Activities of the Women's Associations in Lebanon

The Lebanese Women's League

The Lebanese Women's League held its monthly meeting on May 11, 1951, and after the reading of the minutes and the taking of resolutions, two ladies spoke: Mrs. Mona Beyhum Sweireh on "The Place of the Modern Japanese Woman in Culture, Politics, and Economics," and Mrs. Laure Tabet on "The Congress of the International Council of Women." The hall of the Military Club was packed with those attending, and their talks made the most beautiful impression, being interrupted again and again by applause.

As for Mrs. Laure Tabet (Lebanon's delegate to the congress of the International Council of Women, which convened in Athens in 1951, where she was unanimously elected vice-president of the Council), she spoke of the founding of the International Council of Women in 1888; of its aim, which is to encourage the women of the world to found councils in their own countries, provided that the countries be independent; and of its goal, which is to improve woman's condition, raise her social level, and make her the equal of man in rights and duties. She mentioned that the Council has held consultative status with the United Nations and UNESCO since 1947, and that its standing committees, each working in its own specialty, are in contact with governments and carry out the resolutions concerning:

International relations; the amendment of laws and the demand for the right to vote in every member country where woman has not yet obtained this right; upbringing and education; the protection of juveniles; emigration; publicity and publication; labor; the liberal professions; the fine arts; the cinema and the supervision of films; and finance. As for the works it has accomplished, they are many, and so are the resolutions, among them:

1 - The circulation of cultural films for children, to be exported to all countries free of customs duty.

2 - The protection of woman and her equality with man, especially in crimes of murder — that is, that a man who sets out to kill his wife on grounds of marital infidelity be punished with death.

3 - The establishment of a women's police force in all countries.

4 - The compulsory teaching of household management to girls and boys in the schools.

5 - The provision of modern, healthful housing for workers and the poor.

6 - The encouragement of the happy home and contented family life.

7 - The creation of a school for parents, in which parents learn modern methods of upbringing.

In conclusion Mrs. Laure Tabet presented the question of the Palestinian refugees, portrayed their wretched, miserable condition, and insisted that the Council adopt their cause; after long debate the following resolution was passed: "The return of every refugee to his country, if he was driven out of it against his will."

The Lebanese Women's Union

* The members of the Union declined to take part in the various congresses to which it had been invited, in view of the weakness of its budget.

* Mrs. Anissa Najjar, president of the peace committee, presented a report on her committee and asked the Union to join the Women's Union for Peace in Geneva; the members rejected the proposal on the grounds that the Union would gain nothing from it.

* The Lebanese Women's Union held its general meeting on May 16 in the city of Sidon at the invitation of the Ladies' Renaissance Society there. After a beautiful journey we arrived in Sidon, and the ladies of the association were all waiting to receive us at the club of the Rabita. When the circle was complete, Mrs. Salwa Moumina, vice-president of the Union, opened the session with a lovely speech in which she thanked the ladies of the Renaissance for their great hospitality; then the secretary, Mrs. Anissa Najjar, read a fine, well-ordered report on the Union's work during the year and on its hopes and aspirations.

Then the president of the association welcomed the Union's delegation with kind words that won the delegation's approval.

Then Miss Dora Dagher, the secretary, read a report full of eloquent testimony to the efforts of the association's working members and their far-reaching activity; and after partaking of refreshments and sweets we bade them farewell, thanking them for their great hospitality.

* On May 5 the Union held its grand fête at the International Club under the patronage of His Excellency the Prime Minister Riad Bey al-Solh and his wife; they attended the fête, and the members of the Union surrounded them with warm hospitality and honor.

Many notables and men of standing donated prizes for the fête, among them a round-trip ticket on Middle East Airlines (won by the wife of Fadi Bey Bustros), another on the French air lines (won by Mr. Ayrani), and various other prizes.