Australian Ambassador and UN Women Delegation Visit Amel Center in Ain El Remmaneh

Mohanna, Women’s Empowerment Is a Prerequisite for Social Recovery and Stability

The Australian Ambassador to Lebanon, Andrew Barnes, accompanied by a delegation from the Australian Embassy, and a delegation from UN Women that included Ms. Hasnaa Mansour, Women’s Economic Empowerment Programme Officer, as well as Programme Assistants Nour Abdel Reda and Om Kalthoum Ahmad, visited the Amel Health, Social, and Development Center in Ain El Remmaneh. The visit aimed to learn more about the organization’s programmes and its role in supporting and empowering women and girls. It took place as part of the “16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence” campaign, in which Amel Association International participates annually through a series of activities across its centers.

The Ain El Remmaneh Center is one of the core centers of Amel Association International. Established in 2009, it has continuously developed its programmes in line with the evolving needs of the community. The center later expanded to include a specialized primary healthcare unit on the first floor, providing quality medical services to residents of the area and surrounding neighborhoods. During the recent war, the center served as a vital lifeline for the people of Ain El Remmaneh and nearby suburbs, continuing to deliver emergency and essential services despite extremely challenging conditions.

The visiting delegation toured the center’s various departments and reviewed the health and humanitarian programmes it provides to thousands of rights holders. These include, in particular, women’s empowerment programmes at the social and economic levels through vocational training, psychosocial support, and awareness raising, in addition to health and education services and elderly care programmes.

The center witnessed a significant expansion of its activities starting in 2019, as part of Amel Association’s response plan to the repercussions of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Beirut Port explosion, and the economic and social collapse. This has positioned the center as one of the most active community hubs, continuously responding to people’s daily needs without interruption.

In his welcoming remarks, Dr. Kamel Mohanna received the Australian Ambassador and the UN Women delegation, stressing that Amel Association, as a non-sectarian civil organization, will continue to struggle for human dignity and the building of a state based on social justice, regardless of how difficult the circumstances may become. He noted that the organization is currently mobilizing its maximum field capacity through its network of 40 health and development centers and mobile clinics to respond to the multidimensional crisis, by strengthening health and relief programmes that serve marginalized areas. This work is led by around 2,400 staff members and volunteers who operate with dedication and commitment, in an effort to consolidate the transformative model pioneered by Amel, as a model to be emulated in building Lebanon as a state of citizenship and justice.

Dr. Mohanna emphasized that Amel’s investment in women and girls is a core component of its human rights-based mission centered on dignity and rights. He explained that the center constitutes a safe space that enhances women’s capacities and equips them with the tools needed to protect themselves from all forms of violence, including digital violence, which has become one of the most pressing contemporary challenges. He added that Amel’s centers embody a philosophy that integrates relief, development, and empowerment, transforming these spaces into laboratories of hope where stories of change are created day after day.

The Australian Ambassador and the accompanying delegation also attended an awareness and creative arts session organized at the center as part of the 16 Days campaign. The session included a detailed presentation on the concept of digital violence and ways to address it, as well as an artistic workshop during which participants transformed their creative works into visual digital messages expressing strength and empowerment, and highlighting the rights of women and girls in both physical and digital spaces. The delegation engaged in discussions with women and girls about their perceptions of digital violence, their daily challenges, concerns, and aspirations, and listened to personal stories reflecting resilience and a strong desire for change. Amel staff emphasized that these activities are part of the organization’s ongoing commitment to supporting women and girls, providing them with space for self-expression, and strengthening their leadership and visibility within society.

For his part, Ambassador Andrew Barnes expressed his admiration for the work of Amel Association and the human spirit with which it manages its field programmes. He noted that the center’s ability to continue operating through the most difficult circumstances, from war to successive crises, demonstrates the depth of the organization’s commitment to people. Ambassador Barnes affirmed that Australia values partnerships that generate tangible impact on the ground, and will continue to support cooperation with initiatives that promote equality, protect women and girls, and strengthen communities.