A/HRC/31/18/Add.1
and subsequent internal clashes and conflicts with Israel, as well as to overcome
political confessionalism.
37.
People committed to common citizenship across religious and denominational
lines sometimes voiced frustration about typical misunderstandings of such notions
as “secularity” or laicité, which they felt were often wrongly perceived as a proxy
for atheism. The Special Rapporteur had numerous discussions on these issues.
Admittedly, the broad variety in which these and similar terms are used may create
confusion and misunderstanding. It seems important, in any case, not to confuse the
inclusive space provided by the State for religious diversity with an anti -religious
attitude.
38.
Civil society organizations, which are a vibrant reality in Lebanon, work to
broaden the space in which people cooperate on political issues across diverse
religious and denominational backgrounds. Many civil and human rights activists
campaign for a unified Civil Code in order that every citizen of Lebanon may be
treated equally, across denominational lines, including those who do not profess any
religion. The educational system obviously plays a critical role in promoting “civic”
principles, including human rights, on which the Constitution is based.
39.
Social media activism has also played an increasingly popular and important
role in social, civil and human rights movements, especially among young activists
in recent years. In 2014, Lebanon was listed as one of the five most active Arab
countries in the use of social media networks, and had the highest rate of female
social network users in the region. This facilitates cross-boundary communication,
builds coalitions and strengthens relationships, while it also offers instant visibility
and access to information; indeed, activism for women’s rights made significant
progress in 2011 through social media.
D.
Power-sharing and “balancing”
40.
The Special Rapporteur noted that the term “balance” often came up in
discussions on the relationship between religious communities. Reference to a
workable “balance” (often in conjunction with the term “equilibrium”, which has a
similar metaphorical connotation) seemed to be indicative of the way in which the
Lebanese manage their religiously diverse society. The term is used, depending on
the specific context, to convey different meanings: sharing power among different
communities, in particular Christians, Sunnis and Shias; building trust on the basis of
respect for each community’s vital interests; respecting religious sensitivities by
avoiding unnecessary provocations; or being aware of particular challenges, not least
the demographic challenges that might undermine the existing system of coexistence.
Concerns about how to uphold the existing balance were also typically voiced in
discussions about the recent influx of refugees from the Syrian Arab Republic.
41.
Notions like “balance” or “equilibrium” seem to reflect a pragmatic, yet
cautious approach to handling diversity issues. They therefore reveal a certain
ambiguity: on the one hand, respect for inter-confessional balance reflects openness
for the vital interests of other communities and prevents monopolies of power, which
certainly constitutes an important accomplishment; on the other, reference to a
delicate balance may also reflect a will to prevent existing structures from
developing out of fear that any far-reaching change to the status quo might
jeopardize the legacy of interreligious coexistence in Lebanon.
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