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Draft law for civil marriage in Syria

11-6-2018

Human rights activists have recently shared a draft bill on social media which calls for the ratification of optional civil marriage in Syria to be submitted to the People’s Assembly for deliberation, Al Diyar reported on Saturday. On the subject, sponsors of the above initiative said it is currently discussed and revised by jurists, maintaining that it is consistent with Syrian laws, and is optional, and therefore, not in conflict with the religious marriage laws in effect in the country. Al Diyar pointed out that the draft bill was circulated on social media to reach out to the people within a deadline which ended last Thursday. Around 63% of respondent views were in favor, which resonates a significant transformation within Syrian society. About 10 members of the People’s Assembly supported discussing the draft in the Legislature, besides a large group of Syrian journalists who backed the initiative. To recall, Syria has been witnessing civil protests calling for civil marriage, but were met with total rejection on the part of spiritual authorities. The latter to note, do not recognize civil marriage as valid and consider it as a form of adultery. (Al Diyar, June 9, 2018)

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Protecting Moroccan women workers in Spain

11-6-2018

The National Coordinating Committee for Women Associations in Morocco demanded on Tuesday that the government intervene to guarantee the protection of Moroccan female workers in Spanish farms. The Committee, which includes the Federation of the Democratic League for Women’s Rights, the Union of Women’s Action and Jossour, voiced concerns about the fate of Moroccan female agricultural workers in some Spanish fields. It referred to reports aired on Spanish media about the exploitation and abuse of Moroccan seasonal women workers in the strawberry fields in some regions of Spain. Reports featured scores of these workers being detained and transported on buses deporting them to Morocco without lodging complaints on the poor working conditions and assaults against them. The aforementioned committee issued four demands: 1) the publishing of reports on exploitation following the denial of similar assaults in certain areas, as well as following up an investigation that already began in coordination with Spanish authorities, 2) intervention to prevent arbitrary dismissal of female workers and their protection against all forms of assaults or offences, 3) legal pursuance of the issue by providing legal support and protect rights of female workers, and finally, 4) reassessment of workers’ employment contracts to safeguard their dignity and decent work conditions. (Al Diyar, June 9, 2018)

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Not in Lebanon: 11 out of 17 ministers are women in new Spanish cabinet

8-6-2018

The new Spanish prime minister, Pedro Sanchez, formed his new cabinet which for the first time in the history of Spain had a majority of women ministers, 11 out of 17 ministers. Sanchez, during a press conference on Wednesday, made clear that the new government is indisputably committed to gender equality, and maintained that for the first time in the Spanish democracy, the cabinet has more women than men in it. The new sworn-in government, he said, embraces different generations and is open to the world, but stands by and is anchored in the European Union. Among the new women appointees, are socialist Carmen Calvo who became deputy prime minister; Nadia Calvino, the director general of EU budget named as minister of economy and Dolores Delgado, a state attorney who took over the ministry of justice. (Al Diyar, June 8, 2018)

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USAID promoting the rights of marginalized women

7-6-2018

The Inaya Association held yesterday the closing ceremony for its ‘Supporting the rights of marginalized women’ project under the sponsorship of the minister of state for women’s affairs, Jean Ogassapian and the presence of a group of dignitaries. The project to note, is implemented in cooperation with the alliance of NGOs in Lebanon within the framework of the USAID-funded ‘Building Alliances for Local Advancement, Development and Investment- Capacity Building’ (BALADI CAP) program. On the occasion, Ogassapian pointed out that the issue of marginalized women is a human tragedy, blaming the political authorities who are responsible to raise awareness on the issue and approach marginalized communities. Karine Nassar, Inaya executive director, said the project supports the rights of marginalized women, particularly sex workers, with the focus on promoting policies and strategies involving their rights within the social and health care centers and institutions. For her part, program director, Nadia Badran, announced a series of recommendations notably: training graduates of universities and schools to understand the specificities of persons concerned and comply with the code of conduct related to health associations. (for more on the subject, kindly refer to the link below: https://goo.gl/obkG7F). (Al Mustaqbal, June 7, 2018)

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Future calls for a gender equitable nationality law

6-6-2018

The presidential naturalization decree which was leaked last week has sparked continuous controversy over violating the rights of Lebanese women. The Future Movement bloc stressed yesterday during a meeting held in the center house the priority of inclusion of a special draft law that observes the right of a Lebanese woman married to an Arab or foreigner to confer nationality to her children, which puts an end to the injustice against thousands of anguished Lebanese mothers. In its scrutiny of the names listed in the Naturalization Ordinance, the General Directorate of General Security requested that citizens inform of any data or information they have about the names contained therein. Meanwhile, the three political parties opposing naturalization (the Kataeb, LF and PSP) agreed during a meeting in Beirut to give priority at this stage to studying and deliberating the decree at hand. And while the prime minister Saad Hariri advised that debate over the said decree should take place within the Legislature where it is subject to careful consideration and observation, foreign minister, Jibran Bassil, said the issue has no clandestine side to it, noting that the nationality is not a commodity to be traded, and demanded a fast and serious investigation into the matter. On the subject, Al Diyar wrote today that the issue which took on dramatic proportions could place the country in direct confrontation with multiple international parties as per the names it included. Al Akhbar newspaper on the other hand, said there was no freeze of the naturalization decree, but only a delay in putting it into effect pending the General Security’s scrutiny of names is complete. (Al Akhbar, An Nahar, Al Mustaqbal, Al Diyar, June 5, 6, 2018)

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CEO of Qatar Airways: Industry can be led by men only!

6-6-2018

The CEO of Qatar Airways, Akbar al Baker, said during IATA’s annual meeting, that the Qatari Airways does not tolerate gender discrimination, but added, that “of course only a man can do this job because it is very challenging.” Baker’s comments sparked wide disapproval from the international press present in the room because of his biased attitude against women. The airline released a statement later containing an apology from Baker for the harsh remarks, but stating that they have been taken out of the context. It added that the airlines have always emphasized the leading role of women, with females representing nearly 44% of its work force. On the subject, the British Guardian wrote that, Qatar Airways has long developed a bad reputation in its unfair treatment of the female crew, notably its laying off the pregnant flight attendants. BBC for its part, said last year Baker was forced to apologize for his reproachful description of US air hostesses as "grandmothers". (BBC, June 5, 2018)

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Claudine Aoun prefers to focus on environment and not nationality!

6-6-2018

Despite the uproar against the latest naturalization decree, NCLW president and special advisor to the president, Claudine Aoun Roukoz, failed to articulate any criticism vis a vis this contentious decision which in fact has dealt a severe blow to women’s right to confer nationality, a matter that Auoun promised to address when she became president of NCLW. On the other hand, Aoun, was very much concerned key role women play in ensuring a healthy environmental life and in addressing the hazards of pollution through raising awareness in society. She pointed out that women’s participation in social, political and economic decisions that directly affect environment has become a necessity for a better and more just society. Rukuz was speaking during a ceremony held by UNIFIL at its Naqoura headquarters in South Lebanon to mark the World Environment Day 2018 under the theme, ‘Beat plastic pollution’. She outlined several environmental projects completed by NCLW like for example, a clean and healthy drinking water for women prisons in Lebanon project and supporting active environmental agencies and groups through sponsoring afforestation campaigns organized by NCLW in different parts of Lebanon. (Al Mustaqbal, June 6, 2018)

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Saudi Arabia starts issuing driving licenses to women

5-6-2018

Saudi authorities started yesterday issuing driving licenses to women three weeks before they are granted the right to drive, (https://goo.gl/WPeDXy). The state-owned Saudi Press Agency (SPA) said the General Traffic Department has started replacing international driving licenses recognized in the Kingdom with Saudi licenses prior to the projected date of June 24th, adding that a first cohort of women have already received their permits. The delivery of Saudi driving licenses has taken place in several cities and their release was made possible after verifying the validity of the (international) licenses and assessing the ability of applicants who wish to trade them through undergoing brief driving tests, SPA reported. Similarly, the information ministry’s Center for International Communication (CIC) said in statement that 10 women were issued driving licenses, anticipating an additional 2,000 women to receive similar licenses next week. (Al Mustaqbal, June 5, 2018)

Related news:
First women rally in Lebanon and first car driving day in Saudi Arabia!
Coming up next: Saudi women as taxi drivers
It is never too late: Women in Saudia allowed to drive!
 

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Hariri seeks a cabinet with 25% women representation

5-6-2018

In its issue of today, Al Diyar newspaper reported that premier Saad Hariri appointed to form a new government seeks to give women at least one fourth of ministerial seats in his upcoming cabinet. Al Diyar pointed out that Hariri has repeatedly mentioned to his guests, including MP elect Paula Yacoubian, that he wishes to see women ministers occupying 25% of the cabinet. The prime minister seems to have taken the decision to put into action the principle of ‘ministerial quota’, by appointing 2 women out of 5 ministers assigned for the quota of his Future Parliamentary bloc, Al Diyar wrote. Citing informed sources, the newspaper said Hariri has advised all parliamentary blocs to try to recruit women to represent them in the anticipated government, in order to reach a 25% quota of women ministers. On the other hand, the Future Movement MP elect, Roula Tabsh, visited yesterday the Grand Mufti, Sheikh Abdel Latif Daryan at Dar el Fatwa accompanied by MPs Bahiya Hariri and Dima Jamali. “We are honored to present to His Eminence the projected work plan which covers the various economic, political and social aspects in general, and particularly, the role of women, their empowerment and activation in society,” Tabsh said at the end of the visit. “We aspire to remove the injustices against women and society,” she added, reiterating her wish to prove that Muslim women and women in general can reach decision-making positions and make a difference at all levels. (An Nahar, Al Mustaqbal, June 5, 2018)

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Lebanese woman on trial in Cairo and women activists released in SA

4-6-2018

Egypt’s Public Prosecutor, Nabil Ahmad Sadek, referred to the criminal trial on Sunday of Lebanese citizen, Mona Mazbouh, for insulting the Egyptian people and spreading rumors that are harmful to society and offensive to religions. To recall, Mazbouh posted last week a video on her facebook account accusing Egyptians of sexual harassment, scam and theft after being exposed to bad personal experiences. Mazbouh had reportedly used offensive terms in the video which angered Egyptians who demanded her arrest. Later, Mazbouh appeared in a second video apologizing to the “respectable Egyptians” for her remarks. Meanwhile in Saudi Arabia, and following the waves of arrests of human and women’s rights defenders and the release of four of them (https://goo.gl/QQsH1i), the public prosecutor’s office clarified last Saturday that it has interrogated the accused human rights groups advocating women’s rights and announced the provisional release of 8 of them, including 5 women and 3 men, while keeping 9 others in custody. The Public Prosecutor statement also said that the detainees admitted their connection and collaboration with parties and organizations that are hostile to the Kingdom. (Al Mustaqbal, Al Diyar, June 4, 2018)

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