MENA Campaign Hub
Advancing causes across the MENA region
MENA CAMPAIGN HUB is a centralized platform that gathers campaigns and advocacy efforts from the Middle East and North Africa region. It serves as a comprehensive resource, informing, connecting, and empowering countries in MENA. By bringing campaigns together, fostering cooperation, and creating a supportive network, the platform maximizes their impact, promotes collective growth, and drives positive change throughout the region while showcasing them.
Criminalize all forms of sexual harassment and rehabilitating its victims, number 205/2020
Lebanon
The National Commission for Lebanese Women (NCLW), with support from the United Nations Population Fund, is leading an advocacy campaign for the implementation of Law 205/2020, which criminalizes all kinds of sexual harassment.
Stop Early Marriage!
Lebanon
The Lebanese Democratic Women’s Gathering (RDFL) in partnership with PLAN is advocating for setting a minimum age for marriage and strengthening the enforcement of laws to protect children from being forced into early marriages.
Shame On Who?
Lebanon
This campaign was launched by ABAAD to shed light on the pervasive issue of sexual harassment and address the harmful practice of victim-blaming towards survivors of rape. The primary objective of this campaign is to advocate for stricter sanctions and expedited trials against rapists, particularly in cases of sexual violence and rape. Additionally, the campaign aims to challenge prevailing social perceptions that stigmatize and shame female victims of rape, ultimately pressuring them to conceal the crime. By doing so, the campaign strives to foster a supportive and understanding public opinion that unequivocally condemns rape as a heinous crime deserving severe and deterrent punishment.
A White Dress Doesn’t Cover the Rape
Lebanon
In 2016, under the approach of ending sexual gender based violence and with the support of many International Organizations and UN agencies, like UN Women, Plan International, Save the Children International, Diakonia and Norwegian Church Aid, ABAAD launched a campaign under the title “A White Dress Doesn’t cover the Rape” during the 16 days of Activism to end violence against women, as part of the process of demanding the abolishment of article 522 of the Lebanese Penal Code. On Wednesday December 7, the Lebanon’s parliamentary committee for administration and justice announced a recommendation to repeal Article 522 of the country’s penal code.
Lebanon has no personality
Lebanon
KAFA campaign attacks Lebanon’s personal status laws as outdated. It expresses dissatisfaction with the state of Lebanon’s civil law and personal status laws and criticizes the absence of a comprehensive civil law that would regulate the rights and duties of citizens, arguing that the reliance on sectarian laws strengthens social and sectarian divisions and perpetuates discrimination against women. The campaign aimed to expose the flaws and human rights violations within the personal status laws, with a particular focus on child marriage. The summary emphasizes the need for a civil law for personal status that ensures full equality in family-related affairs, stating that without addressing this core issue, other reforms will remain superficial.
Kelmet Alla Ysa’eda, Ma Betsa’eda
Lebanon
On the occasion of the International 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence 2013, ABAAD launched its nationwide campaign under the slogan “Kelmet Alla Ysa’eda, Ma Betsa’eda”. The idea of the campaign stemmed from the fact that despite increasing concern related to GBV, the general attitude towards the subject or GBV-related incidents is overwhelmingly passive. The campaign built upon ABAAD’s organisational belief and strategy of using positive psychology and inspirational messages to catalyse social change towards gender equality in Lebanon, and it focused on the individual and collective strengths of people in Lebanon.
No Shame No Blame
Lebanon
As part of the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence, ABAAD has launched the #NoShameNoBlame campaign to amend the Lebanese Penal Code, calling for stricter penalties for sexual assault crimes. Its main message is that sexual assault is a crime worthy of a serious sentence to achieve justice for survivors first and foremost and to protect women and girls from sexual assault crime.
Positive Fatherhood
Lebanon
The ABAAD campaign shows the effectiveness of engaging fathers in helping them learn and apply lessons concerning non-violent discipline, positive parenting, building respectful and non-violent relationships, and committing to gender-equitable roles within their families. While societal change can be slow, the “Fathers for Change” campaign demonstrated that with the right support and resources, fathers can be powerful agents in cultivating homes defined by nonviolence, gender equity, and nurturing relationships.
Deyman Waata!
#prioretytoo” nationwide campaign.
Lebanon
The country’s crises are many, but women’s and girls protection can’t be postponed any longer! One out of every two women in Lebanon considers that women’s protection should be a priority during the ongoing crisis that the country is witnessing, whereas 96% of young girls and women residing in Lebanon who have experienced domestic violence in 2021 stated that they had never reported it.
Empowering Survivors' Voices Through Graffiti Murals
Lebanon
ABAAD organized a powerful campaign to amplify the voices of rape survivors. In a bold move, women who had experienced sexual assault decided to confront their trauma head-on. Gathered in front of a mural depicting sketches of their rapists, based on the detailed descriptions they had provided, the survivors bravely shared their stories. They were shamed and blamed by society for years. But now, it was time for them to go public and shift the narrative. Through this impactful campaign, ABAAD aimed to challenge the culture of victim-blaming and create a space for survivors to reclaim their narratives. By confronting their attackers’ likenesses and speaking their truths, these courageous women demanded accountability and inspired others to break the silence surrounding sexual violence.
Life For Life
Lebanon
ABAAD’s campaign aims to amend Chapter Seven of the Lebanese Penal Code into a law that maximizes prison sentences to perpetrators of incest rape. More specifically, the call is to amend the law that condemns any offender found guilty of sexual assault of a daughter, sister, granddaughter, nieces or any person of whom he has physical or legal custody with a life sentence in prison.
We Believe
Lebanon
In Lebanon, religion holds immense sway, and the authority of faith leaders extends beyond spiritual matters to influence the state and law. This dynamic has significantly impacted efforts to protect women from family violence, as the lack of endorsement for a bill aimed at safeguarding women’s rights has diminished awareness and hindered the broader struggle for gender equality. Recognizing the pivotal role of religious leaders in shaping societal attitudes, the “We Believe” campaign was launched as part of the 16 Days of Activism against Gender Violence. Spearheaded by ABAAD, the initiative sought to leverage the positive influence of faith leaders and position them as allies in ending gender-based violence. By strategically engaging religious authorities and inviting them to join the cause, the campaign tapped into their undeniable power within the Lebanese community, acknowledging their unique ability to catalyze meaningful change and transform deeply-rooted mindsets.
BEATING IS… SHAMEFUL
Lebanon
The campaign took a unique approach, harnessing the power of masculinity to transform attitudes and behaviors. By using a “hegemonic masculine trait” – the use of power or force – in paradox against the use of violence, the campaign challenged traditional notions of masculinity in the Middle East, marking the first TV commercial of its kind in the region.
The National campaign united under the powerful message: “Beating is…shameful – Men & Women Say No to Violence against Women.” The campaign’s success was thoroughly documented through its extensive social media presence.
May God Help Her… does Not Actually Help Her
Lebanon
The campaign aimed to catalyze social change towards gender equality in Lebanon by empowering individuals and communities. It included TV/radio ads, billboards, and 5 postcards addressing men’s role in ending violence against women through education, dialogue, empowerment, reporting, and engagement.
Put Your Hand With Hers, Not On Her
Lebanon
In the light of the killing incidents that took the lives of several women in Lebanon, ABAAD and World Vision launched a new media campaign with a public service announcement carrying the message “Put your hand with hers, not on her – violence against women is a crime!” Through a “suspenseful” approach, the PSA addresses the role men can adopt in order to transform the concepts of masculinity that bound and dictate men’s behavior, focusing on men being true allies in combating violence against women.
Through Violence… Nobody comes out ahead
Lebanon
The campaign’s primary aim was to foster the Lebanese political will to exercise due diligence in addressing VAW. By shining a spotlight on the state’s role and obligations, ABAAD sought to catalyze a proactive response from both the government and the general population.
To achieve this, the campaign employed a multi-pronged approach. It raised awareness on the pervasive nature of gender-based violence (GBV) in Lebanon, while simultaneously emphasizing the urgent need to protect survivors and rehabilitate perpetrators. This holistic strategy sought to drive meaningful change by transforming societal attitudes and galvanizing concrete action from the state.
The Story Behind The Story
Lebanon
ABAAD’s 2015 campaign in Lebanon gave a platform to women survivors of gender-based and domestic violence. By sharing their personal stories through media segments, the campaign transformed victims into courageous heroines, challenging the public to engage with the lived realities behind the statistics. This strategy of humanizing the issue sought to inspire societal support and accountability, reminding that progress is measured in the dignity of survivors, not just data.This strategy of humanizing the issue aimed to inspire societal support and accountability, serving as a reminder that progress is measured in the dignity of survivors, not just data.
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