Enhancing the inclusivity of the LGBTI community in workplaces in Lebanon

With the support of the European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights (EIDHR), SIDC and ACTED held a national conference to announce the closing of a two-year project “Enhancing the inclusivity of the LGBTI community in the workplace in Lebanon”, with a crowd of attendees and human rights activists at Hotel Padova – Beirut, on Friday, February 25^th, 2022.

During the day, SIDC and ACTED highlighted the importance of the project and all the accomplishments “Around 120 documented cases of abuse against LGBTI people in the workplace in Lebanon, such as discrimination, stigmatization, bullying and expulsion”.

The representative of the European Union, Mrs. Alessia Squarcella, started the conference, praising the efforts of SIDC and ACTED in advocating the LGBTI rights, and the role of cooperation between civil society, the private sector and relevant ministries, in order to empower target groups and protect their rights in the workplace.

SIDC’s Executive Director, Ms. Nadia Badran, highlighted the importance of raising awareness about gender rights and engaging the LGBTI community in the labor and health sectors.

ACTED Country Director in Lebanon, Mr. Jack French, emphasized the continuity of efforts based on this project, to take further actions that include policies to protect the rights of the LGBTI community in Lebanon.

The national conference was attended by representatives of the European Union, ministries, UN agencies, private sector companies, NGOs, representatives from syndicates and orders and journalists, during which the results and recommendations of the project were discussed to facilitate coordination with all related sectors in the future.