A parliamentary committee of Lebanon advised striking down a law that allowed the sentences of convicted rapist to be commuted if they marry their victims. Today, rapist can marry their victims in Lebanon.
It is difficult to determine the number of women who have been affected by this law. These abuses take place in situations where the victim knows the rapist who can be a cousin or neighbor. The community exerts pressure on the victim to accept the offer of marriage.
Roula Masri, a manager with the local gender-rights NGO ABAAD, declared that there is psychological trauma and victims usually have to undergo therapy. The abused women may feel that sex is disgusting. Usually, the girls are obliged to marry the rapist. The relatives pressure the victims to save the family honour.
Men convicted of rape in Lebanon can go to jail for even five years. The proposed changes to the law would increase the legal punishment to seven years, and classify rape as a crime against women. Today, the Lebanese law does not see rapists as criminals.
The Article 522 of Lebanon's penal code allows for suspending the conviction of someone who has raped, kidnapped or committed statutory rape, if he marries the victim. This law is seen as a relic of the past, but some people in Lebanon believe that with these laws they are protecting the abused girls.
Modernising the legal system is a good step but improving the sexual education across the Middle East is necessary too.
Each week, four women are victims of sexual violence in Lebanon. But the real number could be higher, not all the victims make it public because they do not have faith in the justice system.
Many women in Lebanon believe that these laws are not enough and that society will not change because it favours men.
