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First anniversary of Lebanese Ministry for women’s affairs: No tangible achievements yet!

12-12-2017

With the closing of the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence Campaign, the minister of state for women’s affairs, Jean Ogassapian, outlined in a press conference yesterday his ministry’s accomplishments in support of Lebanese women and girls. This, he said, includes the launch of alliances, advocacy campaigns, research, draft laws and awareness raising in schools and universities. Ogassapian stressed that the ministry sought to create a momentum to help keep women and their cause vibrant on the social and political levels to the end of achieving complete gender equality and transforming the prevailing male chauvinist mindset. Debating sensitive issues, like sexual harassment, violence against women, incest and underage marriage is no longer an untouchable taboo and is open to in-depth discussion, Ogasspian stated. After one year in office, the key challenge remains how to secure a larger and unrestrained representation of women in constitutional institutions, namely the Legislature and the Cabinet, the minister added. In conclusion, he emphasized the responsibility of women themselves to effectively respond to the opportunities when they come and demonstrate determination and will to reach decision-making positions, pointing to political parties as an ideal platform to realize this. (For the complete achievements of the ministry in arabic, kindly visit the following link :http://alkalimaonline.com/Newsdet.aspx?id=239909). (An Nahar, Al Diyar, December 12, 2017)  

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Saudis ban media that denigrates women

12-12-2017

The Saudi minister of culture and information, Awwad Saleh Awwad issued last week a directive “banning the broadcasting of any soaps or programs that contain explicit or implicit insult to Saudi women or to any other category of society”. The ministry warned in an official statement the use of the Kingdom’s name in titles promoting works that are not consistent with Saudi values and ethical standards as stipulated by the information policy. The statement also stressed that any channel that airs works violating said policies will be penalized in line with regulations. According to the new instructions, the decision states that it is obligatory for the media to ensure a positive content in all works of art and TV programs in such that they promote moral values, teach constructive principles and concepts and elevate people’s artistic taste. To note, the above decision came after a wave of disappointment and dissent in the social media following the announcement of the start of shooting the series “Saudi Women” which Saudi activists dubbed as harmful to the image of the Saudi woman. (AL Diyar, December 10, 2017)

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Lebanese NOC supports women in sports

12-12-2017

The Women & Sport - Lebanese National Olympic Committee (NOC) participated last Friday in the first scientific conference on physical culture and physical education organized by the General Directorate of State Security in partnership with the Arab Federation of Physical Culture- Physical Education. On the occasion, Assi, executive committee member and head of the women’s committee, outlined the role, goals and programs of the NOC and challenges facing Lebanese sports in general and the Olympic movement in particular. She pointed out to the results achieved by the NOC at the administrative and technical levels, noting the work plan drawn by the Committee aimed at promoting the presence of women in leadership positions in sports clubs and unions both administratively and technically based on and stimulated by the results of sports competitions here and abroad. In conclusion, Assi noticed the woman’s proficiency in all tasks assigned to her in sports, stressing a greater potential if given the appropriate social and scientific resources and support packages. (AL Mustaqbal, December 12, 2017)

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Ezzedine celebrates women’s empowerment and Hariri stands for women’s rights

11-12-2017

The minister of state for administrative development, Dr. Inaya Ezzedine, sponsored on Friday a graduation ceremony for women who completed training sessions on the ‘safety of food processing’. The activity comes as part of ‘Enhancing the economic situation of Lebanese women in the South’ project implemented by the Lebanon Family Planning Association for Development & Family Empowerment (LFPADE) funded by UN Women’s Fund for Gender Equality. Ezzedine underlined on the occasion the significance of women’s empowerment at the moment, pointing out that today’s event brings together essential components leading to empowerment. “We are amidst an evolving training process targeting women aimed to improve their economic status in the area of food processing safety,” the minister said. This means involvement in a sustainable development process seeking, among its prime goals, to expand choices for men and women and offer them equal opportunities, particularly at the economic level so as to ensure the participation of economically-empowered females in making development-related decisions, the minister added. Ezzedine stressed her commitment to the developmental and supportive role of the State which she said “we want to see as the anchor for all its citizens”. On the other hand, prime minister Saad Hariri said in a tweet that, out of his commitment to human rights causes, primarily women, he pledges to put into effect all the country’s international obligations. This includes as he said, combating violence against women, and issuing a decree enforcing and financing the formation of an independent national human rights commission, consisting of a committee for the prevention of torture. (Al Mustaqbal, Al Diyar, December 9, 11, 2017)

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BLC honors women and launches a new technology award

11-12-2017

The BLC Bank organized last week its annual Brilliant Lebanese Awards (BLA) event in support of ground-breaking initiatives, particularly targeting women and SME entrepreneurships. The winners for this year’s competition were George el Aily (Spectronite, telecom company) for the category of SMEs, and Nada Ghazal (Nada G) for women entrepreneurs. Each laureate reportedly received a USD 60000 cash prize. The jury selected the winners based on the following criteria: financial performance of the company (30%), innovation (30%), sustainability and growth potential (25%) and social responsibility (15%). Jury members represented Banque du Liban, LAU, Endeavor, Kafalat, IFC, Berytech and the Lebanese League for Women in Business (LLWB). BLC vice president and general manager, Nadim Kassar, seized the opportunity to announce a new technology award to be launched next year. On the other hand, Al Akhbar newspaper wrote that during the Orientation Fair organized by the Islamic Center Association for Guidance and Higher Education at the Lebanese University campus in Hadath area many college-bound students (7 out of 10 students) said they have decided to major in business administration. It is unfair to blame students alone and ignore long years of disorientation to this effect, Al Akhbar said. (Al Mustaqbal, Al Akhbar, December 9, 11, 2017)

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A model legislation to combat violence against Arab women

11-12-2017

At the end of the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence Campaign, Kafa Enough Violence and Exploitation launched on Saturday ‘the model legislation to combat violence against women and girls in Arab states’. The launch was made during a regional conference in Beirut under the patronage of justice minister Salim Jreisati and the participation of the president of the National Commission for Lebanese Women (NCLW), Claudine Aoun Rukuz. On the occasion, Kafa director, Zoya Rouhana stressed that the Arab region is in constant war against women, under various titles, like direct violence, outdated traditional and tribal laws, marriage of underage girls, polygamy and honor crimes. Rouhana drew attention to gender-based stereotypes and discrimination against women in legislations, notably seen in the personal status laws and the penal codes as well as in their marginalization in the public life. For her part, Rukuz pointed out that the adoption of a unified Arab draft to fight violence against women and girls is inevitable and key. However, the protection of women in the Arab region should not be limited to the ratification of relevant laws, but requires judges and emissaries of justice to apply such laws and provisions, Rukuz added. Jreisati said that the launch of the model draft bill aims to protect women from violence practiced against them in the Arab societies. (Al Mustaqbal, December 11, 2017)

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The national alliance to protect children from early marriage

8-12-2017

As part of the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence, the Lebanese Women Democratic Gathering (LWDG) yesterday launched the National Alliance for the Protection of Children from Early Marriage, in the presence of the minister of state for women’s affairs, Jean Ogassapian and the chief of the National Commission for Lebanese Women (NCLW), Claudine Aoun Rukuz. On the occasion, LWDG president, Leila Mroweh, said the Alliance embraces around 54 institutions and local and international NGOs active in the field of human, children and women’s rights, in addition to the backing of the ministry and NCLW. The alliance is born out of a deep conviction in the rights of women for equality, and in the State as the only entity that ensures the protection and rights of Lebanese citizens, both men and women, and is intended to legitimize the protection of children under 18 years from early marriage, Mroweh stated. She stressed the need to unify all efforts to pressure officials to adopt and apply across the country the law that sets the age of marriage at 18 years. Similarly, Ogassapian maintained that any relevant debate in the Legislature should stem from and relate to cases of girls who experienced and endured the repercussions of underage marriage. Rukuz for her part, lamented the fact that “in Lebanon, which we perceive as a guarantor and guardian of human rights, we still need to form an alliance to prevent early marriage,” as she put it. (Al Mustaqbal, An Nahar, December 8, 2017)

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Life for Life campaign to reform Lebanese penal code

6-12-2017

On the occasion of the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence, and in partnership with the National Commission for Lebanese Women (NCLW) and UN Women, ABAAD organization launched its ‘LifeForLife’ campaign. The latter aims to amend Chapter 7 of the Penal Code whereby it maximizes the imprisonment to life sentence of the perpetrator of incest rape, specifically he who have sexually assaulted his daughter, sister, granddaughter, niece or any person of whom he has physical or legal custody on. According to ABAAD statement, the above campaign also aims to raise women’s awareness to report sexual abuse incidents, given the detrimental psychological damage incest crimes leave on girls and women which might lead to suicide. The latest figures have shown that rape reporting in Lebanon has increased in recent years, ABAAD statement said. The number of reported cases has increased from 11 in 2009, 33 in 2011, 42 in 2012, 36 in 2013, 52 in 2014 and 27 in 2015. In the first six months of 2016, there were 18 rape crimes, the statement went on to say. Finally, it appealed to citizens to show solidarity and pressure officials through demanding ‘life for life’ on ABAAD website http://www.abaad-lifeforlife.com (An Nahar, December 6, 2017)

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Wage disparities between men and women also prevalent in France

6-12-2017

A study published this week by the National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies (INSEE) indicated that in 2015, women in every family in France, received a wage lower by 25% than men. The annual pay rate for a female stood at 17,740 Euros, against 27,702 Euros for a male, the study said, noting that the gap was mainly in the difference in wages and the rest in the number of working days during the year. According to INSEE figures, the annual income increases with age up till the age of 54, where employees aged between 50-54 years earn 3.5 times higher than workers under 25 years. As for the wages of public sector employees, they are relatively higher than those in the private sector (the annual pay of a state employee is 21,920 Euros against 20,140 Euros for private sector staff. (L’Orient Le Jour, December 2, 2017)

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Let’s play for [gender] equality

6-12-2017

The office of the minister of state for women’s affairs and the ministry of education jointly with ABAAD organization launched yesterday the ‘Let’s play for equality’ program at Wata Mseitba public school. The program adopts friendly and interactive ways to promote the notions of participation, partnership and teamwork among children and increase their knowledge of gender roles and gender-based violence, in addition to introducing conflict and emotional management methods through non-violence. The pilot program will be carried out in 18 public schools across the country to be developed and streamlined at the national level in order to build generations in observance of principles of citizenship and equality between the sexes. On the occasion, the head of the Educational District of Beirut and the Environs, Mohamad Jamal, made clear that “gender-based prejudices to which kids are often exposed at some schools and in society at large could have long-term effects on their career choices at a later age.” The priority should be given to protect the children in the first years of schooling from being influenced by gender stereotypes which remain a key challenge in the struggle to achieve gender equality in education and other areas. In conclusion, Jamal advised against gender bias in elementary schools. (Al Mustaqbal, December 6, 2017)

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