Invitation A Vision for A New Lebanon.
Invitation A Vision for A New Lebanon.

'A Vision for A New Lebanon' is an initiative by The Peace Research Institute Oslo's Middle East Centre. It aims to facilitate dialogue in Lebanon around key topics essential to creating a modern vision for a better Lebanon and to encourage consensus-building around the reforms needed to realize this vision.

The initiative consists of a series of events bringing together a diverse range of participants from across the national spectrum, including new members of parliament, local and community figures, activists, and representatives of educational institutions, social movements, unions, and non-governmental organizations.

In our upcoming event we will focus on "the post-election landscape, reality and reform" from a social-political perspective. Participants will engage in panel discussions to identify key issues and priorities for action. Questionnaires will be circulated to bring further focus into the discussions.

Program

Day 1 - 25 June 2022

09:30 - 10:00 Registration

10:00 - 10:30 Welcome – PRIO

Watch the recording of the welcoming speeches and session 1 here:

  • Arabic version

  • English version (coming soon)

  • Greg Reichberg - Research Professor, PRIO

  • Harry Tzimitras - Director, PRIO Cyprus Centre

  • Khaled Zaza - External Associate, PRIO

10:30 - 12:00 Session 1: The Lebanese National Idea

Moderator: Sobhiya Najjar - Journalist

Panel:

  • Dr. Ali Mourad - Assistant professor in Public Law, BAU
  • Journalist Saada Allaw - Head of Journalism Department, Legal Agenda
  • Dr. Wissam Laham - Lecturer at the Institute of Political Science, USJ Beirut

Discussion, questions and comments

12:00 - 12:30 Coffee Break

12:30 - 14:00 Session 2: Institutions Past and Future

Watch the recording of session 2 here:

Moderator: Journalist Yumna Fawaz - Founder and Director of U for Political and Media Consulting

Pan el: "Democratic Institutions and The Rule of Law"

  • MP Ibrahim Mneimneh - Member of the parliamentary Budget Committee
  • Dr. Jamil Mouawad - Senior fellow at the Arab Reform Initiative (ARI)
  • Journalist Diana Mokalled - Co-founder and Managing Editor of Daraj Media
  • Journalist Layal Bou Moussa - Investigative journalist and PhD candidate in Law

Discussion, questions and comments

14:00 - 15:30 Lunch

15:30 - 17:00 Session 3: Inclusivity

Watch the recording of session 3 here:

Moderator: Journalist Doja Daoud - Feminist activist, press freedom advocate, and founding member of the Alternative Press Syndicate

Panel : "Women in Lebanese Political Life"

  • MP Dr. Halime Kaakour - Member of Parliament
  • Verena el Amil - Student and political activist
  • Dr. Rania Arab - Lecturer at the Lebanese University
  • Alya Awada - Feminist activist and director of NO2TA the Feminist Lab

Discussion, questions and comments

Day 2 - 26 June 2022

Watch the recording of the summary and session 4 here:

11:00 - 11:15 Summary of Day 1

Henrik Buljo Anstorp (Coordinator, PRIO Middle East Centre)

11:30 - 13:00 Session 4: Policy Aspects and Implementation

Moderator: Adam Shamsedeen - Investigative Journalist

P anel: "What policies are needed for a new Lebanon?"

  • MP Dr. Abdel Rahman Al Bizri - Health Department
  • Journalist Riad Kobeissi - Investigative journalist & researcher
  • Lawyer Nizar Saghieh - Co-founder and Executive Director of Legal Agenda
  • Lawyer Mohammad Sablouh - Head of the prisons committee at the Tripoli Bar Association and expert on penal justice

Discussion, questions and comments

Watch the recording of the final discussions here:

13:15 - 13:45 The Road Ahead

  • Summary of conference discussions: Henrik Buljo Anstorp (Coordinator, PRIO Middle East Centre)

  • General discussion and drafting of common blueprint on fundamental elements for a new Lebanon