Resources pooled at international conference on gender research

14th to 16th January, 2008. Lebanese-American University in Beirut.

An international conference titled The Status of Gender Research in Denmark and the Arab Region.

Opening session of the LAU conference on the Status of Gender… From left to right: Dr. Mahmoud Issa, Senior Consultant, KVINFO; Dr. Abdallah Sfeir, VPAA, LAU and Dr. Dima Dabbous-Sensenig, Director, IWSAW (2007).

The conference brought together The Danish Center for Information on Women and Gender (KVINFO) and The Institute for Women’s Studies in the Arab World (IWSAW) of the LAU with the aim of addressing the current challenges of gender research in both Denmark and the Arab region in two simultaneous workshops, Women, Minorities and Migration, and Women, Secular and Religious Laws.

With the inclusion of expert speakers, presentations, discussions and workshops the conference successfully realized its major goal of creating a network among researchers working on gender in Denmark and the Arab region.

The participants of the conference on gender at the LAU, LERC’s Associate Director Guita Hourani (seventh from left back) (2007)

The expert speakers drew attention to the research status in the countries of Denmark, Lebanon, Jordan, Syria, Palestine, Morocco, Tunisia, Algeria, and Yemen and with each presentation being followed by a time for discussion.

With the presentations taking place in the morning sessions, the afternoons were dedicated to two simultaneous workshops conducted by two scholars, one hailing from Denmark and the other from the Arab region. Discussions were split into two. Workshop I focused on the theme of women, minorities and migration while Workshop II concentrated on women, secular and religious laws.

It was felt that the participation of all concerned in the topics had created a sound understanding and a basis for future co-operation among researchers working on gender and related issues. Moreover, members working within the network established during this conference were encouraged to discuss future research ideas for more research possibilities.

Ms. Guita Hourani, Associate Director of the Lebanese Emigration and Research Center at the Notre Dame University represented the Center and participated in the three day event as a migration expert on Lebanon.

LERC’s Associate Director Ms. Guita Hourani (front right) participating in the gender conference held at the LAU.