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Countering corruption in human trafficking in Lebanon

4-6-2018

Al Akhbar newspaper wrote about the corruption in the offices recruiting migrant domestic workers (MWDWs) and which was uncovered during last week’s sit-in by a group of these agencies in front of the labor ministry. The protest, to recall, was called upon by their syndicate to demand a regulation of the sector. According to Al Akhbar, the demonstrators gave examples of the illegal methods and the bad reputation involving a black market in the industry, the illicit leasing of licenses and the inconsistent process to get these licenses, where in most cases, permits are released through fraudulent brokers mediating with the successive ministry of labor officials (for more, kindly refer to the following link: (: https://bit.ly/2LVlDPf). On the other hand, Al Akhbar drew attention to the suffering of MWDWs, including racist discrimination and injustice in legal matters, as well as, exploitation and abuse through confiscating the workers’ passports or forcing them to work in violation of the provisions specified in the signed contracts, and not paying their wages. Added to all this, Al Akhbar said, is the disrespect for the worker’s privacy and their torture by a number of recruiting offices in order to restrain or repress them. Many Lebanese, Al Akhbar wrote, tend to treat the migrant worker as one of the house’s possession. On the subject, the president of the National Federation of Employees and Workers Unions in Lebanon (FENASOL), Castro Abdallah, denounced the existence of such offices, underlining the need to regulate and organize the work of MWDWs through the state-run National Employment Office (NEO). (Al Akhbar, June 4, 2018)
 

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Human traffickers, MWDW violence in Lebanon
New warning to MWDW recruitment agencies
Labor ministry warns offices against taking money from MWDWs
Directory of services of MWDWs in Lebanon
Human traffickers, MWDW violence in Lebanon
 

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Amal Educational Institutions push back and maintain that motherhood is a natural right

31-5-2018

In response to the report published yesterday in AL Akhbar daily under the heading, ‘Amal Educational Institutions: pregnancy not allowed for teachers’, (c.f: https://bit.ly/2skncxN), the institutions released a statement signed by its CEO, Dr. Rida Saadeh, claiming that the newspaper’s report contains distorted facts. The statement maintains that is the Institution is enforcing bar against pregnancy of its teachers, it would not have granted over 100 to maternity and health leaves during the academic year.  The statement further sustains that this is the teachers’ natural right and pointing out that female teachers represent nearly 85% of the faculty. The statement said the Institution has always been fair to its teaching staff and is among the first academic establishments in the country to recompense the salary increase according to the payscale ratified recently. The institution, the statement concluded, observes the laws that recognize the rights of its employees, in terms of salaries and leaves, as well as, in incentives, respect and acknowledgment, and abides by the state laws in effect when the State itself fails to do that. (Al Akhbar, May 31, 2018)
 

Previous related news: 
Shame: Pregnancy not allowed at Amal educational institutions
 

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Iranian female student faces Khamenei, criticizes situation

30-5-2018

Iranian female student, Sahar Mehrabi, stood up to supreme leader Ayatollah Khamenei during an Iftar dinner for students on Monday and harshly criticized the current situation in Iran, recounting numerous crises and the fabrication of security cases to target activists. Mehrabi also drew attention to an ‘intensified systematic inequality in social classes in the country, a deterioration of public trust, an exacerbated environmental crisis and increase in shantytowns.’ Mehrabi mentioned the high unemployment rate and challenges facing minorities. Mehrabi addressed Khamenei complaining that investigation into the performance of institutions under his control, is impossible, namely Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps, the Judiciary, the state television and financial firms. Mehrabi also slated officials for being beyond accountability, describing the situation as ‘problematic’. She concluded by asking Khamenei: “What is your answer to questions, criticisms and protests.” In reply, Khamenei said finding a solution to the problems is not an easy thing as students expect, and suggested integrating the revolutionary, zealous and committed youth into government apparatus. He maintained that the evolution of a society requires a freedom of expression, which in turn needs a legal framework, as he put it. (Al Hayat, May 30, 2018)

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Media skills for covering VAW

30-5-2018

Fe-male association, in collaboration with ABAAD organization, launched yesterday the ‘working document on media coverage of violence against women’ at NDU, which is part of the Naseej project: ‘Enhancing Lebanon national system for the prevention, protection and response to gender-based violence’. The document, supported by the Dutch Foreign Ministry, is the outcome of a workshop that brought together experts and journalists in various legal, social and psychological disciplines, in addition to testimonies by Lebanese, Syrian and Palestinian women survivors of violence and abuse. The workshop drew a protocol for media coverage aimed to reduce the exploitation and stereotyping of women in the media, noting that NDU has fully adopted the document provisions. According to Fe-male activist, Hayat Mershad, the coming period will see coordination with the ministry of information and other media institutions to this end. In addition, a training handbook on media coverage was presented which contained sections on how to use skills to cover the news of female survivors of violence, including legal aspects, as well as, an elucidation of terminology and notions of gender-based violence. A series of training workshops on the handbook will be implemented at a later stage. (Al Akhbar, May 30, 2018)

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Fadia Kiwan honored after election as secretary general of AWO

30-5-2018

The Commission for Activating the Role of Women in National Decision honored yesterday Dr. Fadia Kiwan after her election to the position of secretary general of the Arab Women Organization (AWO). The ceremony was held under the patronage of the president of the National Commission for Lebanese Women (NCLW), Claudine Aoun Rukuz, and in the presence of Hayat Arslan. The latter after congratulating Kiwan on the new position demanded a fair share for women in the seats of the upcoming cabinet. Kiwan for her part, said, “When we unite, we can play many roles in our environment and the world,” and hoped to see a qualitative shift in the status of women at this stage. Rukuz in her turn said Kiwan’s election comes as an Arab recognition of her distinctive personality, describing her career life at various stages as an inspiration to the youth, especially her role in promoting women issues. (Al Mustaqbal, An Nahar, Al Akhbar, May 30, 2018)
 

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Dr. Fadia Kiwan director general of Arab Women Organization
  
 

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Shame: Pregnancy not allowed at Amal educational institutions

30-5-2018

In its issue of today, Al Akhbar newspaper brought attention to an internal circular issued recently by the Amal Movement Educational Institutions and which went viral on social media. The circular bars pregnancy and dubs it as an act punishable by either ‘immediate resignation’ or by unpaid leave. The circular, cited by Al Akhbar, read the following: “In the interest of academia and of students, granting a health leave due to pregnancy is prohibited. Any leave due to pregnancy related health conditions of the teacher is considered a leave-without-pay… and in the event of repeated absence from school, the teacher in question should resign immediately…” The administration in turn released a statement explaining that the above circular came after a series of suspect medical reports submitted by teachers and related to their pregnancy conditions, a fact which has adverse repercussions on the institution. The purpose of the circular, the administration statement added, is to contain the situation through intimidation. Al Akhbar wrote that, due to the uproar caused by the circular, the administration replaced the provision of resignation with a petition for a leave without pay. Meanwhile, the media officer at the National Council for the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women, Marie Debs, stressed that the labor law explicitly mandates the right of the female employee to a health leave as a result of pregnancy or other relevant reasons based on a medical report from a competent physician. Any administration that doubts the validity of medical reports can resort to alternative measures while not banning the granting of leaves. (Al Akhbar, May 30, 2018)

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Hotlines in France and US against sexual harassment in film industry and McDonalds

29-5-2018

The Cannes Film Festival which kicked off its 71th edition this month announced the launch of a hotline jointly with the French Government to help women victims report incidents of sexual harassment, Al Diyar daily reported on Thursday. This step comes in the wake of allegations of sexual assault, misconduct and abuse by American producer Harvey Weinstein against an actress and multiple women during past festivals. To recall, film stars have called for equal pay and a larger share for women in the industry. Also, black actresses have denounced the lack of representation of people of color in cinema industry. On the other hand, around 10 female workers at McDonalds filed sexual harassment complaints against the fast food corporation. On behalf of the workers, the Fight for $ 15 group which campaigns against discrimination in wages and sexual harassment, has lodged the complaints with the US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. On the subject, Fight for $ 15 said that female workers in cities like Miami, Detroit and Los Angeles, have been ignored or mocked when they reported incidents of harassment by their managers, while McDonalds made clear it is treating these allegations very seriously. (Al Diyar, May 24, 2018)

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Combating sexual harassment in S.A, fasting of unveiled women in Egypt

28-5-2018

Following a wave of arrests involving human and women rights activists in Saudi Arabia on May 15 (https://goo.gl/nN8f4C), Saudi authorities released on Friday four of the detained women activists. Citing Amnesty International, AFP said these women were within the group which spearheaded protests in the nineties demanding women be given the right to drive. No comment was given by Saudi officials on the news, AFP reported. On the other hand, a joint government committee endorsed on Wednesday a draft proposal to combat sexual harassment in the Kingdom, which will be submitted to competent parties for approval. The proposal stipulated penalties of up to 15 years-imprisonment and a maximum of 3 million Saudi Riyals (USD 800,000) for the perpetrators. (For the complete provisions, kindly visit the following link: https://goo.gl/yv1RW6). Meanwhile in Egypt, and in reply to a question on whether the fast and prayer of a woman who is not muhajabat (veiled) are recognized, the secretary general of the International Union of Muslim Scholars, Yusef Qardawi, said yes. He based his view on the fact that everything is recompensed in Islam, but advised the 'uncovered' Muslim women to wear a hijab instead of “pursuing her life in haram”, as he put it. Qardawi also admonished the Muslim woman who removes the veil for she is committing something that is proscribed by the Islamic Law in the eyes of those who look at her. By uncovering parts of her body, she is implicating the others (males) to commit haram, Qardawi stated. (Al Diyar, May 24, 26, 2018)
 

Previous related news:
Human rights activists arrested in Saudi Arabia, protest against compulsory veil in Iran

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USJ annual magazine on gender equality

28-5-2018

L’Orient Le Jour spotlighted today the first ever feminist journal, The Movement of Gender Equality, MEG, published on March 8 by the Feminist Club at USJ. The publication aims to raise awareness on gender equality and contemplate the status of women independently of conformist ideas and stereotypes. According to Dalia Kowatli, junior student at USJ and vice president of the Feminist Club, the working team consists of students who are members of the Club, with financing from the department of students services at the university. Kowatli explained that the magazine is printed in English and French, revealing that a digital version of The MEG will be released soon to reach a wider audience. Among the topics tackled in the first issue are the rights of migrant women domestic workers and the stereotypical view of women in the country, as well as, the role of men in feminist movements. (L’Orient Le Jour, May 28, 2018)

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Lebanese women encourage football, change stereotypes

24-5-2018

Al Akhbar newspaper today wrote about the controversy over the relevance of women’s backing of football, noting a misplaced debate on principles that are commonplace but that are viewed subjectively within Lebanese society. Everyone, including girls, are looking forward to the release date of the FIFA World Cup 2018 in Russia after a couple of weeks, Al Akhbar said. The newspaper article pointed to a change in the global mood, even in our own society, a mood that transcends male dominance of the game and of the passion for it. On this, the newspaper spoke to the chair of the official Real Madrid Fans de Libano club, Baraah Hassan, who did not deny facing challenges, firstly, as a female, and secondly as a ‘mohajaba’ (wearing hijab). “Today I am an informed and trustworthy source for international sports news after I became a qualified professional and interviewed a number of international players and senior management staff,” , Hassan told Al Akhbar reporter. Similarly, the human resources officer at the official Barcelona Fans in Lebanon, Najla Abdallah, refused to comment on the issue of violation of the girl’s femininity if she is passionate about football, wondering what kind of question is this, and calling on everyone to start to get used to the idea. “There is no single unified formula for a woman… ,” Abdallah said. For her part, sports journalist, Yasmin Obeid, said the rejection voiced by some men comes from their rejection of the idea that a woman can change the stereotypic association between football and males. More on the feature on the link below: https://goo.gl/D1Wj2o. (Al Akhbar, May 24, 2018)

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