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Wadad Halwani, a life of struggle on behalf of war disappeared persons

20-11-2017

In today’s issue, Al Ittihad newspaper featured the life of civil activist Wadad Halwani who currently leads the Committee of the Families of Kidnapped and Disappeared in Lebanon. The mission, Al Ittihad wrote, set off on the day Halwani’s husband was kidnapped in September 1982 prompting the first protest to this effect on November 27, 1982. Shortly afterwards, Halwani aired an announcement on radio calling the parents of the abducted for a gathering, which, to her surprise, was widely received by a large group of women and children. The next day, the protest of ‘the women of Lebanon’ headlined the Lebanese newspapers and was termed by then President Amin Gemayel as the “Many Wadads in One Woman” march because it shut all the crossing points dividing East and West Beirut. The successful demonstration forced then prime minister to listen to the demands of protesting women but with no promises. But Wadad, the newspaper went on to say, did not give up. She formed the committee for the parents of the abducted which consisted mainly of mothers, wives, sisters or children of those kidnapped or disappeared during the Lebanese Civil War. Now after 35 years of activism, Wadad said she will carry on her fight for the cause, mentioning an accomplishment made by the Committee to pressure for the adoption of a special draft law on missing persons. The dream law as she described it, has been endorsed by the Parliamentary Justice and Administration Committee and is on its way to the General Assembly with the aim to uncover the fate of the missing Lebanese. (Al Ittihad, November 20, 2017)

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16 Days of Arab Activism against Gender-Based Violence

20-11-2017

The Coalition of Women Arab MPs to combat violence against women launched the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence to submit a draft Arab convention on violence against women to be ratified by the Arab League. The launch was made during the opening on Thursday of the Coalition’s Regional Conference in Tunisia, noting that the majority of women associations and societies run this annual campaign starting on 25 November, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women to 10 December, Human Rights Day. To recall, the Coalition was founded back in 2014 and embraces members from Arab Parliaments with the aim to fight violence against women through the development of relevant legislations. Drafting the above Arab Convention started in December 2016, according to its chairperson Wafaa Bani Mostafa, who said the convention is drawn in line with international standards with special focus on the Arab women and women refugees and migrants under occupation and is aimed to achieve best ways to protect them. Bani Mostafa also pointed out that the Coalition strongly relies on the support of both the government and Parliament in Tunisia to push it forward inside the Arab League, especially since the Tunisian ministry of women will be chairing the Arab Women Committee at the League as of February 2018. She said Arabs should benefit from the Tunisian experience on the legislative level after ratification in July of the law combating violence against women. (Al Diyar, November 19, 2017)

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BLC awarded for supporting women’s empowerment

20-11-2017

The BLC bank received the Lifetime Achievement Award granted by the Global Banking Alliance for Women (GBA) in recognition of its effective contribution to women’s economic empowerment. The GBA is an international NGO embracing some 35 leading world banks and financial institutions, noting that BLC is the first bank in the MENA region to join the Alliance. The latter, to recall, has trained over 60 banks across the globe to develop programs targeting women, and has previously chosen the Lebanese bank as one of its leading trainers considering its successive accomplishments since acceding the GBA. The CEO of GBA, Inex Murray, handed BLC chair Nadim Qassar, the award at a dinner held in London on November 15. Qassar on the occasion thanked the Alliance for its trust and reviewed his bank’s experience in training and provision of expertise and mentoring to interested banks. He said the award and the naming of the assistant general director, Tania Msallam, to head the Alliance, reflects the bank’s commitment to supporting women in the labor market. (Al Diyar, November 19, 2017)
 
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BLC trains banks of the world on women economic empowerment
Shield of excellence to Tania Msallam for her role in banking

 

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Cooking Festival and Salon du Chocolat in downtown Beirut

17-11-2017

The minister of tourism Avedis Guidanian inaugurated yesterday the Beirut Cooking Festival and Salon du Chocolat expo in their 7th and 4th editions (Biel, November 16-18) in the presence of tourism syndicates, ambassadors and famous food experts. On the occasion, Hospitality Services managing director and HORECA event organizer, Joumana Damous Salameh, said: “We are honored to host these concurrent annual events which is a true celebration of some of the richest flavors and latest cooking and chocolate making trends.” Food, Salameh said, is at the heart of the Lebanese culture and promotes the image of Lebanon as a hub for culinary excellence and tasting. According to a statement by the organizing company, “Beirut, named as best international city for food celebrates once again its rich gastronomy with over 42 passionate chefs and food experts showcasing their latest food preparation techniques through 58 workshops, and with 112 exhibitors featuring and promoting their best foods, beverages, pastries, kitchen utensils and expecting over 15,000 of the food loving audience. (Al Mustaqbal, Al Diyar, An Nahar, November 17, 2017)

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Women’s participation in peace and security

16-11-2017

UN Women, the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and the German Agency for International Cooperation jointly organized a conference in Beirut yesterday on ‘Defining challenges and creating solutions for women’s participation in the Middle East’. On the occasion, UN Women Regional Director, Mohamad Nasiri, stressed the role of women in realizing sustainable development and, hence, in building peace, noting that their participation in peace processes is still relatively slow. For his part, the German Ambassador to Beirut, Martin Huth, revealed an action plan set by his government to strengthen the role of women in sustaining peace in the MENA region, and criticized the poor representation of women in official posts and municipalities in Lebanon. Likewise, the Lebanese minister of state for women’s affairs, Jean Ogassapian, cited studies which confirmed that when women share in the peace-building process, chances of reaching a 2-year solution increase by 20% and increase by 35% for reaching peace that lasts 15 years or more. Ogassapian said encouraging the participation of women in decision-making across the political, social and economic areas promotes peace and stability. In turn, NCLW President Claudine Aoun Rukuz, underscored the significance of gender equality as key to bolstering peace, maintaining that the achievement of sustainable peace requires women’s engagement in the economic process. She pointed out that women’s contribution to peace building has evolved, and “we, as women, must seize all opportunities to stand up against challenges that hinder our participation in decision-making.” (Al Mustaqbal, November 16, 2017)

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Lebanese mooneh a cultural heritage in need of modernisation

16-11-2017

The Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences at the Holy Spirit University of Kaslik (USEK) organized a conference yesterday entitled, ‘The Lebanese Mouneh Heritage: Towards the Modernization of Traditions’ in the presence of agriculture and industry ministers, Ghazi Zeiater and Hussein Haj Hassan. The importance of the workshop, according to the head of Agri-Food Sciences Department, Dr. Marc Bou Zeidan, is in its drawing together the traditions and heritage, like mouneh, on the one hand, and the scientific and applied development of such traditions, on the other. On the occasion, Haj Hassan considered the mouneh as a cultural legacy for Lebanon which is currently endangered. He proposed teaching the subject at the Lebanese universities, especially that the number of women involved in mouneh preparation is declining. He also pressed for registering Mouneh items in international inventories, particularly with the rampant encroachment upon the tradition on part of some countries. Haj Hassan also underlined the specifications of the traditional mouneh demanding setting up special laws to regulate it, and stressing the need to preserve the conventional ways of preparing it. The first day of the event saw the opening of a mouneh fair, to be followed by panels of specialists and experts discussing topics like: mouneh as a means of social development; an overview of the laws and regulations related to mouneh; conventional preparation versus industrial production methods; preservation of the traditional taste and innovative fusion, and finally, youth skills based on entrepreneurship and the home-made preparation of mouneh. The workshop which also includes applied sessions on the production of dairies and pickles, will issue recommendations as well as a vision and strategy for the future. (Al Diyar, November 16, 2017)

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Parliamentary committee endorses definition of sexual harassment

16-11-2017

The Parliamentary Justice and Administration Committee, led by MP Robert Ghanem, ratified yesterday the amendment of some articles in the draft law contained in Decree No. 392, dating 21/3/2017, on criminalizing sexual harassment, particularly defining the crime of sexual harassment. The ratification came after the revision of the explanatory statements of the draft and after consultation with the justice ministry and the Beirut and Tripoli Bar Associations. To note, the accelerated bill submitted by MP Ghassan Mkhaiber on 14/5/2017 has been referred for ratification at the legislative session last January. However, the size of sexist and chauvinistic comments by MPs led to postponing the approval. In this regard, a number of deputies demanded its withdrawal from Parliament to be reviewed by relevant committees in preparation for implementation. (The full text of Mkhaiber proposed bill can be found on the following link: http://bit.ly/2j8AWV9). (Annahar, Al-Mustaqbal 16 November 2017)

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Sexual Harassment law upset parliamentarians who refer it to committees for review

 
 

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Excellence in banking leadership award for Nahla Bou Diab

16-11-2017

The Union of Arab Banks handed Nahla Khadaj Bou Diab the ‘Excellence in the Role of Women in Banking’ award in recognition of her distinctive leadership in management. The honoree, chief operating officer at Al Mawarid Bank, received the award during a ceremony organized by the Union in Amman on October 5, in collaboration with Princess Taghrid Institute for Development and Training. To recall, Bou Diab was honored back in 2015 by the World Union of Arab Bankers as one of the most influential Arab women in the economy and banking sector. Bou Diab boasts more than 32 years of experience in management and restructuring at several institutions, namely the Central Bank of Canada. (Al Mustaqbal, Al Diyar, November 16, 2017)
 
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Gold medal award of distinction for Al Mawarid Bank Chief of Operations Nahla Bu Diab
Bou Diab among the most economically influential Arab women for 2015

 

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Women’s experience in borrowing to set up SMEs

15-11-2017

In a special feature on the Lebanese small and medium enterprises (SMEs), Al Akhbar newspaper highlighted the vital role played by SMEs in economic development and the creation of jobs across all the sectors which explains the keenness shown by local banks to support them. In this respect, the newspaper showcased the experiences of three Lebanese women who used loans provided by banks to this end. Roula Dfuni, contemporary jewelry designer, told Al Akhbar that with the start of her career she resorted to a small loan, as financing is associated with debt and not reinforced by the bank. She wanted to develop her handcrafted jewelry business in the local market, launch her own enterprise and eventually expand abroad, Dfuni said, adding that she could not open a shop due to its high cost, nor did she seek financing for fear of not being able to pay off the debt. Dfouni revealed that banks alleged investment in youth potentials is not true. On the contrary, they focus more on the fast-paced technology sector targeting companies that can generate big profits. For her part, Rana Chmaitelli, CEO of an engineering venture, disclosed that she did not seek support from the bank, instead, she was approached after her company started making financial gains. On the other hand, a restaurant owner, Aline Kamakian, said the bank loan helped her expand the business, noting that conditions governing access to loans were not unreasonable, but they were not easy either, particularly in terms of requirements to be met. Meanwhile, on the strength of SMEs and challenges they face, Al Akhbar spoke to the international stock market expert, Jihad Hakim, who confirmed that Lebanon’s economy basically relies on SMEs. The chief economist at Byblos Bank Group, Nassib Ghobril, on the other hand, told Al Akhbar that the majority of companies embraced by the national economy in Lebanon, whether large or small and medium-sized, share the same problems and hitches. These include, the operational burdens, poor infrastructure, administrative procedures, poor public services, the lack of a long-term vision and a feasible strategy to attract direct foreign investments. (To read full article about SMEs in Arabic, please check: http://www.al-akhbar.com/node/286045) (Al Akhbar, November 9, 2017)

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Saudi justice minister hires women for the first time

15-11-2017

The Saudi justice minister, Sheikh Walid Bin Mohamad al Samaani issued a directive opening positions for women for the first time in the Kingdom’s history. The four posts include, social researcher, Sharia researcher, legal researcher and administrative aide. Semaani also stressed that the ministry of justice has been keen to provide jobs for Saudi women given their role in facilitating the provision of services for women beneficiaries in the courts, including lawsuit documentation. He commended the distinctive and positive contributions by Saudi women across all industries and sectors. To recall, Saudi Arabia has taken several bold measures to reduce unemployment among females. According to the General Authority for Statistics, the rate of unemployment declined from 34.5% at the end of last year to 33.1% at the end of the second quarter of the current year. The Kingdom’s 2030 vision goals are aimed to raise the participation rate of women in the labor market from 22% to 30%. (Al Hayat, November 15, 2017)

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