The Rene Moawad Foundation has launched the “third Lebanese convention on the elimination of all forms of discrimination against women” as part of an EU-funded program entitled the “improvement of living conditions of underprivileged women in North Lebanon.”

The convention was unveiled during a ceremony held at Monroe Hotel in Beirut. EU Ambassador to Lebanon Angelina Eichhorst, Judge Mohammad Saab, representing Justice Minister Ashraf Rifi and President of the Rene Moawad Foundation, former Minister Nayla Moawad attended the ceremony along with representatives of civil society groups.

Moawad said the ceremony marked the beginning of a new era to bring an end to discrimination and injustice against women, which required the amendment of a number of laws including the penal code and laws pertaining to the acquisition of the Lebanese nationality as well as labor and social security laws.

Eichhorst praised Moawad for her efforts, saying the foundation has contributed a great deal to human capacity building across Lebanon.

The conference featured panel discussions between lawmakers, civil society representatives and public officials on legal reforms to end discrimination against women.