Remarks by the Women Peace Building Network in Lebanon 22 January 2024

Your Excellency Ms. Marion Weichelt,

Ambassador of Switzerland to Lebanon; 

Your Excellency Ms. Anne Meskanen, Ambassador of Finland to Lebanon;

Mr. Imran Riza, Deputy Special Coordinator of the United Nations in Lebanon, Resident Coordinator, and Humanitarian Coordinator;

Ms. Gielan Al-Messiri, Representative of UN Women in Lebanon;

Mrs. Claudine Aoun, President of the National Commission for Lebanese Women;

Ladies peacemakers,

Esteemed audience,

Good evening, and thanks to all of you.

We meet here this evening to celebrate the commitment, cooperation, and shared vision of a more peaceful Lebanon.

On behalf of my colleagues in the Women Peacebuilding Network in Lebanon and with them, I stand here before you with great gratitude and joy to announce the launch of the Women Peace Building Network in Lebanon, which has become visible through the support of the Governments of Switzerland and Finland, and thanks to the endeavors and efforts of the UN Women Lebanon team, and the commitment and work of 16 women, active in building peace in Lebanon.

The Women Peacebuilding Network is more than just a network, but rather a mirror of joint determination and hope that emulates Lebanon's National Action Plan to implement resolution 1325 of the United Nations Security Council. The resolution affirms the central role of women in leadership, participation in, and achievement of inclusive and sustainable peace.

This evening, we renew our commitment to articulate women's contributions to peacebuilding in Lebanon. We declare our commitment to the independence and inclusiveness of this network that includes active members in the field of peacebuilding at the local, national, and international levels, with extensive experience in peacebuilding-related areas, including mediation and diplomacy, conflict resolution, transitional justice, research, political affairs, and interreligious dialogue. The network will be a living testimony to women's leadership role, through capacity-building, experience-sharing, and networking with other peacebuilding networks and organizations.

As we meet this evening, we cannot forget the harsh reality of the war and the pain sweeping through southern Lebanon and in Gaza.

Distinguished guests,

Our homeland, Lebanon, has suffered and continues to suffer from the cruelty of war, strife, and violence. It has long aspired for peace, security, and order. Therefore, we are confident that our goals, work, and ongoing endeavors are necessary. Despite the whims and madness of war, peace remains the longing of humanity.

As for you ladies and colleagues in the network, I address you with a saying that I love, by the Lebanese thinker and writer Mikhail Naimy. He says: "Love to see what is unseen, illuminate and walk wherever you wish".

Ladies, Peacemakers of Lebanon,

Thank you for despite the darkness, you love humanity and respect people; you find them good, deserving of paving a better path with them.

Thank you for loving Lebanon, seeing it as peaceful, and striving to achieve that.

Thank you for loving your sisters, seeing them as seeds of influential, empowered leaders, and working to make them so.

Ladies and gentlemen,

On behalf of all women members of the Peacebuilding Network in Lebanon, I thank everyone who thought, organized, supported, and worked to form this network, which allowed us to meet and create connections and friendships.

Finally, on behalf of my network colleagues, we officially announce today, January 22, 2024, as the launch day of the Women Peace Building Network in Lebanon.

Long live Lebanon, free and peaceful.

Jessica Abou Haidar Matar