In this interview with Femena, Lebanese women human rights defender and social activist Intisar Mokdad discusses the ongoing insecurity and humanitarian challenges facing communities in southern Lebanon despite the announced ceasefire. She highlights the continued fear of renewed displacement, attacks on civilians, and the difficulties women face in accessing healthcare, livelihoods, and essential services.
Intisar also reflects on the changing roles of women during the war, as many have become primary breadwinners, community leaders, and frontline responders supporting families and other women. She discusses the compounded challenges faced by pregnant women, women with disabilities, refugees, migrant women workers, and girls at risk of child marriage, as well as the psychological pressures faced by women human rights defenders working in dangerous and unstable conditions.
She calls for meaningful protection of civilians, flexible funding and support for feminist and local organizations, and the full inclusion of women in recovery, reconstruction, and decision-making. She also stresses the importance of documenting violations and ensuring accountability, emphasizing that sustainable peace cannot be built without justice and guarantees for the rights of women and girls.