Women’s Inheritance Rights:

Introduction:

This report explores women’s inheritance rights in Lebanon through an in-depth examination of practices within the Baalbek-Hermel governorate, an area marked by strong customary traditions, socio-economic vulnerability, and a complex legal environment. As part of the “My Right to Inherit and Possess” project, supported by the Women’s Peace & Humanitarian Fund and technically assisted by UN Women, the study specifically investigates how women in this region navigate formal inheritance laws amid deeply rooted patriarchal norms and legal pluralism.

The data collection for the study, conducted between March and August 2024, combined 21 Key Informant Interviews and a quantitative survey of 1,500 respondents to explore perceptions and practices related to women’s inheritance rights in Baalbek-Hermel. The KIIs included 7 legal professionals, 8 municipality officials, and 6 religious’ leaders, and focused on questions concerning the religious and legal definitions of inheritance, the extent to which religion supports or restricts women’s inheritance, mechanisms and reasons for deprivation, fairness of women’s inheritance shares, legal provisions and court outcomes, and the impact of marriage on a woman’s ability to retain inherited assets. The survey, composed of 78 questions, was conducted with a sample of 53.8% females and 46.2% males from Baalbek-Hermel area. It collected detailed demographic and socio-economic data and explored attitudes toward inheritance rights, legal awareness, family dynamics, and willingness to seek legal assistance. Together, the qualitative and quantitative tools provided a comprehensive understanding of individual experiences and community perceptions related to inheritance and gender justice in the region.

By centering the investigation on a single geographic area, this report not only highlights the region-specific barriers to women’s inheritance, but also sheds light on how localized customs and power dynamics intersect with national legal and religious frameworks. The findings aim to inform advocacy and policy responses that are both legally grounded and socially contextualized, with the ultimate goal of advancing justice and equity for women in Lebanon.

You can download the report from this link: 

https://www.mediafire.com/file/fv23cb9w5exw8po/Women%2527s_Inheritance_Rights_Report-EN.pdf/file