Dr. Pamela Chrabieh

I was delighted to be invited to join the virtual session of the NORFoRB gathering in Copenhagen on April 23, 2025, as part of the conversation titled:

“FoRB in a shifting world order – Middle East: What is the status of FoRB in Middle Eastern societies and what is the role of FoRB in strengthening civil society and citizen rights in these societies?”

It was an honor to contribute alongside fellow partners from the region and to bring a lived, local perspective into the discussion.

In my intervention, I highlighted key insights drawn from the 2022 Dar al-Kalima University & CAFCAW’s position paper on FoRB, and from my ongoing work, both academic and grassroots:

• FoRB in the Southwestern Asia/Middle East must be contextualized—it’s inseparable from larger struggles against authoritarianism, occupation, sectarianism, and patriarchy.
• Diversity isn’t lacking in the region—it’s mismanaged. FoRB cannot thrive under systems that instrumentalize identity to divide or control.
• Gender is central. Most women in the region face oppression under religious personal status laws. FoRB must support civil legal options that ensure choice and equality.
• I shared the story of Kulturnest, a cultural initiative I co-founded with my sister in Beirut, which has become a safe, vibrant space for artistic freedom, dialogue, and expression—especially for marginalized communities.
• Finally, I emphasized the transformative power of cultural praxis—how art and culture can go beyond policy to foster empathy, challenge structures, and nurture civic spaces where FoRB is not only protected, but truly lived.

Thank you to NORFoRB and all the participants for the rich exchange. These conversations are vital as we collectively imagine and build futures rooted in dignity, justice, and freedom.