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Paternity leave in Lebanon 3 days only, compared to 2 years in other countries

25-1-2018

In its issue of today, Al Akhbar newspaper brought to light the draft bill related to the 3-day paternal leave approved recently by Cabinet and referred to Parliament for ratification, (c.f: http://bit.ly/2GfmeIx). While the leave in some countries could reach up to 2 years, including financial benefits, some parties in Lebanon believe three days is more than a generous recompense for fathers, Al Akhbar wrote. When the issue was first raised four years ago during a session of the house of representatives, Parliament Speaker commented: “You expect us to give birth as well?”, the newspaper said. The draft legislation came first from the government through the minister of state for women’s affairs, by attaching an article to the labor law, that read: “The employee is entitled, besides his annual leave, to get a fully paid paternity leave for three consecutive days in the instance of childbirth, within a period of at least two months from the date of the childbirth.” On the subject, AL Akhbar cited some MPs as addressing those requesting an extension to the three-day holiday, “this is not bad for now; besides, it was hardly likely to be achieved.” Even the mastermind behind the proposal, minister Jean Ogassapian himself, did not aim for more than 5 days and finally settled on 3 days only, the newspaper analyzed. In conclusion, Al Akhbar gave an example of parental leaves in some advanced states as follows: Sweden: up to 480 days, where the mother and father can share the period equally; Austria: up to 2 years if the mother and father share it equally, and finally Germany: fathers can get a paternity leave of up to 14 months. (Al Akhbar, January 25, 2018)

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Melinda Gates contributes to investment fund founded by women

25-1-2018

Melinda Gates, wife of co-founder of Microsoft Corporation, has contributed to an USD 300 million investment fund created and led by women. In a rare step in a sector still largely dominated by men, Aspect Ventures was set up in 2014 by engineer Theresia Gouw and capital venture expert Jennifer Fonstad to assist startups unregistered in the stock market. According to PitchBook database, only 11% of venture capital project partners are women. In terms of investments, 2.2% of the capital provided by the funds during 2017 went to companies exclusively run by women, according to the same source. (L’Orient Le Jour, January 25, 2018)

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ICT initiative to support child education in Lebanon

25-1-2018

Apple CEO Tim Cook and the youngest women’s rights Pakistani activist and Nobel Peace Prize winner Malala Yusafzai chose downtown Beirut to launch a partnership last Saturday aimed at fostering girls’ education. The initiative targets 100 thousand girls in different countries, including Lebanon, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Turkey and Nigeria. Cook and Malala met with Lebanese and Syrian representatives of two organizations active in the field of education, and they are, the Lebanese Alternative Learning (LAL) and Basmeh & Zeitooneh which will be funded through this partnership program. Malala and Cook met with Syrian girls receiving education through said associations. During the meeting which was described as ‘very responsive and emotional’, Cook and Malala motivated the children to ask questions. Fadi Haliso, chair of Basmeh & Zeitooneh, emphasized the significance of the partnership which transcends financing to highlighting the rights of the child to have access to proper education. For the reference, Basmeh & Zeitooneh has been active in the field of education, development and relief in Lebanon since it kicked off in 2012 by a group of Syrian activists with Lebanese partners in response to the Syrian displacement crisis. LAL, on the other hand, was launched in 2014 to close the educational gap and reduce the number of school dropouts particularly in disadvantaged areas. (L’Orient Le Jour, January 22, 2018)

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Launch of women leaders council of Lebanon

25-1-2018

The president of the Chambers of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture for Beirut and Mount Lebanon, Mohamad Shukeir, launched yesterday the Women Leaders Council of Lebanon affiliated with the Federation of Chambers. The founding council committee convened yesterday under Shukeir to elect the administrative committee as such: Madiha Rislan, president, Isabel Mansur, vice-president, Rindala Qassem, general secretary, Zeina Zeidan, secretary, and Joumana Tal7huk, Ray Bassil, Lamiss Juju, Mireille Karab, Nermin Mufti, Ingrid Raad, Rania Tabara and Susan Tal7huk board members. On the occasion, Shukeir pointed out that the present board of the Chamber includes 5 women, which is unprecedented since the establishment of the Chamber. He called the elected chief of the new council Madiha Rislan and the administrative committee to work on expanding membership in order to embrace a larger number of leading women from across the country. Rislan for her part, stressed the need to engage women in the various sectors and consolidate their status in the national economy, while introducing an alternative approach to this effect in the framework of a greater integration and participation of women. The Council, according to Rislan, will present its vision to the ministries and institutions involved with economy on pending issues, as well as, its proposals for the development of economy. (Al Mustaqbal, Al Diyar, January 25, 2018)

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Crimes against women: Strong civil condemnations and calls for sever punishments

24-1-2018

Condemning crimes against women, urging acceleration of trials and stiff verdicts
The National Commission for Lebanese Women (NCLW) condemned in a statement yesterday the latest cases of femicide in the country, and demanded the stepping up of trials and tightening penalties against domestic abusers, as well as raising awareness to the end of deterring perpetrators and protecting women from violence. The statement said that, with the deliberate targeting of women for reasons related to hegemonic masculinity, the Commission urges both government and parliament to speed up the adoption of laws determining the age of marriage to prevent marriage of minors, punish sexual harassment assaults and harshen penalties against murderers and rapists. The current situation, NCLW statement went on to say, compels a general alert by concerned associations and officials to review the penalties of domestic violence crimes. Similarly, the League for Lebanese Women’s Rights (LLWR) said that, each passing week brings another crime of femicide and adds new names to the black list of women victims, lamenting that punishment is certainly not proportional to the offense. The awareness of gender equality in humanity, rights and citizenship remains low, LLWR noted, requesting a fast ratification of a unified civil status law and an accountable policy regulating the media and raising an alternative awareness to replace the backward and outdated mindsets. To recall, Kafa organization has recorded five crimes against women in Lebanon during one month only (c.f: http://bit.ly/2Dzdxv4) . (Al Mustaqbal, AL Diyar, January 24, 2018)

Previous related news: 
Man slays his wife in Ras el Nabeh, and another stabs his in Majdal Selem
More on violence against women and children
 

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Iranian woman skydives to promote gender equality

24-1-2018

Iranian woman Bahara Sassani, 35 years, chose parachuting to prove that women are as capable as men of undertaking any activity they choose to do. Sassani said she has been skydiving since March 2016, but already has accomplished more than 220 jumps. In an interview with France Presse, the young Iranian enthusiast said: “I encourage all women to try this experience as it gives the feeling that women can achieve whatever they long for,” adding, “they should not be excluded from anything.” Sassani also refused to be described as a feminist activist, saying her main motto is, ‘there is no difference between men and women’, and ‘women can realize anything they set their minds on’. Sassani concluded by saying that the participation of women in sports that were exclusively for men would help in the advancement of society. Sassani is also active abroad, where she has jumped in Russia, Kenya, Thailand and the UAE. (An Nahar, January 24, 2018)

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Man slays his wife in Ras el Nabeh, and another stabs his in Majdal Selem

23-1-2018

Violence against women in Lebanon is unabated, recording yesterday the fifth case of femicide in less than one month, according to Kafa association. Lebanese newspapers reported today the murder of a woman who was killed by her husband in Ras el Nabeh neighborhood in Beirut. It was reported that Fadi ambushed his wife Nada B. (1975) as she left the house at around 6:30 am and gunned her down and then fled the scene. According to Kafa media officer, Diala Haidar, the succession of similar crimes requires the stepping up of trials of perpetrators and establishing a deterrent legal system. She also stressed the need to intensify efforts to build a culture to counter the patriarchal mindset indoctrinating the society. Furthermore, D.H from the southern village of Majdal Selem was reported to be seriously injured and rushed to Tibnin public hospital after being stabbed by her husband H.R. The suspect reportedly stabbed his wife in front of his kids who begged him to stop. The ISF information department said the suspect was arrested for attempted murder. (Al Akhbar, Al Mustaqbal, January 23, 2018)

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Future may nominate one woman from Beirut for May parliamentary elections

23-1-2018

Seemingly as a gesture in reply to demands by women organizations to nominate female candidates for the forthcoming elections, Prime Minister Saad Hariri is considering, according to Al Diyar, the nomination of a woman candidate (one only!) for a parliamentary seat in Beirut. The newspaper added that Hariri is working on selecting a woman candidate with a strong social and humanitarian background and good network within Beiruti families, so as to run on the electoral list of Beirut 2nd Constituency. In the same vein, President Michel Aoun signed yesterday (January 22, 2018) a decree calling on the electorate (Decree No. 2219) to elect members of Parliament, noting that it becomes effective as soon as it is published in the Official Gazette. The text of the decree read: the Lebanese voters on all Lebanese territory will cast their ballot on Sunday, May 6, 2018, employees participating in the electoral process on May 3, Lebanese expats in Arab countries on April 27 and expats in the Americas, Europe and Africa on April 29. (Al Diyar, An Nahar, January 23, 2018)

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American women against Trump: “Elect a clown, expect a circus”

23-1-2018

Hundreds of thousands took to the streets of cities across the US last Saturday, namely Los Angeles, New York City, Washington DC, Chicago and Boston, to protest President Donald Trump, his agenda and Administration’s policies. This is the second anti-Trump march of women on the one-anniversary of Trump’s inauguration. The mass demonstrations over the weekend mark a year since the historic Women’s March in January 2017 where over 3 million people took to the streets nationwide to voice their opposition to Trump’s election. This year’s women march also aims to motivate Americans to register their names in the electoral lists and encourage women participation in the US midterm elections 2018. During the rally, protestors hoisted signs which read, ‘A woman’s place is in the White House’, and ‘elect a clown, expect a circus’. Among the speakers in NYC’s rally were activist and actress Rosie Perez and actress Whoopi Goldberg who said, “we are here to say- as women- we are not taking it anymore.” For her part, 44-year old artist Heather Arndt stated: “Trump should be aware that we are coming together as a powerful force and we are going to change this after he has been elected despite the way he has treated women.” In response, Trump tweeted calling on the people to march and celebrate historic achievements and unprecedented economic success recorded in the past 12 months, as he put it. (An Nahar, January 22, 2018)

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Frantic civil efforts to boost women’s parliamentary representation

22-1-2018

With the approach of parliamentary elections, several civil initiatives are taking place in order to promote women’s representation. After the conference on ‘fostering the role of political parties in promoting women’s representation in 2018 elections’ c.f: http://bit.ly/2F2l6qw, the Lebanese Council of Women (LCW), in partnership with UN Women- Gender Equality and Women Empowerment, organized a conference on the ‘impact of political, economic and social changes on the reality of women in Lebanon’. During the event, LCW president, Iqbal Dughan, revealed that despite that the new elections law overlooked the women’s representation quota, the Council is trying to persuade various political parties to nominate women candidates, and is calling for boycotting the electoral lists that do not include women as top three nominees. Recommendations issued at the end of the conference included: Demanding a unified civil society stance in support of the rights of women to political participation and to run for elections; encouraging women to nominate themselves; supporting women’s electoral and media campaigns. Furthermore, the Committee for Boosting the Role of Women in Decision-Making held a gathering on Sunday in Aley for women candidates, in which took part 52 women nominees from the different Lebanese regions and electoral constituencies. During the event, civil activist Hayat Arslan expressed the readiness of Lebanese women running for the 2018 elections to boldly rise to the challenge. “We consider gender discrimination as one key mechanism for marginalization, and we believe that the potentials of Lebanese men and women complement each other in order to rebuild the nation on a more balanced foundation,” Arslan maintained. (Al Mustaqbal, Al Diyar, January 20, 22, 2018)

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