Meet the fathers championing gender equality in Lebanon

In a world where equality is still a distant goal, Abdulrahman and Habib, two dedicated Lebanese fathers, are championing gender equality and fighting gender-based violence in their communities.

Abdulrahman, a 56-year-old father and veteran from the remote village of Wadi Khaled in North Lebanon, and Habib, a 40-year-old father and restaurant owner from the busy city of Saida in South Lebanon, both come from highly populated rural areas plagued by high levels of violence and instability, as well as a lack of services and economic opportunities.

“The economic situation has taken a big toll on us,” said Abdulrahman. “I have seven children, and I never used to worry about anything, but now, the situation is different.”

“I lost my job during the economic crisis, so I opened up a small restaurant to support my family,” added Habib. The COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent quarantine measures, coupled with the deteriorating economic situation, led to a significant increase in conflicts and abuse within families. This was a major risk factor in the rise of gender-based violence incidents. As a result, many struggled to cope with the situation.

“Work was very slow. I would come home after a long day feeling angry and sad, and I felt disconnected from my family,” expressed Habib.

Above: Men participate in Cycle of Violence sessions through the Australian Humanitarian Partnership response in Lebanon. Photo: Plan International Lebanon

To promote healthy relationship dynamics, Plan International Lebanon and its partner International Medical Corps introduced the Cycle of Violence Sessions as part of the Australian Humanitarian Partnership response, know locally as the AMANI project, specifically addressing male participants in the community. These activities were tailored to effectively support individuals and families in navigating and overcoming conflict during the crisis.

The Cycle of Violence module consists of three sessions focusing on Life and Daily Stressors, the Cycle of Violence, and How to Deal with Stress. Through these sessions, participants were able to gain insight into the dynamics of power and control in relationships and families. They learned strategies to break harmful cycles and promote healthy, non-violent interactions. The sessions also encouraged participants to reflect on personal behaviors, challenges, and beliefs, while developing new skills for conflict resolution and effective communication.

“No one ever asked me before, ‘How are you doing?’ or ‘What’s stressing you?’” said Habib, expressing the comfort he felt during the sessions, knowing that someone was there to listen carefully to the struggles and challenges he and other fathers and caregivers were facing. He continued to explain that he felt comfortable during the sessions after getting familiar with the other participants. “We used to discuss the details of our situation and sometimes work together on coming up with solutions.”

The sessions became a refuge for many men in the communities of Wadi Khaled and Saida, who found solace in sharing their feelings and the struggles of parenthood amid the crisis. The men in these communities are actively seeking knowledge and contributing to breaking the cycle of violence, working towards social and behavioral change. “There’s a lot more to learn. Knowledge allows us to build a strong foundation for a more equal society,” said Abdulrahman.

The AHP response in Lebanon, supported by the Australian Government, focused on critical protection issues facing women, girls, men and boys during the country’s economic crisis.