The Banking sector is considered to be one of Lebanon’s strong points. Indeed Lebanese banks are dynamic and successful. They get creative and cater to the needs of different customers by offering innovative banking products such as the plastic surgery loan "invented" by the First National Bank.. Despite that, until today, no bank in Lebanon gave a mother the possibility to open an account for her underage child. On December 17, 2009, BBAC (Bank of Beirut and the Arab World) became the first Lebanese bank to offer such a product. This initiative came right after the issuance of a circular by the Association of Banks in Lebanon (ABL) on December 9, specifically about giving mothers the right to open bank accounts for their underage children.　

At noon, Mrs. Barbara Shahin Batlouni who is the Country Director of Amideast became the first mother in Lebanon to benefit from this service. She opened an account for two children at BBAC in the presence of Judge Abbas el-Halabi as well as representatives from the bank, Amideast and members of the Institute of Progressive Women (IPW). This was made possible after a legal study conducted by Dr. Paul Morkos, Legal Advisor of BBAC, who was commissioned by the IPW as part of the Amideast Transparency and Accountability Grant (TAG) project. This small victory for women is a significant one in a country where mothers cannot be the legal guardian of their child, nor pass on their Lebanese nationality.

Ms. Wafaa Abed, Head of the Internal Audit department at BBAC and who is also behind the campaign led by the IPW explains how it happened:

The reason behind the initiative: Since I’m a banker, and I also work with many NGO’s for women’s rights, I often heard women complain about not being able to open accounts for their children in Lebanon. I conducted a research on the banking level and I found that in many Arab and Islamic countries like Iran or Egypt, it is possible for women to open bank accounts for minors. I also researched civil status laws and I found that there’s no law saying that women are not allowed to open bank accounts for their children.　

How come banks didn’t make this possible sooner?
When women would go to the bank for this purpose, they would be told that the father had to come and sign the papers himself, because he has legal custody. It’s about the interpretation of the law. But in reality, there was nothing preventing women from opening the account for their children. When we saw it was possible, we decided to create a banking product, specifically defined and designed for mothers and their underage children. That way we don’t breach the custody law. With time, the civil status law must be amended but for this particular case, it was not necessary.　

More about the campaign: Financed by Amideast, the IPW lead a national campaign since the beginning of 2009, and conducted the legal and economic study, with Dr. Paul Morkos and Dr. Kamal Hamdan. The campaign also included letters signed by men and women asking the Lebanese Association of Banks to help make the bank account possible. Women also sent letters to their banks, telling them they’d like to open accounts for their children. The legal study showed that the most adapted solution was a fiduciary account (The funds of which are owned by one party but managed by another for the owner’s or a beneficiary’s benefit. Editor’s note), a type of account that is not used very often in Lebanon. In this case it’s a contract between the bank and the mother to the favor of a third party: the minor. 4000 letters were sent to the Association of Banks and we also sent them the study we conducted.　

Economically what does it represent? The feasibility study shows that in the next 10 years, there will be $ 400 million in 100.000 bank accounts of this type in Lebanon.　

Impact on the status of Lebanese mothers: This removed one of the elements of discrimination against women. It also lets the child feel that both his mother and father support him. It’s really all for the benefit of the minor. The law granting custody to fathers is old and perhaps it dates from a time when women were not working. Progress is important. In Iran and Egypt there are many types of bank account allowing women to open accounts for minors,　
why wouldn’t it be possible in Lebanon?　

The status of women in Lebanon is slowly improving. Eventually, civil status laws must be the same for all but it will take time. We must proceeded by tackling each issue independently, one after the other, and we will get results. It might take more time but it will happen.　

What’s next for women in Lebanon?
I think that we should work toward the presents of women at all levels of the administration, not just in Parliament. That includes municipalities, positions where she is close to people in villages and towns or in companies. That way, people will see that women can serve people. Also, the different associations and organization for women’s rights should work together and form a network. They all have the same cause.

Source: www.iloubnan.net