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The Lebanese Women Democratic Gathering (LWDG) published on Wednesday a study entitled ‘sexual violence against women in Lebanon: shadow testimonies” which was prepared by Dr. Faisal el Kak, sexual and reproductive health specialist at AUB, in collaboration with LWDG vice president, Ms. Caroline Sukar Salibi. The study comes in the framework of the Gathering’s concerted efforts over the past five years concerning sexual violence, particularly in light of the incompetent and unreliable role of the authorities in protecting women. The above study has documented some 50 cases demonstrating all forms of sexual assault, and depended in its compilation on in-depth conversation and interviewing of victims. Expounding on the survey, Salibi said it is indicative of the humiliation and anguish brought about by society in all its aspects on women victims. “I thought we would never get more than 15 testimonies, but were shocked by the number of women who spoke up,” she stated. Pointing to some 420 rape cases during 2015 alone, Salibi made plain that the Lebanese law distinguishes between marital rape, which it decriminalizes, and all other forms of rape, that are punishable by law. Salibi also pointed out that around 50 women (aged between 16 and 55 years) from the various Lebanese regions and sects have spoke of past violence they faced throughout their lives. This sample of respondents is inadequate, Salibi noted, yet it reflects the harsh reality of a prejudiced society and the way it deals with victims. For his part, Dr. el Kak explained that sexual abuse could be the worst and most cruel form of violence. What is sad, he said, is the way such cases are handled.  "As for the prevalence of sexual violence, we have noticed that women are quite aware that they are being subject to abuse, but the reporting is inconsistent with the frequency of incidents. They are hushed up because they are associated with  the dishonor and disgrace they allegedly instigate, and on the assumption that the abused will sooner or later be held accountable," he maintained. “Remarkably, the abused woman has no geographic or sectarian identity,” el Kak concluded. (An Nahar, May 25, 2017)

The Lebanese Franchise Association (LFA) organized on Wednesday a panel entitled ‘creation of jobs for young men and women in retail sector’. The discussion saw the participation of the heads of LFA, Charles Arbid, and the General Confederation of Lebanese Workers and Employees, Bishara  Asmar, the labor ministry director general, George Ida, the head of the Syndicate of Owners of Hypermarkets, Nabil Fahed, and a number of interested people. In his opening words, Arbid stressed the need for coordination between employers, the labor union, the productive sectors and the labor ministry to promote socio-economic dialogue with a view to reach incentives for production and investment, on the one hand, and strengthen solidarity and social cohesion, on the other. For his part, Asmar underlined an urgency for a legislative transformation, pointing that political stability and serious discourse are essential to prepare the groundwork required to improve conditions and protect rights of employees and workers. Similarly, Ida maintained that the retail sector necessitates a special policy and a modern labor bill to replace the current outdated one which no longer meets the needs and aspirations of laborers. Fahd, on the other hand, revealed that more than 70% of job seekers in supermarkets are university and school students looking for temporary work, wondering, “what are we waiting for to enact a law that gives due regard to the circumstances of those youth,” as he said. (Al Mustaqbal, An Nahar, May 25, 2017)

In the latest on domestic violence in Lebanon , the Directorate General of the Internal Security Forces (ISF) noted yesterday that the Syrian girl I’tidal (3 years) was subject to beating by her step mother, rejecting the latter’s account which claims that the girl has been beaten up by her 2-year-old brother! The ISF statement said, that the results of investigation by Junieh Judiciary Police Unit and the victim’s forensic examination have shown the girl suffered a severe blow to her head and had bruises all over her body, but that her overall health condition was intact. The father and his wife were arrested and the children handed over to their uncle as mandated by the competent judiciary. In another heartbreaking episode, the town of Barja in the Shuf was a scene to a horrific crime. In the news, an Ethiopian migrant domestic worker repeatedly stabbed her employer in her final weeks of pregnancy using a knife.  The victim was rushed to hospital in serious condition. After committing her crime, however, the Ethiopian worker tried to throw herself from the balcony, but was stopped by the neighbors who handed her over to the security forces.  The alleged perpetrator later after cutting her wrist artery. In a related vein, the Criminal Court of Beirut set the sentencing hearing for July 4 in the case of killing of child Celene Rakan. The court is expected to clarify some incoherent facts which accompanied the case and conflicting accounts over the murder. The family accuses the migrant worker Bouzai with the murder, while the latter relentlessly denies it, and has repeated that when asked about her final request before closing the trial. (Al Mustaqbal, May 24, 2017)

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The minister of state for women’s affairs, Jean Ogassapian, opened yesterday at Beirut-based ESCWA House a conference entitled, ‘women’s work: towards gender-sensitive public policies”, organized by his ministry, in cooperation with the UN Information Center in Beirut (UNIC) and SMART Center for Media and Advocacy. In his address, Ogassapian clarified the purpose of the decision to declare a special day for women, which is to carry out the government’s commitment towards rights of women. He said the idea of the annual celebration rallies around the creation of a pressure movement across all arenas in Lebanon, including the staging of sit-ins and demonstrations to the end of stimulating society as a whole to participate in achieving those rights. This, he explained, involves realizing women’s presence in political life and within institutions, because of the anticipated positive outcomes, mainly gender mainstreaming and increasing national productivity. The minister indicated that he will ask the Council of Ministers to change the date of the ‘Lebanese Women’s Day’ from November 4th  as previously decided to March 8th , so as to coincide with International Women’s Day. In conclusion, Ogassapian pressed the need to move from discourse to the realization of women’s rights in order to create a momentum that can enforce demands, and persuade politicians and parties to believe in, and, use or benefit from the resources Lebanese women boast. (Al Mustaqbal, May 24, 2017)

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