On the World Day of Social Justice - February 20
The Phenomenon of Violence Is Still Rampant in Our Societies!
MECC Contributes in Reducing It Through Awareness Sessions in Lebanon
The Middle East Council of Churches
They are practices that threaten life, health, and a violation of human rights, requiring urgent protection for the affected people... With these words, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) presents a definition of one of the most social phenomena that threatens the safety of humanity. It lies in the issue of gender-based violence. However, these phrases are not just words, slogans, and ink on paper, but rather describe a bitter reality that expresses the lack of social justice and sounds the alarm, especially with the high rate of violence around the world and in the Middle East.
What are the reason? In fact, there are countless reasons, and directly related to the daily pressures resulting from the difficult living conditions due to the crises and conflicts that cast their shadows all over the world, especially in the Middle East region, which has always suffered from many social challenges. But what are the solutions? How long will violence remain a weapon for many? Questions we must ask to those involved and concerned!
Although most victims and survivors of gender-based violence are women and girls, men and boys also often suffer from this violence that knows no social, economic, cultural or national boundaries. It is true that gender-based violence undermines dignity, safety, and physical and mental health, but in many cases, it remains hidden by a culture of silence, especially with the absence of effective laws or perhaps with no implementation of laws that protect the affected people as a result of unfair policies taken by some countries with no justice.
Awareness Sessions
In this context, the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) seeks, through its various humanitarian programs, to raise awareness about the dangers of violence. This is in order to contribute in reducing this phenomenon, which is contrary to the human values that we are losing and which are based on love, peace, justice, solidarity and cooperation... Thus, the MECC Diakonia and Social Service Department, Lebanon’s Office, implements, throughout the year, awareness sessions for women, men, teenagers and children, emphasizing the necessity of living in dignity and gender equality.
These sessions aim to empower beneficiaries, support them, and enhance their self-confidence, as they include various educational and entertaining segments that highlight the various types of violence and its repercussions, as well as ways to face it and the importance of reporting it. These sessions also help beneficiaries express their feelings and whatever is bothering them in a safe space. The sessions also provide health, psychological and social support with specialists from many fields with the aim of supporting the beneficiaries in overcoming all the difficulties that surround them in their daily lives.
Gender Equality
During one of these sessions, which was implemented by the MECC Diakonia and Social Service Department, Lebanon’s Office, we met a group of women beneficiaries at Our Lady Dispensary, affiliated with the MECC, in the Sabtieh region –Mount Lebanon. They expressed their need to talk about their problems and to have psychological support that relieves their pain.
At the Dispensary, Mrs. Nahed stressed the importance of these sessions in highlighting women’s rights and emphasizing gender equality, stressing the necessity of cooperating together as women, and wishing every woman to strive and work hard to achieve her dreams. In turn, Ms. Marlyn mentioned that God created women and men equally, so we must work to achieve a balance between both in homes and societies, and therefore it is necessary for every woman to rely on herself. As for Ms. Noel, she talked about the issue of following up on mental health with a psychiatrist, expressing, on the other hand, that she did not realize that men could make many of the tasks that women were accustomed to doing, and she advised all youth to continue their studies and not be affected by social crises.
Health, Psychological and Social Accompaniment
For his part, the specialized trainer/GBV expert Dr. Samir Shleweet, from the MECC team, mentioned that these sessions allow talking about some common, important and dangerous topics in societies. He said, "Through the awareness sessions on gender-based violence, we implement many activities that help beneficiaries take care of their mental health, and also understand their problems in order to face it properly and correctly."
He added, “in these sessions, we highlight how to report problems and talk about it in a safe place without being exposed to any kind of risk. The beneficiaries also learn ways to take care of their health and express their opinions without any prejudgments. This enhances their self-confidence and ability to do useful activities which helps them get rid of all the psychological and physical symptoms that they may suffer from.”
With all the efforts aimed at raising awareness about the various types of violence and its repercussions in order to reduce this dangerous phenomenon in our societies, achieving social justice may remain a door to finding many solutions to social problems in order to protect human rights and preserve their dignity. Hence, the United Nations indicates that momentum is growing for the concept that advancing social justice should be the central aim guiding all national and international policies. But are there any listeners to all these humanitarian demands?
In fact, social injustice is still an issue that dominates the international society, carrying many unheard pains!