The Women’s Union in Lebanon and Syria

Though the formation of the Women’s Union in Lebanon and Syria started taking shape in 1920-1921 ¹, it was formally founded in 1924 to band together Lebanese women’s groups, associations, and activists ², in particular nationalists and leftists across Syria and Lebanon ³. It is also often referred to as the Lebanese Women’s Union; according to a plethora of sources documenting women’s movements in Lebanon, it was an active organisation with a social, cultural, and political focus ⁴. It held conferences and conventions for women from across the Arab region, and was chaired by several pioneering women, including Ibtihaj Qaddoura. In later years (1928-1929), the Lebanese Women’s Union changed to become the Arab (Lebanese) Women’s Union ⁵. In 1946, the Union bifurcated to two separate organisations: the Women’s Union led by Ibtihaj Qaddoura; and the Lebanese Women Solidarity Association, led by Laure Thabet ⁶. The two unions reunified in 1952 to form the Lebanese Council for Women.