Lebanon’s parliament is in the process of passing a new sexual harassment law that criminalizes sexual harassment. This new law would result in up to a four-year prison sentence and fines that are almost 50 times the minimum wage in the country according to
Aljazeera. The law also allows for protection to any witnesses and victims who testify in court, this is an attempt to offer support and rehabilitation to victims of sexual harassment and allow these victims the opportunity to seek compensation under the law. This is done through the creation of a new fund by the Social Affairs ministry according to
Beirut, Lebanon – Lebanon’s Parliament has endorsed a landmark law criminalising sexual harassment that could see the most flagrant perpetrators spend up to four years in prison and pay fines up to 50 times the minimum wage.
“It’s a very good law that should serve as a deterrent,” said Danielle Hoyek, a lawyer with gender equality organisation ABAAD, on Monday.
“It also provides a little bit of hope during this economic and social crisis Lebanon is going through. It shows that we aren’t living by the law of the jungle, that there are laws that you can lean on,” she told Al Jazeera.