LEBANON: NOMINEE FOR 2009 INTERNATIONAL WOMEN OF COURAGE

UNCLAS BEIRUT 001530 SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE FOR G/IWI ALSO FOR NEA/FO, NEA/ELA E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PHUM KWMN KPAO LE SUBJECT: LEBANON: NOMINEE FOR 2009 INTERNATIONAL WOMEN OF COURAGE AWARD REF: STATE 99729 ¶1. Embassy Beirut nominates Ms. Maya Mansour, an attorney and human rights activist, for the 2009 International Women of Courage Award. ¶2. Ms. Mansour is a partner at the Public Interest Advocacy Center, PINACLE, and is a member of the Institute of Human Rights at the Beirut Bar Association. She serves as a pro-bono lawyer for human rights cases that not only are important on their own merits, but also push the Lebanese courts to implement the International Human Rights Convention. Among her many accomplishments, Ms. Mansour successfully worked on a case to legalize the status of refugees in Lebanon, including Iraqi and Sudanese refugees; and in another case provided legal guidance to battered women to educate them on ways to use the legal system to defend themselves against further abuse. She is also proud of her work to ensure the implementation of the United Nations Children's Convention during a case in which she obliged a divorced father to register his minor children in school. Her passionate work on the rights of refugees, children, women, and gender-related violence has earned her the respect of the legal and human rights communities in Lebanon and brought needed attention to issues that would otherwise be ignored in Lebanon's lively political arena. ¶3. In addition, Ms. Mansour has provided training in human rights issues, youth intercultural dialogue, and peace and democracy for approximately 500 youth and young leaders in Lebanon and internationally at schools, universities, and social clubs. In October 2008, Ms. Mansour began teaching human rights courses at the Beirut Arab University, continuing her focus on spreading the word about human rights issues in Lebanon. ¶4. Ms. Mansour's professional background as an attorney and as an advocate for human rights, as well as her efforts to educate and train youth in these issues, contributes to strengthening the role of women and underserved communities in Lebanon. Her activities also strengthen the fabric of civil society by promoting human rights awareness. Ms. Mansour's commitment to ensuring human rights are discussed, respected, and implemented in Lebanon, a country of intense religious, sectarian, and socio-economic conflicts, makes her an ideal candidate for the International Women of Courage Award. ¶5. Listed below are Ms. Maya Mansour's personal details, as requested, per reftel. ¶A. Full Legal Name: Maya Mansour ¶B. Job Title/Association: Attorney at Law ¶C. Date of Birth: 04 October 1976 ¶D. Citizenship: Lebanese E.: Passport Number: RL 1023584 ¶F. Address: Achrafieh- Bani Assaf Street- Beirut, Lebanon ¶G. Telephone: +961-3-306-276 ¶H. Email: mansourmaya@hotmail.com ¶I. Notification: Ms. Mansour was notified and approved of her selection as Embassy Beirut's candidate for International Woman of Courage Award. SISON