In this interview with Femena, Zeinab Dirani, a Lebanese human rights defender and feminist activist, reflects on the escalating humanitarian and security crisis in Lebanon, particularly in the Beqaa region, amid ongoing conflict and displacement. She describes how years of economic collapse, compounded by renewed violence and Israeli bombardment, have created a climate of instability, fear, and recurring displacement. This has left communities living in constant uncertainty.
Zeinab highlights the disproportionate toll on women and women human rights defenders, who face escalating risks including violence, digital threats, economic hardship, and intensified caregiving responsibilities. Through the work of the community center Zawaya Jiran, she illustrates how grassroots feminist initiatives are adapting to provide safe shelter, psychosocial support, and access to education for displaced families. She concludes with a call for stronger feminist solidarity, direct funding to local actors, and coordinated advocacy efforts, emphasizing that women’s most urgent demand today is simple yet fundamental: safety, dignity, and the right to live.