Najla Halwani

Pioneered women's education and political rights in Lebanon, advocating for gender equality and modernizing educational curricula.

Najla Halwani (1923–2005) was a Lebanese educator and feminist who revolutionized women's access to education and political participation in the mid-20th century. Born in Beirut during a time when women were largely excluded from public life, she defied societal norms by pursuing higher education at the American University of Beirut, where she graduated with a degree in education in 1945. Her career began as a teacher in rural areas, where she witnessed the stark disparities in educational opportunities between urban and rural communities, particularly for girls.

In 1952, Halwani co-founded the Lebanese Women’s Center, which provided literacy programs and vocational training to marginalized women. She later became the first female director of the Ministry of Education’s Department of Women’s Education, where she reformed curricula to include science, mathematics, and civics—subjects previously deemed 'unfeminine.' Her 1960 report Education for Equality influenced national policies, mandating equal access to secondary education for girls by 1965.

Halwani’s political activism reached its peak during the 1950s when she led campaigns to grant women voting rights. Despite fierce opposition from traditionalists, her lobbying efforts contributed to Lebanon’s 1952 law granting women suffrage. She also co-founded the AWAR Foundation, which至今advocates for women’s rights in the Middle East. Her legacy is commemorated annually through the Najla Halwani Award for Educational Innovation.

Halwani’s work extended beyond Lebanon. She collaborated with UNESCO on regional literacy projects and advised governments in Jordan and Syria on gender-inclusive education policies. Her 1970 book Women’s Education: The Path to National Progress remains a seminal text in feminist pedagogy. Today, over 150 schools in Lebanon bear her name, and her advocacy continues to inspire grassroots movements across the Arab world.