Towards Eradicating Confessional Tensions

POLICY BRIEF

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Lebanese citizens are bound socially, economically, politically and personally to a sectarian system that perpetuates itself in continuous cycles of violence and subjugation. In its preamble, the Lebanese Constitution states that “Lebanon is a democratic, parliamentary republic founded on respect for public liberties, the foremost of which are freedom of opinion and belief, and on social justice and equality in rights and in duties for all citizens without discrimination or distinction.”

Yet existing government policies and practices do not reflect the principles of justice, fairness, and equality. Civil society organizations (CSOs) play an essential role in promoting citizenship and democratic values, and should deploy efforts to free citizens from the binds of religious sects as a first step to eradicating confessionalism and reducing sectarian tensions.

With the 2013 parliamentary elections approaching, there is a golden opportunity for civil society to pressure Members of Parliament (MPs) for electoral law reform and better political representation. Advocates of a civil status law also have an opportunity to capitalize on a2009 Ministerial Decree that allows citizens to remove reference to their sect in personal records. Moreover, civil society should strengthen its demands for citizenship education and a unified history book, especially since the Ministry of Education is

currently in the process of reforming civic education in public schools.

This brief proposes three mutually reinforcing policy areas promoting a nonconfessional proportional electoral system, a civil status law, and a civic education curriculum.

In light of the above, this policy proposal aspires to:

Ensure free, fair, and non-sectarian political representation that promotes citizen rights;

Reshape citizen-state relationships through civil status reform;

Promote citizenship values and social cohesion through education reform and adoption of a unified history book.

These interrelated steps will help overcome sectarian tensions and advance efforts to replace the confessional system with a just, democratic, and civic system.

Adoption and implementation of these policies requires a long-term process that involves new, innovative strategies at the local and national levels aimed at linking the suggested reforms to the legitimacy and stability of the Lebanese democratic system. CSOs and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) should work on multiple fronts to raise awareness of these issues, pilot actions with a maximum number of citizens, and support government in implementing reforms.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

This policy brief was developed by Beyond Reform & Development , part of Brd/I Group S.A.L., in close collaboration with experts, activists and civil society organizations.

Lebanon, 2012

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The Problem

Lebanon’s confessional system of government is a common denominator that is blamed for violence, under-development, and the inability of citizens to influence political outcomes. Sectarian diversity is not unique to Lebanon as the same pluralism exists in different countries around the world. However, sectarian identities are used to justify a discriminatory system that remains prone to corruption, foreign intervention, and continuous cycles of violence. This policy brief is based on the premise that the confessional system renders relationships between citizens and the state dependent on religious intermediaries and clientelism.

Once depicted as a peaceful means to resolve sectarian conflict, confessional power-sharing has become institutionalized in an ineffective governance system that leads to perpetual tensions and political deadlock. Manifesting itself in all aspects of government institutions, political culture, and the economy, confessionalism has blocked attempts at reforming Lebanon’s democracy towards justice, inclusion, and effectiveness.

What is needed is a rights-based approach through which all citizens are treated equally within the rule of law regardless of their religious

affiliations. The problem requires a new mechanism to redefine the relationship between citizens and the state based on their rights and responsibilities rather than sectarian affiliations.

Situation Brief Although the Lebanese Constitution emphasizes equality in its preamble, state institutions and political processes remain sectarian because:

1. Citizen rights and benefits are based on sectarian belonging.

2. Citizen-state relationships, including personal status, are governed by sectarian rather than civil laws.

3. The judicial system is ineffective and manipulated by confessional interests.

4. Political parties are sectarian-based and do not compete on national policies and issue-based platforms.

5. The education system does not foster citizenship values and social cohesion.

6. The electoral system is based on allocation of seats by confession and does not allow for free and fair representation.

The Urgency

With the upcoming parliamentary elections of 2013, the escalation of sectarian discourse, and the deterioration of security and economic conditions, civil conflicts will increase. A policy to eradicate confessionalism and improve the state-citizen relationship within a free, just civil state is the only way out of a vicious cycle of recurring conflicts.

Only when individuals become real citizens in Lebanon can we plan and start a systematic and structural change process.

Dr. Paul Salem,

Director of the Carnegie Middle East Center.

FRAMIng ThE ISSUE

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Civ

il st

atus

law

s ti

ed

to s

ecta

rian

bel

ong-

ing

& r

elig

ious

cou

rts

> When it comes to rights associated with birth, marriage, death, inheritance, political freedoms, and civic participation, citizens must belong to a sect to be recognized by the state.

> Religious courts, funded by the government, control civil status matters based on each citizen’s confessional affiliation.

> The existing civil status laws frame citizens’ relationships with the state through their sects.

Reg

ulat

ing

polit

ical

pa

rtie

s

> There is no specific law to regulate political parties in Lebanon. These groups fall under the 1909 Ottoman Law of Association that guarantees freedom of association.

> Political parties are sectarian-based and have no incentive but to represent sectarian interests.

> Political parties supply social services to their constituents directly or through the public institutions they control.

Civ

ic e

duca

tion

in

scho

ols

> The existing curriculum, teaching methods, and teachers’ capacities leave students with weak citizenship education.

> There is no unified history book to provide collective memory, foster social cohesion, and value diversity.

> Private schools, predominantly sectarian-based, are of better quality than public schools and attract more students.

Confessionalism dominates the political discourse and citizens’ consciousness. Yet concrete measures to eradicate it and improve governance have been suboptimal. This section presents existing policies, laws, and practices, and their shortcomings. In assessing the current legal framework, we used four key indicators that are essential for any policy option aimed at eradicating confessionalism and reducing sectarian tensions:

1. promote social cohesion

2. ensure free and fair representation

3. promote justice and the rule of law

4. protect civil and political rights

LookIng AT EXISTIng PoLICIES, LAwS And PRACTICES

Social Cohesion

Free & Fair Representation

Justice & the Rule of Law

Civil & Political Rights

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2

1

Assessment

Assessment

Maj

orit

aria

n el

ecto

ral

syst

em b

ased

on

seat

s di

vide

d pe

r re

cogn

ized

sec

ts > The existing electoral system does not respect Article 24 of the Constitution, which calls for an electoral law that does not follow sectarian distribution of power.

> The electoral law falls short of the democratic standards called for by civil society due to the absence of an independent elections commission, pre-printed ballots, women’s quota, lowering of the voting age, voting by the diaspora, and a proper framework for campaign finance and media regulations.

> The majoritarian system does not fulfill true representation as districts are defined based on sectarian majorities.

Judi

cial

syst

em

depe

nden

t on

othe

r st

ate

pow

ers

> The judicial system lacks autonomy, from the appointment of judges to legal proceedings and outcomes.

> A lack of human and technical capacity in the justice sector leads to inefficiency in establishing the rule of law.

> The legislative framework required to ensure social and economic justice is based on outdated texts that do not respond to citizens’ current needs and priorities.

Policy Law

Practice

Policy Law

Practice

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“ Sectarianism is not a result of religiosity, but is rather used for political ends.

Dr. Randa Antoun, Associate Professor at

the American University of Beirut

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Policy options

Assumptions Objectives Strategies Advantages Disadvantages Experts’ Take Policy options

Elec

tora

l Law

R

efor

m

> A free and fair proportional, non-sectarian electoral system guarantees agenda-based representation and enables accountability.

> Reform the existing electoral law to adhere with international standards and respect the Constitution in eliminating sectarian division of seats.

> Build a critical mass that calls for a new electoral law as a means to develop the country and prevent civil strife.

> Improves representation based on issue-based platforms rather than sects, and enables a new generation of political leadership.

> Requires a large and organized critical mass of reform-minded actors to achieve change.

“The electoral law is a fundamental pillar of the democratic system.” Amin Wehbeh, Member of Parliament

Electoral Law

Reform

Civ

ic E

duca

tion

R

efor

m

> Schools and universities can promote social cohesion and enable civic participation based on citizen rights and duties.

> Reform the civic education curriculum, adopt a unified history book, and enable teachers to deliver the new curriculum.

> Develop and advocate for a civic curriculum and a history book, and provide technical assistance to incorporate it into the education system.

> Builds on previous efforts and precedents adopted by civil society and some private schools.

> Low capacity in schools and universities to implement a new curriculum.

“We need to develop an educational system that promotes belong-ing to country and citizenship values.”Dr. Arda Ekmekji, Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Sci-ences at Haigazian University

Civic Education

Reform

C

ivil

Stat

us L

aw

> Freeing citizens from sectarian status laws will combat clientelism and reframe a direct relationship between citizens and the state.

> Ensure passage of an optional civil status law by Parliament and enforce implementation mechanisms.

> Persuade cross-sectoral civil society and political groups to promote civil marriage as a basic freedom.

> Decreases the influence of religions courts and encourages inter-communal marriages and acceptance.

> Religious and sectarian leaders are powerful opponents of this policy option.

"Civil society can bene-fit today from regional events and uprisings to push for a fair civil status law.”Dr. Paul Salem, Director of the Carnegie Middle East Center

Civil Status Law

Polit

ical

Par

ties

La

w

> Issue-based political competition and internal party transparency lead to enhanced responsiveness to citizen needs and priorities.

> Set standards for political party governance and funding, and create monitoring mechanisms to enhance performance.

> Develop a law proposal and lobby for it as a means for political reform, and establish a monitoring mechanism for party funding.

> Exposes the shortcomings of existing political parties and invites new party structures as model representatives.

> Existing political parties are resistant to change.

“Sectarianism was built into Lebanese society and politics, and can be unbuilt. It is not innate to us.”Dr. Tamirace Fakhoury, Professor at the Lebanese American University

Political Parties Law

Judi

cial

R

efor

m

> An efficient justice system protects citizen rights, ensures equity, and fosters the rule of law.

> Reform the judicial system to ensure its autonomy and efficiency.

> Adopt a governance model for the judicial system that ensures autonomy, transparency, and efficiency.

> Reestablishes citizens’ trust in the judicial system and the rule of law as an alternative to sectarian clientelism.

> High resistance to change and low capacity in judicial bodies.

“Our judiciary system should be strong and protected from exter-nal influence.” Sleiman Takieddine, Lawyer and Legal Expert

Judicial R

eform

ConSIdERIng PoLICY oPTIonS

The following table describes policy options for reducing sectarianism based on thorough research and participatory consultations with stakeholders around the country. Each policy is based on different assumptions, has a specific objective and strategies, and offers both advantages and disadvantages.

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Reform the electoral law to ensure free, fair, and non-sectarian representation that promotes citizen rights. This will allow citizens to elect their representatives based on platforms and ensure a proportional, non-sectarian electoral system, opening the door for a new generation of political leadership free from sectarian boundaries.

Promote a new civil status law that reshapes citizens’ relationship with the state independent of religious intermediaries. This will help to free citizens from the influence and clientelism imposed by confessional leaders, political groups, and religious institutions.

Improve civic education by introducing a citizenship curriculum and a unified history book that promote citizenship values, social cohesion, a culture of tolerance, and collective memory, replacing sectarian subjugation and polarization.

The Ta’if Accord that ended the Lebanese civil war states in its preamble: “The abolition of political sectarianism is a national priority.” Due to its entrenched and complex nature, eradicating sectarianism requires a multidimensional approach. The sectarian system manifests itself both on a personal and collective level, as well as on national and local level.

While all of the five proposed options mentioned above would create a solid foundation for replacing the confessional system with a civic and just democrat-ic system, this policy brief recommends an approach focused on the first three policy options—electoral law reform, civic education reform, and civil status law—as the most urgent and actionable by CSOs, NGOs, and community-based organizations (CBOs). This three-pronged approach focuses on reshaping the citizen-state relationship through measures aimed at empowering citizens at the political, personal and cultural levels:

On the long run, it is important to complement these efforts to reshape citizen-state relationship by working on:current situation presents three key challenges:

Designing and implementing new standards for Political Parties governance,

Reforming the judiciary to ensure autonomy, transparency and efficiency.

These options, in addition to the implementation of some elements of the Lebanese Constitution, such as Article 22 related to the creation of a Senate and Article 95 related to establishing a national commission to eradicate sectarianism—all of which will require political will at the highest levels, would help create an overall enabling environment to reduce sectarianism.

RECoMMEndIng PoLICY

Reshaping the Citizen-State Relationship

Pi l lar Pi l lar

Pi l lar

“ Sectarianism was built into Lebanese society and politics, and can be unbuilt. It is not innate to us.

Dr. Tamirace Fakhoury, Professor at LAU

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As this policy brief is being written, the electoral law is being debated within parliamentary committees and among political parties. The next step will be to place the law on the agenda of Parliament’s General Assembly for a vote. The current situation presents five challenges:

Parliamentary committee discussions on the electoral law do not present a real opportunity for reforming key articles that would enhance political representation as they are focused on districting and maintaining the status quo of power distribution among the main sectarian groups in the country.

The timeframe between concluding parliamentary committee discussions, placing the law on the agenda of the General Assembly, and voting on it might not allow sufficient time for civil society to influence the process or the outcome.

Any reform will require a substantial number of executive decrees and follow-up decisions that may distort implementation of the reforms (similar to the out-of-country-voting reform that was enacted in 2008 but not implemented during the 2009 parliamentary elections).

Civil society groups are demanding participation in the parliamentary committee discussions, but are being revoked by political blocs within Parliament.

There is no indication that proportional representation will pass in a way that allows candidates and voters to be represented outside the confines of sectarian groups. The Civil Campaign for Electoral Reform (CCER), a national civil society coalition spearheaded by the Lebanese Association for Democratic Elections (LADE), has been pushing for electoral reform since it was launched in 2006, with mixed results. As the parliamentary elections of 2013 approach, CSOs and NGOs must make strategic choices that include one or all of the following:

Join CCER and actively lobby from within Parliament while monitoring discussions on the proposed reforms so that key articles to improve the process and enhance representation are not removed or diluted by the parliamentary committees or General Assembly.

The National Commission for the Reform of the Electoral Law developed, in 2006, a law proposal based on proportional representation with large districts that calls for key reforms in line with international standards such as creation of an independent elections commission, use of pre-printed ballots, lowering of the voting age, establishing a women’s quota, and enabling diaspora Lebanese to vote.

CCER launched a campaign, in 2006, to advocate for the above reforms.

In 2005, the Cabinet formed the National Commission for Electoral Law, chaired by former minister Fouad Boutros, which developed a mixed electoral law proposal combining proportional representation with the majoritarian system.

Launch simultaneous campaigns that break down the demands for reform among different stakeholder groups. Using coordinated actions, these groups should seek to link each of the reforms to citizens’ right for better representation and publicize flaws in the electoral process and gather citizen support to continue advocating for reforms.

Empower candidates representing civil society’s agenda to run for parliamentary seats, such as through the “Take Back Parliament Campaign” (www.vote2013.org), and seek to form new blocs committed to reforming the electoral system and eradicating sectarianism from within Parliament.

Past Proposals & Reform Efforts

ThE wAY FoRwARd

Pillar Reform the Electoral Law

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>

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Pillar

Promote a New Civil Status Law

The current legal framework binds citizens to their sectarian identities and does not allow for a direct relationship with the state based on citizen rights and responsibilities. This issue has been on the agenda of civil society for decades, but there was no mechanism to promote civil status reform until a Ministerial Decree was issued in 2009 allowing citizens to remove their sect from their personal records. The current situation regarding civil status laws presents the following challenges for civil society to consider in the next phase:

The influence of religious leaders and institutions has been a tremendous obstacle in enabling any government to enact civil marriage laws or to reduce the role of religious courts in settling personal status issues.

There is no consensus among civic activists as to whether a secular civil status law should be compulsory or optional, which undermines civil society’s ability to mobilize citizens for change.

In recent years, several NGOs including CHAML (Non-Sectarian, Non-Violent Young Lebanese Citizens), Tayyar Al-Mujtamah Al-Madani, Nahwa Al-Muwatiniya, and the Civil Center for National Initiative, alongside lawyers and intellectuals, have been promoting civil marriage and a new civil status law. With the lead-up to the next parliamentary elections, civil society can play an important role in pushing for a serious national dialogue on these issues through one or more of the following approaches:

Join CHAML’s advocacy campaign to mobilize public support and pressure Parliament to discuss the draft civil status law presented in 2011.

Launch a new campaign that collaborates with religious leaders to arrive at a compromise for an optional civil status law to ease fears from abolishing sectarianism while allowing citizens to choose not to be represented by their sectarian identities alone.

ThE wAY FoRwARd

The first draft law on civil status was prepared in 1971 by legal experts and advocates Abdullah Lahoud, Norma Melhem, and Joseph Moghaizel, and was adopted by the Democratic Party.

In 1996, former Lebanese President Elias Hrawi proposed an optional civil status law.

In 1997, the Syrian Socialist Nationalist Party (SSNP) also proposed a draft civil status law to Parliament.

In 2007, the Civil Center for National Initiative in collaboration with Nahwa Al-Muwatiniya and Tayyar Al-Mujtamah Al-Madani, launched a campaign to mobilize citizens to remove reference to their sectarian affiliation from the civil registers which led to the issuance of a decree in 2009 by former Interior Minister Ziyad Baroud declaring it a constitutional right.

>

>

>

>

Past Proposals & Reform Efforts

Launch a local and national-level campaign calling for citizens to remove reference to their sect from personal records. Such a campaign should aim at reaching a critical mass of people who do not have a sectarian identity in their personal records, creating the need for civic laws to govern their personal and political rights. This group could then

join calls for reforming the electoral system so that non-sectarian citizens can also be represented in state institution.

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Pillar

Improve Civic Education Lebanon’s educational system is an extension of sectarian politics and a main contributor to confessional tensions. Schools and universities are a common site for recruiting youth into sectarian political parties as well as a key indicator of the schisms that exist in Lebanese society. The Ministry of Education, with support from the European Union, is currently developing a civic education curriculum that presents civil society with an opportunity to influence national discourse on this issue. The current situation presents civic actors with the following challenges:

Any proposal for integrating a new curriculum in the public education system requires the involvement of the Ministry of Education and Cabinet’s approval.

The weak capacities of public schools and Lebanese universities, both in terms of human resources and infrastructure, make it difficult to develop new curricula and modernize teaching methodologies.

The absence of consensus on the events, dates, and interpretation of Lebanon’s contemporary history hinders the adoption of a unified history book. The debate on this issue

has been dominated by the fears and polarization fueled by sectarian leaders.

Several NGOs, including Tayyar Al-Mujtamah Al-Madani, Nahwa Al-Muwatiniya, and the Lebanese Center for Civic Education (LCCE), have been working on civic education programs. Civil society can build on these efforts by forging alliances with parents’ committees, teachers, civil servants at the Ministry of the Education, and the business sector to adopt one or more of the following approaches:

Launch a campaign to monitor the current debate within the Ministry of Education, participate in the discussions, and publicize the deliberations to the public.

Launch a nationwide campaign to propose criteria for a civic education program that responds to citizens’ expectations and helps enhance the quality of public education.

Form a committee of experts and practitioners to offer technical assistance and build the capacity of teachers and professors to implement a new civic education curriculum that includes citizenship education and a unified history book.

Launch an initiative to document and present a new history book that is impartial but offers students an accurate description of events, allowing them to form their own analysis and personal judgments.

ThE wAY FoRwARd

In 2007, the Ministry of Education developed a strategy that includes reforming civic education, which was approved by the Cabinet in May 2010. In 2009, Nahwa Al-Muwatiniya launched “Daleel”, an active citizenship curriculum that was adopted by some private universities. As part of the 2009 Human development report titled “Towards a Citizen’s State”, the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) developed a comprehensive study on civic education in schools. In 2010, a ministerial committee was formed, including civil society representatives, to develop a comprehensive reform plan for civic education. In 2010, a committee was assigned by the Ministry of Education to study the first draft of the Lebanese history curriculum, which was developed by a group of historians. In 2012, the Ministry of Education received funding to reform civic education.

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Past Proposals & Reform Efforts

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FUTURE ACTIon

National Level Local Level National Level Local Level

Ref

orm

th

e El

ecto

ral

Law

Exp

ecte

dO

utco

me Parliament passes important reforms, such as lowering of the voting age,

diaspora voting, use of pre-printed ballots, and creation of an independentelections commission

Parliament adopts a new proportional, non-sectarian electoral system

ExpectedO

utcome

Refo

rm th

e Electoral LawSt

rate

gy

Empower existing NGO coalitions, civic movements, and social media activists to monitor and publicize parliamentary committee discussions and General Assembly voting on theproposed reforms

Link proportional representation to local needs and development priorities, while nominating new candidates independent of existing sectarian parties to run forparliamentary seats

Focus the civil society coalition’s campaign to putting pressure on the Cabinet to issue decrees and monitor government institutions’ compliance with the laws passedby Parliament

Build t h e capacity of local stakeholders to put pressure on entities at the governorate, district, and municipal levels to publishinformation as per the passed laws.

Strategy

Pro

mot

e a

New

Civ

ilSt

atus

Law

Exp

ecte

dO

utco

me

Civil marriage is on the agenda of Parliament and the Cabinet, and linked to thebasic rights of citizens

A comprehensive civil status law is passed by Parliament and citizens’ relationship with state institutions is not bound by a sectarian legalframework

ExpectedO

utcome

Promote a N

ew C

ivilStatus Law

Stra

tegy

Enable a critical mass of citizens to remove reference to sect in their personal records, and ally with couples doing inter-religiousmarriages

Build a network of progressive “mukhtars” willing to assist citizens in removing reference totheir sect in personal records

Create a national coalition representing different sectors, senior officials, and reputable judges to call for a civil status law and lobby for it with all politicalgroups

Nominate individuals interested in serving on a National Committee to Eradicate Sectarianism and begin lobbying for separating religious affairs from state institutions and courts

Strategy

Impr

ove

Civ

ic E

duca

tion

Exp

ecte

dO

utco

me

A number of private schools and universities adopt a new civic educationcurriculum and start implementing it for secondary-level classes

Public schools and Lebanese universities adopt an active citizenship curriculum and a unified history book that enhances social cohesion, valuesdiversity, and promotes a sense of civic responsibility

ExpectedO

utcome

Improve C

ivic EducationStra

tegy

Develop civic education guidelines, monitor the Ministry of Education reform process, and pressure foradoption of these guidelines

Partner with municipalities, CSOs, NGOs, and CBOs to provide active citizenship programs to youth groups in several villages, and document success stories/case studies to support implementationof the civic education guidelines

Launch a national initiative led by capable teachers and civil servants calling for a new civic education curriculum thatincludes a unified history book

Lobby MPs to support and adopt the new civic education curriculum and unified history book by linking these demands to local development, social cohesion, and stability at the community level

StrategySHORT TO MEDIUM TERM LONG TERM

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During the last decade, several initiatives have aspired to eradicate sectarianism from the Lebanese political system. In all past attempts, religious and political leaders have interfered to oppose any reforms that threaten the interests of sectarian elites and political parties. Most recently in 2011, and inspired by the Arab uprising, a civic movement began calling for an end to the confessional system under the slogan “the people want the fall of the sectarian regime".

Though it mobilized more than 20,000 people in one of its demonstrations, the movement could not sustain itself due to political, organizational, leadership, and resources challenges, as well as lack of a clear agenda. Despite the failure of past attempts, there is consensus among civil society around the need to maintain the pressure on government to adopt meaningful reforms aimed at chipping away at the confessional system, especially as the 2013 elections, a window of opportunity for change, are drawing nearer and citizens’ readiness to act is increasing.

The following are suggestions for illustrative activities based on expert roundtables, interviews, and focus groups, which can be adopted by CSOs, NGOs, and CBOs to press forward towards a just, democratic civic state.

ILLUSTRATIVE ACTIVITIES

Illustrative Activities at the Local Level:

Engage local constituents in lobbying their MPs to support a new electoral law.

Participate in elections monitoring and highlight the negative impact of the existing electoral law on sectarian tensions.

Follow up with the Constitutional Council and Prosecutor General on cases of vote-buying by political parties and sectarian leaders.

Discredit MPs who enter Parliament as part of a sectarian agenda.

Nominate local leaders to lead a national campaign calling for the establishment of a Senate and making the state impartial to sectarian interests and influence.

Organize local campaigns to motivate citizens to remove reference to sectarian affiliation from their personal records.

Partner with inter-sectarian married couples and enable them to advocate for a civil marriage law.

Develop informal civic education programs and deliver them in local schools; then document and share the experience with the Ministry of Education.

Conduct citizenship programs in rural areas that are strongholds of sectarian leaders.

Conduct community-level dialogue sessions that foster collective memory and encourage reconciliation.

Illustrative Activities at the National Level:

Organize a mass campaign advocating for electoral reform ahead of the next elections.

Nominate election candidates who represent non-sectarian interests and agendas.

Launch a national campaign mobilizing citizens to remove any reference to sectarian affiliation from their personal records

Advocate for a new civil status law.

Develop programs and materials compiling cases and tools for active citizenship education and propose them to the Ministry of Education.

Monitor the reform project undertaken by the Ministry of Education and engage

with the Education Center for Research and Development, an autonomous entity under the trusteeship of the Ministry of Education, to reform the civic education curriculum.

Use alternative media to influence voters by showcasing the negative effects of the sectarian system on the economy, civil peace, and the education system..

Expose the unmet needs of citizens in areas such as employment, health, and electricity services as direct results of sectarian representation and the absence of national development agendas.

Promote and publicize cross-confessional dialogue and interactions aimed at reconciliation and overcoming societal divisions.

“ The issue requires a new mechanism to redefine the relationship between citizens and the state, one that is based on rights and responsibilities.

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The suggested policy option must be endorsed by key stakeholders and policy-makers to be implemented. The influence that the various stakeholders yield on the decision-making process will determine how they should be engaged and the messages they should receive. Below is a list of stakeholders to be considered.

> President of the Republic > Cabinet of Ministers > Ministry of Education > Municipalities > Ministry of Interior & Municipalitie > Judicial branch

> Political parties > Lawyers & Judges > Civil servants > Constitutional Council > Electoral candidates > United Nations agencies

> Public & private schools > Public & private universities > Syndicates > Bar Association > Media > Voters > Academia & Research Institutes > NGOs, CSOs & CBOs > Lebanese diaspora > Youth groups

Each of these entities requires a different strategy and approach to ally it with the suggested policy. The following table highlights the incentives for the key stakeholders to adopt or support the proposed policy. These incentives can form the basis for developing communication messages to persuade the stakeholders to take action.

Stakeholders Incentives

Parliamentary Blocks &Committees

Rebuild trust and credibility by modernizing the legal, political, and education system to respond to the needs ofyouth specifically and of the general public more broadly

Cabinet &Ministries

Decrease violence and confessional tensions by setting strategies to ease the fears of religious groups while making state institutions impartial to the parochial interests ofsectarian groups at the expense of the public interest

Civil Servants & ConstitutionalCouncil

Reclaim their role, credibility, and authority to ensure respect for the Constitution, protect civil peace, and foster socialcohesion

Political Parties & ElectoralCandidates

Reclaim their role and authority while becoming morerespected by citizens

NGOs, CSOs,& CBOs

Become more informed on the means of eradicating sectarianism and more influential in promoting a solution toexisting shortcomings in the democratic process

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PARTIAL LIST oF REFEREnCESEngAgIng wITh dIFFEREnT STAkEhoLdERS