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Saudi women still face major challenges despite moderate reforms

7-3-2018

Notwithstanding the Royal Order issued last September by Saudi King Salman Bin Abdel Aziz which allowed women to drive for the first time in the Kingdom and which comes as part of a series of reforms involving women ( https://goo.gl/3mtgBJ), yet the backlash faced by females shows that the recent empowerment measures could be reprehensible in a country unaccustomed to seeing women on the front lines. On the subject, Mirvat Bukhari (43-year-old mother of 4) who is draped head-to-toe in Islamic attire told Agence France Presse that she defied insults and name calling to become promoted as supervisor of a gas station in Al Khobar city east of the Kingdom last October. Bukhari said she was forced to defend herself by telling those who criticized her work that she was in management and not filling gas herself. For her part, researcher at the Arab Gulf States Institute in Washington, Karen Young, told AFP that Saudi women are better educated but are less mobile, have fewer employment prospects, and are underpaid. The average monthly salaries in the private sector is nearly 8,000 Riyals (USD 2134) against only 5,000 Riyals for women, Young said, citing Jadwa research firm figures. To recall, Saudi Arabia was placed 138 out of 144 countries in the Global Gender Gap Report 2017 on gender parity published by the World Economic Forum. (An Nahar, March 7, 2018)

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Exhibition on feminism in Lebanese art

6-3-2018

In its issue of today, Al Hayat daily brought to light an exhibition at Gallerie Tanit by Naila Kettaneh-Kunigk who for the first time raises the issue of feminism. Exploring contemporary concepts in aesthetic terms is not a novelty in the West, the newspaper wrote. The feminist art movement began in the sixties of the past century with the demand for women’s civil rights and their parity with men. It was influenced by the reformist schools of modernism seeking to establish feminist art in non-traditional ways that will contribute to changing the world. The mini exhibition in Beirut is a collective space shared by a selected group of women artists who left their mark in contemporary art in Lebanon during its golden era. While the exhibition left out many distinguished names, yet it introduced women who are working to achieve an emancipated visual art revolutionary in its relationship with itself, the other, society and memory. An art resonant of the times of civil war and political conflicts, as well as, reflecting lifestyles through new media that could be awe-inspiring in relation to some feminist themes of social and psychological nature. The article is found on the link below: http://www.alhayat.com/Articles/27797927. (Al Hayat, March 5, 2018)

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IWD commemorations kick off in Lebanon

6-3-2018

As usual during this time of year, various associations involved in women’s advancement seek to mark International Women’s Day (IWD) which falls on March 8 through activities that highlight the rights of women and demand lifting injustices against them. On the occasion, the Arab Women Council for Social Responsibility led by Lina Mkarzel, in collaboration with the Directorate General of the Internal Security Forces and the Federation of Chambers in Lebanon, hosted on Saturday the ‘Arab Women Festival 2018’ under the slogan “Together we create”. Mkarzel on the occasion, cited the global gender gap report published last year by the World Economic Forum which noted that it will take 217 years to achieve gender parity in pay and in representation at the workplace, revealing a huge economic gap (nearly 58%) between men and women. Similarly, the USAID-funded Lebanon Reforestation Initiative (LRI) celebrated the end of the 3-day forestation campaign in honor of women on their special day. The event took place in Rashaya in the presence of NCLW president, Claudine Aoun Rukuz, who maintained that the participation of women in political decisions and activating their role socially and economically, have a direct and positive impact on environment. Meanwhile, the League for Lebanese Women’s Rights announced on Friday, that it will organize a rally on March 8 under the motto, ‘the offensive on our rights is still strong, we should be stronger’. Speakers during the press conference recalled the struggle of women in history and others called for drafting a provision in the constitution which clearly refers to gender equality. (Al Mustaqbal, Al Akhbar, March 3, 6, 2018)

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Arab NGO cooperation to foster women pioneers

6-3-2018

Coinciding with the International Women’s Day which falls on March 8, the Gathering of Lebanese Businessmen and Businesswomen (RDCL World), led by Fuad Zamakhal, organized a lunch-debate to honor leading women in Lebanon and the Arab world in the economic, social and political arenas. During the ceremony, RDCL signed a cooperation agreement with the Arab Women Council- the Organization of Arab Social Responsibility led by Lina Mkarzel. The agreement, according to Mkarzel, aims to expand cooperation beyond the exchange of expertise to increase the cultural awareness of Arab women and to create diverse programs to protect women, hoping the exchange of strategic information will stimulate cooperation to this end. For his part, Zmakhal welcomed the signing of the agreement, which, he said, stressed the following: holding regular meetings, conferences and public seminars on the current topics; organizing training courses for entrepreneurs to the end of exchange of data and expertise; teaming up on projects to restructure the public and private sectors; targeting new markets for the export of made-in-Lebanon goods and skills and proposing draft bills to prop-up the Lebanese private sector. (Al Mustaqbal, March 3, 2018)

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Efforts of last minutes to enlist women in elections

6-3-2018

A day before closing the deadline for the nomination to the parliamentary elections, the Free Patriotic Movement named activist, Ghada Assad Assaf, to run for Beqaa 3rd constituency (Baalbaq-Hermel), Al Akhbar reported. On the same front, the British Ambassador to Lebanon Hugho Shorter after meeting Lebanese Forces, LF, leader Samir Geagea, said he hoped the Party would positively consider recruiting more women on its electoral list, expressing eagerness that this year be symbolic for women, as elections extend a real opportunity to promote their participation and representation in politics. On the other hand, Women in Power association (WIP) organized a conference yesterday entitled, ‘Success experiences: women in decision-making and their interaction with politics’ under the patronage of minister of state for women’s affairs, Jean Ogassapian. The latter pointed out that “the future is not anymore determined by gender, rather by potentials and capacities.” The constitutional institutions, he said, currently use half the resources at hand, lamenting that the absence of women is not their loss only, but that of the parliament and the nation as well. (Al Mustaqbal, Al Akhbar, March 6, 2018)
 

 Previous related news:
 Efforts to enlist media women candidates in elections
2018 elections counter: 87 candidates of whom 15 women
2018 Election counter: 57 candidates of whom only 4 women
Despite promises, political parties fail in backing women nominees
Amal Movement nominates Inaya Ezzedine for upcoming parliamentary elections
Jumana Haddad on Seven’s Party electoral list
 Zoya Ruhana, Hayat Arslan running for Shuf-Aley 2018 elections
 Paula Yacoubian joins 7 party and runs for Parliamentary elections
 

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Efforts to enlist media women candidates in elections

5-3-2018

In the framework of stepping up the participation of women in elections, Al Akhbar newspaper mentioned the involvement of more leftist activists in the movement led by former minister Charbel Nahas. One of those approached was the New TV media figure, Rabi’a Zayat, who was asked last Friday to nominate herself for the Tyre constituency in South Lebanon, but who decided to linger. Also according to Al Akhbar, the Lebanese Forces LF party chief, Samir Geagea, dispatched party officials to negotiate with MTV news anchor Jessica Azar to run on the LF’s North Matn electoral list, as well as, the environmental activist Nadine Mussa for the same constituency. On the other hand, and as part of the Lebanese Elections Assistance Project, the European Union on Friday organized awareness-raising debates with focus on women nominees and Lebanese voters in general. The debates allowed to identify women from the various Lebanese regions who wished to run for candidacy and to provide them with the required technical support and alliance-building tactics. The head of the EU Delegation to Lebanon in her address to all Lebanese women said: “We are counting on you to claim your political space should you be still timid in submitting your candidacy. Do not hesitate and go ahead, contribute to your local communities and engage in the civil society and women’s associations and vote for your peers,” she said. (Al Akhbar, March 3, 5, 2018)
 

Previous related news:
2018 elections counter: 87 candidates of whom 15 women
2018 Election counter: 57 candidates of whom only 4 women
Despite promises, political parties fail in backing women nominees
Amal Movement nominates Inaya Ezzedine for upcoming parliamentary elections
Jumana Haddad on Seven’s Party electoral list
 Zoya Ruhana, Hayat Arslan running for Shuf-Aley 2018 elections
 Paula Yacoubian joins 7 party and runs for Parliamentary elections
 

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With ongoing war early marriage on the rise in Syria

5-3-2018

In its issue of today, Al Hayat newspaper shed light on the marriage of underage girls in Syria, citing a study published by the Syrian Center for Legal Researches & Studies on its website in August 2017. According to the survey, the rate of marriage of girl minors prior to the war was nearly 7%, but it began to rise with the increasing conflict to reach 15% in 2012, and to exceed 30% in 2015. Referring to statistics by the Syrian ministry of justice, Al Hayat mentioned that about 10% of the marriage contracts registered at Damascus religious courts in 2013 were arranged for underage girls, noting that the rate increased in remote areas, and that 60% of the unregistered marriages involved minor girls. On the subject, Al Hayat spoke to lawyer and activist, I’itidal Mohsen, who explained that Article 16 of the personal status law sets the appropriate age of marriage at 17 years for a girl and 18 years for a boy, but that it also allows a girl (13 years) and a boy (15 years) to wed if they are physically fit, had a genuine intention to build a family and the judge authorizes them to do so. In conclusion, Al Hayat wrote that the Syrian legislator’s view of women continues to be biased, notwithstanding the signing by the government in 2002 of the CEDAW agreement calling for eliminating all forms of discrimination against women. To recall, Syria voiced reservations on a number of provisions, including those which grant women equal rights on par with men in issues of marriage, divorce, guardianship, minimum age of marriage and the compulsory registration of marriages. (For more info, kindly visit the following link: https://goo.gl/MWwvru). (Al Hayat, March 5, 2018)

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Zakat Women’s fair in Tyre

5-3-2018

Under the patronage of the Moufi of Tyre, Sheikh Midrar Saadidine Habbal, the Zakat Fund Women’s Committee opened on Friday its second craft fair, ‘the golden fingers’, at the Imam Rifai Mosque hall in the southern city. The exhibition hosts some 25 display stands and stalls, ranging from home-made foods (mouneh), crafts, glass paintings, crochet and woolen items, bead creations, honey, aromatic herbs, rural soaps and engraved stainless steel products. Women participants at the exhibition (which lasts till March 5) come from Nabatiey, Tyre and surrounding villages, Saida and the capital Beirut. During the opening, Zakat Committee member, Shahinaz Kahwaji, stressed the purpose of the exhibition which, besides preserving heritage, aims to empower women and actively support them and acknowledge their presence in the Tyre community. (Al Mustaqbal, March 3, 2018)

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Breaking gender stereotypes in Lebanon

2-3-2018

Under the patronage of Prime Minister Saad Hariri represented by health minister Ghassan Hasbani, the May Chidiac Foundation (MCF) opened yesterday its ‘Women on the Front Lines WOFL’ annual conference at Phoenicia Hotel in Beirut. Hasbani emphasized the need to liberate women from social constraints, including prejudiced legislations and all forms of violence, and provide women with equal opportunities like men to be able to shape their own destinies. In a related event, the NDU organized a conference yesterday entitled ‘women entrepreneurs in the Lebanese media’, aimed at highlighting the role of women, rectify stereotypes and stress the importance of women’s participation in decision-making. In this respect, the minister of state for women’s affairs, Jean Ogassapian, said women boast aptitudes that enable them to be on top, playing down the notion of the distribution of responsibilities, which flag the tasks allocated to women as separate from those reserved for men. Such stereotypes, he confirmed, should be discarded in a world which puts its faith in faculties and proficiencies. On the other hand, Al Akhbar newspaper mentioned the decision 2 days ago by the minister of interior dismissing Qaim Maqam of Jbeil, Najwa Sweidan Farah, based on a memo by the Central Inspection Bureau which determined violations on her part, and appointing Nathalie Meri’ Khury as acting officer to run the public facility. This action, Al Akhbar wrote, has been denounced by a key component of the Jbeil community, in criticism of the appointment of a “close ally to the New Presidency for the position of qaim maqam, especially that it happened very fast. For the full news: http://www.al-akhbar.com/node/291655. (Al Akhbar, Al Mustaqbal, An Nahar, March 2, 2018)

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2018 elections counter: 87 candidates of whom 15 women

2-3-2018

The latest update on the number of candidates for the 2018 parliamentary elections in its 24th day closed yesterday at 87 nominees, including 15 women. The distribution of women candidates across constituencies rested as follows: Leila Hassan Shhud, (North 1st district, Akkar); Paulette Sirakian Yacobian and Jumana Atallah Sallum, (Beirut 1st district); Dalal Halim Al Rahbani, Hanan Othman, Faten Faysal Zein, Rola Tufic Al Huri and Salwa Ayub Khalil (Beirut 2nd district); Zeina Joseph Kallab, (Mount Lebanon 1st district, Jbeil-Kesrwan); Ghada Ghazi Maruni and Hayat Shafic Wahhab, (Mount Lebanon 2nd district, Shuf-Aley);  Maggy Badi3h Aoun, (Beqaa 2nd district, West Beqaa-Rashayya); Wa3ed Hussein Sukkarieh and Cinderella Elias Methej, (Beqaa 3rd district, Baalbaq-Hermel) and Abir Ghalib Ramadan (South 3rd district, Nabatiyeh-Bint Jbeil). (For the full names of candidates in Arabic, please check: http://bit.ly/2CSyThJ). 
On the subject of women participation in the elections, the British Ambassador Hugho Shorter, after meeting house speaker Nabih Berri yesterday, praised Amal Movement’s inclusion of one woman on its electoral list, describing it as a step forward and hoping that Berri will continue to step up women representation in the Legislative to reach a quota of 30%. In a related vein, Al Akhbar newspaper spotlighted today the nomination of the leftist activist in ‘Bidna Nhassib’ civil society campaign, Neemat Badriddine, who decided to run independently for the South 3rd district. Badriddine, the newspaper wrote, succeeded in challenging the strong Hizbullah-Amal list in the students council at the Lebanese University School of Information. She defied the male-dominated parties when she joined but quickly pulled out of the Lebanese Communist Party for this reason and chose to take her struggle to the streets. Badriddine revealed that she is entitled to run for elections as a right guaranteed by the law, yet victory is unlikely, given her political opposition of the ruling parties. Nevertheless, she stated, paves the way for her participation in future parliamentary elections. (Al Mustaqbal, Al Akhbar, An Nahar, March 2, 2018)
 

Previous related news:
2018 Election counter: 57 candidates of whom only 4 women
Despite promises, political parties fail in backing women nominees
Amal Movement nominates Inaya Ezzedine for upcoming parliamentary elections
Jumana Haddad on Seven’s Party electoral list
 Zoya Ruhana, Hayat Arslan running for Shuf-Aley 2018 elections
 Paula Yacoubian joins 7 party and runs for Parliamentary elections
 

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