share the Venezuelan experience in drafting the Constitution and ensuring that the constitution is explicit in its upholding and protection of Gender Equality and social justice.  The key idea was to draw lessons and inspirations to feed into current processes of constitutional reforms in the Arab region.
The event was organized at the Social Sciences Campus of the Saint Joseph University and brought together a diverse group of some 60 participants from Bahrain, Iraq, Jordan,  Libya, Lebanon, Morocco, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen who shared their own experiences in constitutional reforms.
To be noted that the seminar was held within the framework of the WLP Global Training of Trainers workshop which was held from 3 to 7 July and focused on developing leadership skills as well as promoting women’s political participation.  The workshop highlighted the importance of adopting civil constitutions which guarantee equal rights to women and men, as well as to minorities while fully embracing human rights and freedom of belief.  The drawing of such constitutions ought to include the setting of transparent, accountable and efficient institutional mechanisms for implementation.