In collaboration with the Arab Institute for Women (AiW), the US Middle East Partnership Initiative Tomorrow\u2019s Leaders Gender Scholars Program (MEPI-TLS) at LAU hosted its second annual end-of-year conference, titled MEPI-TLS Scholars for Sustainable Gender Equality, on June 7 at Irwin Hall.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
The conference featured a keynote address by UN Under Secretary General and Executive Director for UN Women Sima Bahous, panel discussions led by gender experts, as well as poster and oral presentations by TLS scholars who reflected on their experiential and evidence-based learning, and recommended strategies and policies for realizing equality, peace and development.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
In his welcome address, LAU President Michel E. Mawad expressed his pride in the work of the 126 MEPI-TLS scholars who have successfully completed their journey at LAU \u2013 pointing to the university\u2019s roots as a women\u2019s college. \u201cSince day one, this institution has been about women empowerment and gender equality. We have built a university culture around it, producing generations of women leaders who have made a difference,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
On behalf of the university, Dr. Mawad thanked the American people, the US government through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the US Department of State MEPI for their years-long generosity that has produced outstanding results in terms of academic programs, research, advocacy and activism.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
\u201cThe programs that we are able to launch and support thanks to MEPI have been among the most impactful of any programs we offer, and their effect can be felt in multiple ways, in Lebanon and the region,\u201d added Dr. Mawad.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Acting Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy, Janae Cooley, opened her address with words of encouragement and advice for TLS scholars as they begin their professional journey. She emphasized that the US government is currently investing more than $70 million in the MEPI-TL programs, which includes the undergraduate, graduate and college-to-work pipeline programs, alongside TLS.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Addressing the scholars, she said: \u201cYou are the heart of a growing and vibrant culture of gender studies at LAU, and your journey on this program could not have been possible without the people that supported you \u2013 the distinguished professors, the experts and the activists, so I would like to thank them as well for being champions of social justice and gender equality, and I would like to recognize the LAU team\u2019s effort in managing this scholarship program.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
In her recorded keynote address, Sima Bahous spoke about the reality of the gender gap in the Arab world, providing the latest figures on women\u2019s participation in the workforce, women\u2019s political participation, and the caretaking roles that women fill in Arab societies.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Giving an example, Bahous noted that \u201cArab women took 41 percent of all pandemic-related job losses, reaching a female labor force participation low of 20.8 percent \u2013 the largest gender gap among all regions, globally.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
That is why, she continued, \u201cyour work on women\u2019s economic empowerment, women\u2019s participation and the media has never been more needed at this time of interlocking crises and deepened inequalities.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
To that end, TLS Academic Director and Assistant Professor Lina Kreidieh took the stage to underline the importance of \u201cteaching and empowering our youth on the impact of gender discrimination and the need to push for positive, transformative change,\u201d which is at the core of the TLS program.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Before transitioning to the panel portion of the event, AiW Director Myriam Sfeir highlighted how the institute mainstreams gender in all courses at LAU \u2013 one of them being the TLS program. \u201cThe institute works closely with the students and invites them to seminars, conferences, and webinars, as well as engages them with internships,\u201d she said, adding that AiW had recently recognized the work of student researchers by publishing their work in a special edition of Al Raida journal.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
The conference included three student panels: \u201cEnsuring a Safe and Inclusive Workplace for a More Sustainable Development,\u201d moderated by LAU Title IX Director and LAU-MEPI TL Gender Expert Jennifer Skulte-Ouaiss; \u201cDiversity and Inclusion for Sustainable Peace and Security,\u201d moderated by UN Women Mediation Advisor Karma Ekmekji; and \u201cThe Representation and Reception of Gender and Sexuality in Media,\u201d moderated by LAU Assistant Professor of Multimedia Journalism and Communication Gretchen King.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Delivering the closing remarks, MEPI-TL Program Executive Director Dina Abdul Rahman reflected on how the program has offered means of \u201csupport and inspiration and has been a driver for us to move on, despite prevailing challenges in Lebanon.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
In a parting message to the graduating TLers, she invited them to have hope, reassuring them that \u201ctoday proves to all of you that you can change the world by taking everything one step, one issue and one person, at a time.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Source: National News Agency – Lebanon<\/p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
In collaboration with the Arab Institute for Women (AiW), the US Middle East Partnership Initiative Tomorrow\u2019s Leaders Gender Scholars Program (MEPI-TLS) at LAU hosted its second annual end-of-year conference, titled MEPI-TLS Scholars for Sustainable G…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\n