Lebanon demonstrated a moderate and uneven performance in the 2024 Regional Index on Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG), reflecting progress in some areas alongside persistent structural gaps. The country recorded its highest score in Preventive Programs and Measures (88.5%), followed by Standard Procedures and Regulations (75.7%) and Professional Capacity of First Respondents (75.6%). Lower results were observed in Legal Framework and Public Policies (49.6%) and National Coordination and Regional Cooperation (45.7%), while Data Systems and Statistics scored only 7.6%, indicating the absence of a comprehensive national data system on VAWG.
Several ministries and national institutions have mandates related to the protection of women and girls, including the Ministry of Social Affairs, the National Commission for Lebanese Women (NCLW), the Ministry of Interior and Municipalities, the Ministry of Justice, and the Ministry of Public Health, in coordination with judicial bodies and civil society organizations. These institutions are responsible for prevention, service provision, coordination, reporting, and referral mechanisms related to VAWG cases.
Lebanon has ratified the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) with reservations to Articles 9, 16, and 29, and has not ratified the Optional Protocol. The Constitution does not explicitly prohibit discrimination based on sex, nor does it guarantee the supremacy of international women’s rights treaties over national legislation. Several discriminatory provisions persist in the Penal Code, Personal Status Laws, and Nationality Law, limiting full alignment with international standards.
Specialised services for women victims of VAWG are not provided through government-run shelters, and the State relies largely on civil society organizations to deliver shelter, psychosocial support, and protection services. While cooperation mechanisms exist between ministries, police, courts, hospitals, and CSOs, these remain fragmented and underfunded. The report highlights the absence of gender-responsive budgeting and dedicated public funding for VAWG services as a key structural gap.