News updates

A UN Women study published on Monday has warned about a possible impact of the current economic downturn on women’s work in Lebanon that could reduce their participation in the labor market by 14% to 19% against the current rate of 29%. The study entitled, “Gender-Responsive Recovery in Lebanon: Recommendations for Fiscal, Social and Labor Policy Reform” was announced in a statement by UN Women on its policies in the reforms projected to alleviate the loss in terms of women’s participation in national economy. The study called for supporting and investing in reform and social protection systems in the country, in addition to giving priority to addressing gender-based discrimination still prevalent within the social protection tools and laws. It also endorsed extending the period of paid maternity leave and adopting a paid paternity leave, as well as developing a maternity insurance program to be covered by the Social Security Fund in order to reduce employers’ incentives in giving priority to male recruitment. In conclusion, the study advised reforming the kafala (sponsorship) system in Lebanon to the end of protecting the rights of migrant women domestic workers. (more on the following link: https://bit.ly/3ewkydA). (NNA, July 13, 2020)
 

The ministry of labor jointly with the National Commission for Lebanese Women (NCLW) launched on Friday a hotline (1741) to receive complaints of migrant women domestic workers in case of any emergency or need for assistance or consultation. An NCLW statement pointed out that the hotline is part of an awareness campaign aimed to help migrant workers and uphold their rights. Competent social workers, the statement added, will receive the calls in line with a specific mechanism set in coordination with ILO and several concerned organizations. MWDWs will get the psychological support they need to this effect. (NNA, July 10, 2020)
 
 

The Directorate General of the Internal Security Forces (ISF)- Public Relations Department, announced in a statement yesterday that it received information about a teacher who has sexually harassed a number of  underage and adult students and sends SMS messages and videos of himself naked. The statement went on to say, that after surveillance, the alleged harasser was identified, as a 30-year-old Lebanese, and was arrested and referred to the competent judiciary. Upon interrogation, he admitted to the charges, confessing that he extorted his students and lured them into visiting his house claiming he wanted to help them with their study. In this respect, MP Enaya Ezzedine, head of the Woman and Child Parliamentary Committee, said in a tweet: “News of sexual harassment in the country is increasing substantially which prompts an immediate enactment of a draft law criminalizing sexual harassment.” She pointed out that the proposal she submitted last year is currently under deliberation by the Administration and Justice Committee after being approved by the Woman and Child Committee. (Al Diyar, July 13, 2020)
 

My Nationality is a Right for Me and My Family Campaign categorically refused that women and mothers be forced to choose between their children and their birthplace or between their parents and their families just because they are Lebanese and their children are not. The Campaign said in a statement yesterday, that Lebanese women always pay the price of prejudice against them. They don’t boast equal rights with men in all areas, especially in marriage, custody and nationality issues. The discriminatory laws in Lebanon reduce them to victims of any arising crisis, conflict, pandemic or internal or external decision as is the situation today with mothers who are barred from accompanying their non-Lebanese children into the country. The statement cited what happened with one Lebanese mother at the Rafic Hariri International Airport waiting for the arrival of her daughter and grandchildren from Belgium but who were disallowed to fly because they don’t carry the Lebanese passports https://bit.ly/2ZgeKRq. The statement clarified that after reviewing the circular issued by the Lebanese embassy in Belgium, the Campaign found that this announcement came in response to a request by the authorities in Brussels that ban the travel to Lebanon of any national who does not hold a Lebanese passport. My Nationality Campaign in conclusion, reminded that Lebanese women, who have not reclaimed their right to confer nationality to their family members, will continue to pay the bill of flagrant discrimination in policies and practices. And Today, they are hijacked by external directives that prevent them from accompanying their own children. The Campaign demanded social justice for women and the removal of bigoted outdated laws. (NNA, July 9, 2020)
 

In partnership with UN Women Liaison Office for GCC, the UN Women’s Regional Office for the Arab States (ROAS) released on July 8 an awareness raising video entitled “Women and Covid-19” on the disproportionate impact of the coronavirus on women and girls in the Arab world (https://bit.ly/2Wl5o51). The video underlines the need to prioritize the inclusion of women’s fundamental rights within the covid-19 response and recovery efforts. According to a statement by ROAS, the above video highlights the diverse dimensions of the impact of Covid-19 on women and girls, as they represent nearly 80% of the medical care and nursing workforce in Arab countries, as well as carry out unpaid care and household work by 4.7% more than men- the highest rate globally. Hence, the statement went on to say, they are more likely to be infected with Covid-19. In conclusion, the video drew attention to the long-term impact of the pandemic, anticipating a greater number of women, and families, to become poor in the economic fallout from the virus, particularly where women are the breadwinners. It is worthy to note, that the 2.5 minute long ROAS video airs live and static graphics produced by AFP aided with a UN Women visual archive. (NNA, July 8, 2020)
 

In collaboration with the Creativity Development Center, the Women’s Sector at Al Azm Association organized an exhibition with the theme, “Boost your small business” at Azm Cultural Center- Beit al Fann in Tripoli. Aimed to stimulate small enterprises and startups and inspire youth to launch their ventures, the expo included different segments and presentations of projects, in addition to showcasing diverse artisan and fashion items, soap making and food products. The Women’s Sector officer, Jinan Mbayid, said on the occasion, that the deteriorating economic situation, in the absence of feasible solutions on part of the government, prompted the sector to arrange the event. It invited potential participants not to admit defeat or surrender to the bitter status quo, but to stay motivated until crisis subsides no matter how hard it is or how long it takes. (NNA, July 8, 2020)
 

The newly-elected General Assembly of the National Commission for Lebanese Women (NCLW) (https://bit.ly/3gA5HAq), yesterday elected its new executive board members during its first meeting headed by Claudine Aoun Rukuz and the presence of its vice president, Nuwar Mawlawi Diab. The new executive committee is formed of lawyer Ghada Hamdan, Sosi Bouladian, lawyer Ghada Jumblat, Merene Maalouf Abi Chaker, lawyer Maya Zeghrini Sfeir, Rania Jamal, Randa Aboud and Rana Ghandour Salhab. NCLW specialized committees were also chosen. On the occasion, Rukuz said that notwithstanding the extremely dire times and tough economic and living groups, the NCLW will not refrain from fulfilling its mission vis-a-vis the most vulnerable groups in society. (NNA, July 7, 2020)