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Lebanon's new women's affairs minister fails to charm

Lebanese women's rights organizations are unimpressed with the creation of the new Ministry of Women’s Affairs, saying women need more representation across the board, not the attention of a single body, particularly one run by a male appointee.
Members of the new Lebanese government pose for a picture at the presidential palace in Baabda, Lebanon December 21, 2016. The members are: (front row L-R) Finance Minister Ali Hassan Khalil, Minister of State for planning Michel Pharaon, Minister of Displaced Talal Erslan, VP and Minister of Public Health Ghassan Hasbani, Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, President Michel Aoun, Prime minister Saad al-Hariri, Minister of Education Marwan Hamadeh, Minister of Agriculture Ghazi Zaaiter, Minister of State for Pa

Since the new year, several Lebanese rights groups have been demanding that the government established by Prime Minister Saad Hariri on Dec. 18 implement a quota of 30% of seats for women in the May parliamentary elections. Women's rights organizations had expressed dissatisfaction over the appointment of a man to head the new Ministry for Women's Affairs, Jean Ogasapian.

Hariri's newly appointed government is composed of 29 men and one woman, and a ministry for women's affairs was implemented for the first time in Lebanon. Led by Ogasapian, a parliamentarian from the Future Movement and consultant for private and public institutions on social cohesion and women's empowerment, this ministry will have the task of advocating for new laws and amendments favorable to the advancement of women in Lebanese society.

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