President of the LUPD, President of the Arab Forum for Persons with Disabilities, and one of the founders of the Arab branch of Disabled Peoples’ International.

Since 1986, Sylvana Lakkis has been fighting under the LUPD (formerly LPHU), as one of the leaders of the disability rights movement in Lebanon, and has brought her expertise to organizations of disabled people in the Arab world. She worked with her colleagues in the 1990s to push the government to pass Law 220/2000 on the rights of persons with disabilities, and has fought alongside them over the past two decades to implement this law as well as the International Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD).

Sylvana’s scope of work included human rights and development campaigns, programs and projects, and demand work for the rights of people with disabilities to work, education, health, political rights, and even the rights of disabled refugees. She participated in the 1995 Beijing Conference and established a reference research paper on double discrimination against women with disabilities. She and her colleagues presented inclusive models to the concerned ministries, and led various forms of demanding action through sit-ins, marches and meetings on disability issues in particular and on civil and political rights.

Regionally, Sylvana Lakkis pushed for the coordination of the work of organizations for people with disabilities, and the establishment of a unified organization for them, in addition to spreading awareness and transferring the pioneering models she managed in Lebanon. She has also appeared on most international human rights platforms to advocate for the rights of people with disabilities.

A researcher specialized in social and political issues and an activist in human rights and development. She has been the Executive Director of the LUPD for six years, where she held several leadership responsibilities within the union. She started her career in human rights work in 2005 as a volunteer in the “My Right” campaign, which aimed to ensure the right of persons with disabilities to political and electoral participation.

She holds a bachelor’s degree in social sciences, a master’s degree in socio-political sciences, and a diploma in socio-economic development from the Lebanese University. She is currently pursuing doctoral studies in international relations and diplomacy at the Centre d’Études Diplomatiques et Stratégiques (CEDS) in Paris, where her research focuses on the role of digital data in conflicts and its impact on governance and public policies in the Middle East, particularly in Lebanon and Syria. She has also prepared studies on administrative reform and governance issues, including research on the Trade Union Coordination Committee and another on administrative centralization and decentralization.

She prepared several research papers and reports on disability issues in Lebanon and the Arab region, and contributed to studies on the rights of marginalized groups. She also presented research papers at several local, regional, and international conferences on public policies, social inclusion, and human rights, where she discussed the impact of legislation and policies on the reality of persons with disabilities in the Arab region.

She has trained many individuals and organizations in the fields of leadership, conflict resolution, advocacy, and strategic planning, in addition to specialized trainings on inclusion and ensuring the inclusion of people with disabilities in various fields of life.

Journalist and researcher specializing in social issues. Member of the Lebanese Press Syndicate and the Union of Lebanese Writers. Managing editor of the LUPD paper magazine “WAW” (2005-2016), “WAW Arabic” issued by the Arab Forum for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, “Diversity in the Workplace Guide” (2005-2018), and other periodical publications dealing with the issues of persons with disabilities.

Prepared and edited dozens of research papers related to disability issues in Lebanon and the Arab world. He participated in several conferences on media, disability and human rights.

Samar Tfaily is a disability and inclusion consultant with over 15 years of experience in leading impactful change. As Programs Manager at the LUPD, she has successfully developed and implemented inclusion strategies in different sectors, and developed and delivered customized training programs for national and international organizations.

Ms. Tfaily holds a master’s degree in social work and has experience in program management, advocacy, and training. She is dedicated to empowering local communities and advancing civil rights and social work.

Lara Madani is the Financial Manager at the LUPD, with over 12 years of experience in financial management. Since joining LUPD in 2019, she has been instrumental in managing financial operations, promoting transparency, and optimizing the investment of resources to support the organization’s goals.

With a degree from the Arab Open University, Lara’s contributions are not limited to finance, but extend to strategic planning and decision-making within the core team. Her deep belief in inclusion and empowerment drives her to take on multiple tasks, making her an integral part of the Union’s continued success.

Nada Ozeir is an expert specializes in integrating people with disabilities, promoting social and vocational inclusion, and developing humanitarian projects. She has extensive experience in the field of social protection and combating gender-based violence, and has held leadership positions in the Lebanese Union for Persons with Motor Disabilities, including managing the community kitchen project (Access Kitchen) for women with disabilities and the national coordination of the social and vocational inclusion program. She also served as an emergency coordinator during major crises.

Besides her fieldwork, Nada contributes to academia by supervising students and advocating for the rights of social workers. She is currently pursuing doctoral studies in social work and holds certificates in mental health, social work, and medical and social assistance.

She graduated in 2012 as an occupational therapist and began her journey in making the environment accessible to everyone.

She is currently an accessibility consultant working on adapting space, tools, programs, and policies, and raising awareness about the culture of diversity so that everyone has the right and access to everything in life.