The Arab Institute for Women at The Lebanese American University

OUR MISSION
Advancing gender equality and empowering women is at the heart of AiW’s mission. By engaging in a unique combination of education, research, development programs and outreach with a focus on issues affecting Arab women, AiW represents a vital resource at the national, regional, and international levels, and a leading institution at the forefront of the advancement of women and the promotion of gender equality in the Arab world.
AiW raises the profile of gender as a cross-cutting issue by promoting a multidisciplinary approach within the Lebanese American University (LAU) community. The Institute engages students, faculty, and staff to integrate gender issues across all programs of study. AiW ensures that options in gender studies are available to students from a wide range of disciplines, and also offers specialized qualifications in gender and women’s studies, in order to build a far-reaching knowledge base that incorporates gender perspectives, and promotes gender equality and human rights in the Arab world.
The Institute also conducts and supports innovative academic research on women in the Arab world, and partners with a variety of organizations to deliver development programs addressing key issues in the region with a view to promoting gender equality, empowering women, and serving as a catalyst for policy change on women’s rights.
AiW focuses on 5 pillars:

Education
Research
Development
Outreach
LAU Engagement