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Iraqi female students work and study

7-11-2017

In its issue of today, Al Hayat reported that the majority of young Iraqis living in Iraq are in the lookout for employment before graduation for a number of reasons, namely to cover their tuition fees and alleviate the financial burden on their parents, gain experience and boost their confidence. Earlier, combining work and study was confined to males, with only a few young female college students who often worked as private tutors. Today, Al Hayat wrote, getting a part-time job before graduation has become a norm among female students and is largely prompted and inspired by the parents who assume that the girl is more willing to help her folks than the young male who chooses to spend money for his own comfort. Some young men, the newspaper said, seek to employ their sisters at the same office with them to facilitate transport from the university to the workplace and home and to ensure their safety. On the subject, Al Hayat spoke to Maysoun Majid, a pharmacy student at Mustansiriya University, who said that she managed to get a part-time job (5 hours per day) just to find time to study. (For more about the article in Arabic: https://goo.gl/ALjr1c )(Al Hayat, November 6, 2017)

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Claudine Aoun calls again for boosting women’s political participation

6-11-2017

The president of the National Commission for Lebanese Women (NCLW), Claudine Aoun Rukuz, said on Friday that now is the time to convince voters and politicians alike that a parliament with only 4 women MPs and a one-woman minister cabinet do not give a true picture of a society where women and girls excel in schools and universities as well as on the workplace. Rukuz was speaking during the opening of a workshop on ‘the electoral law and the participation of women in the 2018 Parliamentary elections’ organized by the National Alliance-Women for Politics in collaboration with LADE. While stressing that NCLW efforts to improve women’s political participation will continue, Rukuz spelled out extensive work on her part through a special committee to step-up capacity building and awareness raising aimed at persuading political leaderships to adopt reassuring steps in this direction. Rukuz stated that she fully backs the nomination of women by political parties and buoys up those wishing to run for elections. On the other hand, the first Lebanese lady, Nadia Chami Aoun attended the annual charity dinner organized by Yaduna association for women’s heart health and was present at the 20th anniversary of Bal International des debutantes at Casino du Liban. Aoun also sponsored a Plantation Day campaign ‘in partnership with USAID-funded Lebanon Reforestation Initiative (LRI) in the cedar forest of Bsharreh. (Al Diyar, November 4,5 and 6, 2017)

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Saudi journalist Buthaina Nasr, pioneer in women liberation

6-11-2017

In its issue of November 4, L’Orient Le Jour published an interview with the first Saudi anchorwoman, Buthaina Nasr, who read the news bulletin on state-owned Al-Ikhbariya TV channel back in 2003. Nasr told L’Orient Le Jour reporter that she believes in the proficient role of women in all fields and walks, stating that she is a staunch advocate of the rights of women and gender equality, and rejecting women’s subordination by patriarchal culture. Recalling a televised program aired on LBC back in 2007, Nasr said she clashed with a Saudi hardliner. Her father who worked for years outside the Kingdom and was a believer in the rights of women, equality and justice has bestowed on her these values and principles, she said, noting that Islam does not demean women as purported by religious extremists. Nasr made clear that her work in the news was not a carefree experience. In one of her morning programs addressing women on topics related to health, education and cooking, Nasr reported getting under fire on the internet and from the Saudi Shoura Council, three years after which she decided to move to Lebanon. (L’Orient Le Jour, November 4, 2017)

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Launching of a new optional civil marriage draft bill

3-11-2017

The president of the Beirut Bar Association Antonio Hashem launched a new draft bill for the optional civil marriage during a seminar yesterday at the BBA premises. On this, Al Akhbar today said it is not entirely new, as work started back in 2014 under BBA then president George Greij and was completed by a committee of young activist lawyers. In June 2017, the said committee submitted the 101-article draft to the Bar who approved it, Al Akhbar wrote. The draft bill is inspired by contemporary legislations adopted by secular groups and is also based on previous draft laws devised here in Lebanon, the newspaper said. The draft bill, as presented in the preface edited by lawyer Ibrahim Trabulsi who heads the committee, is noted by the following aspects: it is optional and does not encroach upon religious marriage; it observes equality and pursues modernity and ensures gender equality in many areas, including granting parental authority to both parents, imparting the power of marriage to the notary public according to the modern legislation and sparing them the burden of travel to conclude the marriage. It also protects the family from breakup since the authority responsible for the marriage contract is one for all, and it realizes equality in rights and duties despite the religious differences. Despite some glitches, Hashem described the new draft law as fresh and modern and satisfies the crave of a large segment of society, stressing that there is no escape from setting up the civil state. In conclusion, Hashem appealed to everyone to participate in the birth of a new civil state where no one shall be subject to coercion by religion neither shall be denied his religion. (AL Akhbar, An Nahar, AL Diyar, November 3, 2017)

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18 year hard labor for murderer of Manal Assi

3-11-2017

The Criminal Court of Cassation under Judge Suheir Harakeh sentenced yesterday the husband and killer of Manal Assi to a mitigated 18-year imprisonment with hard labor, according to Article 549 of the Penal Code. The final verdict comes three years after the death in 2014 of Manal Assi. To recall, Harakeh has repudiated the ruling of Beirut Criminal Court to mitigate the death penalty to a 5-year prison sentence. The ruling, which is unprecedented after the widespread phenomenon of domestic violence that left many women dead, was based on the report of the forensic pathologist which clearly determined that the victim has been brutally beaten and tortured from head to toe leading to her death. The lawyer at Kafa organization, Leila Awada, lauded the ruling, hoping it will send a message to the courts dealing with similar cases, especially that the criminal court of cassation is a supreme court and its jurisdiction is expended, which helps tighten penalties in trials. Awada hoped this ruling would introduce a new approach on how to deal with similar cases while rejecting any excuses of mitigation. She demanded a shorter period before the pronouncement of the sentence because, as she put it, deterrence calls for harsh, swift and fair punishment. (Al Mustaqbal, November 3, 2017)
 
Previous related news:
Trial postponed of husband killer of wife Manal Assi
Testimonies in the trial of killer of wife Manal Assi
Judiciary delays ruling in murder cases of Manal Assi and Ella Tannus child
Public Prosecutor appeals decision of mitigated sentence to killer of wife Manal Assi

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Empowering Syrian women to face the tragedy of war

2-11-2017

In a special feature today, Al Akhbar touched on the conditions of Syrian women affected by war, including those freed from kidnapping, refugees and wives of martyrs. The newspaper wrote that adequate economic empowerment is what those women need to confront present-day difficulties, pointing to special programs carried out by Assawari civil society organization in Lattakia, founded in 2016, which, besides targeting children affected by the conflict, assists women as well. Currently, Al Akhbar mentioned, Assawari is implementing a 2-day workshop for mothers of children to help them develop economic feasibility studies for micro-projects. One participant, Rawda Zarif Yassin, whose husband was killed in the war and she was detained with her family and her property confiscated, said she felt inept as she knows nothing of the present prices. Sahar Mikdid, for her part, proposed a project involving the preparation of pickles and offered her house as the venue. Mirvat Sheikh, wife of a martyr army officer, mother of two and a state employee herself, stressed that working with Assawari strengthens her self-confidence and that listening to other women’s problems expands her experience and insight. On the multiple activities by Assawari, the association’s head Afnan Belal noted that children interact more easily and rapidly compared to their mums, due to cultural and educational disparities. Belal disclosed that the association will sponsor all the feasible projects, and will provide psychological, health and educational support to some 60 kids, in addition to socio-economic empowerment courses for 40 mothers. (Al Akhbar, November 2, 2017)

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Digital campaign by Kafa to counter Article 522

1-11-2017

In collaboration with the ministry of state for women and NCLW, Kafa, Enough Violence and Exploitation organization, is launching a new digital campaign to eliminate the effects of Article 522 of the Penal Code exonerating a rapist should he marry his victim. Despite the repeal on August 16 of the above article, its effects remain under Article 505 related to sex with a minor (who completed her 15 years) pardoning the assailant should he decide to marry his survivor. Another article is Article 518 related to forced sex by means of deception to marry the victim. In its campaign, Kafa seeks to abolish the effects of Article 522 which substantiates the marriage of minors, and to protect underage girls and children against violence. In this respect, MP Nabil Nicola of the Free Patriotic Movement disclosed on Monday that, at the request of the Woman and Child Committee and NCLW, he submitted a draft bill to amend Articles 505 and 519 and to scrap Article 518 of the Penal Code. To note, Article 519 decrees prison of up to 6 months for the perpetrator of an indecent act with underage male or female who completed 15 years and did not turn 18 and at least one-year imprisonment for lewd acts with a minor under 15 years. (L’Orient Le Jour, Novembe 1, 2017)

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Lebanese women startup shortlisted for Dubai Future Accelerators

1-11-2017

Synkers was the only Lebanese startup to be selected by Dubai Future Accelerators (DFA) to take part in an international program gathering leading technology companies and government organizations to forge transformational solutions. Founded by 3 Lebanese women, Zeina Sultani, Sybell and Audrey Nakad, Synkers was chosen among 45 companies shortlisted from more than 1000 applicants. Synkers made a significant shift in learning and education life and will be part of a promising experience to collaborate with the government of Dubai, particularly for its peer-to-peer private tutoring application. The latter connects students seeking help in specific subjects with highly qualified private instructors through a quick and efficient online booking process. On the initiative, Synkers co-founder, Zeina Sultani, said: “Our aim is to enhance students’ academic performance and orient them towards a brighter future.” Through the application, Sultani explained, “we employ innovative technologies to create jobs for outstanding university students, and help bringing the future to the present.” It is estimated that by the year 2020, there will be around 1.5 million new digital jobs in the world, Sultani disclosed. (Al Mustaqbal, November 1, 2017)

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Awareness on women’s heart at Bank of Beirut

31-10-2017

For the second consecutive year, Bank of Beirut, in cooperation with Women Heart Health Center Yaduna Foundation, organized on Thursday an awareness meeting for a group of its women clients and media partners. Earlier in October of last year, a seminar was successfully held for the Bank’s women staff and has reaped positive results. This year’s event aimed at raising awareness about cardiovascular diseases known to be the leading cause of death worldwide, and the importance of early detection, treatment and prevention. On the occasion, the Bank of Beirut representative, Carole Khoury, underlined the social responsibility of the Bank and the heart-to-heart connection it boasts with its clientele. The seminar included as well, interventions by Yaduna experts who emphasized the crucial role of preventive tests by women starting at the age of 45 years. Physicians and dieticians also explained the risk factors and preventive measures a woman can follow to maintain a healthy heart and arteries, in addition to the services provided by Yaduna in this direction. (Al Diyar, October 31, 2017)

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Shield of excellence to Tania Msallam for her role in banking

31-10-2017

As part of its continuous women economic empowerment programmes, notably the 5-year old WE Initiative, the BLC bank was invited to participate in the Arab Women Council forum (from October 16-18) in Cairo on the role of women leadership in economic growth and sustainable development. The Forum witnessed the honoring of the BLC Bank’s Assistant General Manager, Tania Msallam, who was awarded the golden shield of excellence for her pioneering role in the banking sector. On the occasion, Msallam noted that the “empowerment of women morally is not enough, as they should be imparted the proper tools and means that enable them to forge a significant change at the national and regional levels.” Msallam stressed that the BLC bank’s initiative is a proof that struggling for gender equality at the workplace is an opportunity the private sector can seize to make the progress needed in this area. For his part, the general manager of BLC, Nadim Kassar, said what started as a small idea is now a topic for studies by the Global Banking Alliance for Women (GBA), the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and Oxford Business School. BLC has reaped many awards on the above initiative. (Al Mustaqbal, Al Akhbar, October 31, 2017)

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BLC promotes in NY its women empowerment initiative
 

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