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Tunisian Alliance calls for revoking the ban on Muslim women from marrying non-Muslims

12-4-2017

The Tunisia Alliance for Human Rights Groups called last week for revoking the 1973 decree issued by Justice Ministry banning Muslim women from marrying non-Muslims. The Alliance of some 60 local organizations signed a statement calling for scrapping the above decree which requires that a non-Muslim man who wishes to marry a Tunisian woman must convert to Islam before the Moufti of the Republic. L’Orient Le Jour which reported the news, wrote that despite the memo released in 2001 by the Tunisian Court of Cassation clarifying that the act of converting to Islam before the Moufti was not compulsory, and that there are other ways to prove it, including recognition by the couple themselves, yet, this measure was not satisfactory. Hazar Jahinawi, speaking for the Democrats Party, warned that this is not a solution to the predicament, noting that the text of the memo itself was discriminatory. The Tunisian Muslim woman, Jahinawi stated, has the right to marry whoever she wants, similar to her male Muslim national. The Alliance further explained that the above measure is contrary to the new Constitution adopted back in 2014 which guarantees the freedom of belief and equality between men and women. It should be noted, that the North African country has ratified the. Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against Women, which stipulates that Tunisian women have the right to choose their spouses. The Alliance finally said it hoped the decree in effect will be withdrawn by November, 2017. (L’Orient Le Jour, April 11, 2017)

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French legion of Honor to Lamia Bsat, President of the Bassil Fuleihan Institute of Finance

11-4-2017

The French Ambassador to Lebanon, Emmanuel Bonne, handed the director of the Institut des Finances Basil Fuleihan (IoF), Lamia Mbayyed Bsatt, the national order of Legion of Honor from the rank of Knight. It should be noted, that Bsat has earlier received the same order of distinction on July 13, 2015 from French President Francois Hollande in recognition of her efforts to promote Lebanese-French relations and build sustainable partnerships with French and European institutions. On the occasion, Bonn praised the accomplishment of the chair of IoF which has become an established pillar for the rehabilitation and training of employees in public departments in Lebanon and for strengthening the state-run establishments. The ambassador also lauded Bsat’s commitment to support the construction of the state of institutions in the country and her contribution to towards a credible public administration. Bonn mentioned Bsat’s role in research on good governance, especially through IoF’s periodic newsletter specialized in state finance and the modernization of the state. This, Bonn maintained, has helped in enriching debate and enhancement of the public sector in terms of future state policies, commending also her role in enlivening regional cooperation and dialogue through her participation in the launch of the Governance Institutes Forum for Training in the Middle East and North Africa region – GIFT-MENA whose secretariat is hosted by the IoF. Bsat, in her turn, pledged to carry on with her mission armed with a solid belief in the State and its institutions and pride in engaging in state service. “Realizing peace and development is impossible outside a strong state,” Bsatt said, stressing that achieving a capable and powerful public administration prompts the building of human capital. “This undoubtedly means the building of a modern and equal opportunity management of employment based on merit and skill, and a continuous development of competencies,” Bsatt concluded. (Al Mustaqbal, An Nahar, April 11, 2017)

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Joyce Azzam prepares for climbing Kilimanjaro with 3 young Lebanese women

11-4-2017

After her last hike to the Aconcagua summit (6962m), (news: http://bit.ly/2oZUsKu), Lebanese mountaineering champion, Joyce Azzam, is preparing, along with three other Lebanese women, Ghaydaa, Lyan and Rawan Dakik (aged 13-16 years) from the southern town of Haris, to hit the 5883m peak of Kilimanjaro, Tanzania. The expected period of the journey is 7 days passing through the Mashami trail which boasts distinctive features. Azzam’s planned journey will reportedly focus on provision of support for her peers and encouraging them to aim for innovative ventures that uplift the status of women in her country and help them demonstrate their sportive and intellectual capacities. Azzam also seeks to spread awareness on sports among young men and women bringing on a new dynamic and active lifestyle. It should be noted, that Azzam is sponsored by the WE Initiative of the BLC bank and is considered the ambassador of this landmark program which has taken a global dimension. The program to recall is aimed at empowering Lebanese women economically by helping them realize their potentials. The climber also benefits from the support of women empowerment activist, Claudine Aoun Rukoz, besides the Patrouille Des Sommets initiative administered by retired general Chamel Rukoz. (Al Hayat, April 11, 2017)
 
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BLC supports a Lebanese woman in reaching Mount Aconcagua

 

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Fadia Kiwan’s chances slim for nomination to ESCWA’s USG 

11-4-2017

Dr. Fadia Kiwan, nominated for the post of UN Under-Secretary General, disclosed yesterday that she received a letter from the UN Secretary General’s Office on Friday noting what the “great difficulty in the selection of candidates” and informing her that another person will most likely be shortlisted for the position. The letter, on the other hand, mentioned the impression Kiwan left after her interview with the UN Office team, who commended her “professionalism, knowledge and approach to the work of the United Nations”. Meanwhile, Kiwan, revealed that she has known from informal UN sources that her government’s backing for her nomination was very shy compared to other candidates. It should be noted, that foreign minister, Jibran Bassil, has assigned Lebanon’s UN Representative Nawaf Salam to follow up the file and carry out the necessary contacts to support her. However, Kiwan told L’Orient Le Jour newspaper that she did not receive solid backing from her country, pointing out that Bassil’s move was not enough, lamenting that the government could have contacted Arab officials to support up her candidature. Lebanon, Kiwan stated, has lost the opportunity to be represented at such an important platform, noting that since the establishment of ESCWA in Beirut in 1973, not one Lebanese has had the chance to assume its governance. (L’Orient Le Jour, April 11, 2017)

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Fadia Kiwan for executive secretary of ESCWA
 

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Amendment of current domestic violence law better frames violence

10-4-2017

The Ministry of Justice and Kafa Enough Violence and Exploitation organization held on Friday a joint press conference announcing a draft amendment of Law No. 293/2014 on the protection of women and family members against domestic violence promulgated three years ago by the Lebanese parliament. On the occasion, Minister Salim Jreisati highlighted the suggested modifications which involved the writing of a clear and explicit text related to domestic violence that explains a misuse of authority within a family. Said alterations, Jreisati maintained, note that an act of domestic violence which requires a special treatment with its corollaries or consequences, including murder, permanent or temporary physical disabilities, physical or moral abuse, restriction of freedoms and economic dependence or damages, be considered a crime of its own, and is efficiently, urgently and flexibly punishable for its detrimental consequences. Jreisati indicated that he will submit the draft law to the Cabinet for endorsement and referral to Parliament, hoping such amendments will contribute to addressing the negative impact of the phenomenon of violence largely suffered by children and women in particular. For his part, the minister of state for women’s affairs, Jean Ogassapian, lauded what he described as ‘needed’ reforms to the effect of promoting the protection of battered women and their family members, reminding of the importance of setting up special care centers across the Lebanese regions in this regard. similarly, Kafa director, Zoya Ruhana, recalled an unprecedented surge in the number of visits by abused women to the organization’s support center, (by 275% during the year which followed the enactment of the law as compared to the previous year). (For more details on the proposed amendments, please visit the following link http://bit.ly/2oh5TvX. (Al Hayat, An Nahar, April 7 and 8, 2017)

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Ogassapian: women’s participation in decision-making is essential

10-4-2017

The minister of state for women’s affairs, Jean Ogassapian, emphasized on Friday that women’s engagement in decision-making positions is not a formality but rather a necessity. Speaking during a dialogue session held by the Future Movement Women’s Department, the minister pointed out that the representation quota is a transitional phase and that granting women their rights is primarily a man’s responsibility. “I believe that Lebanese women is capable of assuming the roles of the good mother, the active member of society and the efficient politician,” he said, which explains the Future Movement’s policy to demonstrate this on the ground. Pointing that women make nearly 40% of the Movement’s political bureau, Ogassapian pledged to expand it and to bring in more women into its different sectors and eventually in the Future’s parliamentary bloc. Likewise, the Women’s Department coordinator, May Tabbal, underlined the importance of lobbying to realize the minimum 30% women’s quota in electoral laws, making clear that changing discriminatory texts against women is one of the priorities of the Future Movement, particularly in the labor law, the social security law and the nationality law, as well as enactment of draft laws for the protection of women and family members. In a similar note, Ogassapian commended women’s role in society, spelling out that his endeavor since he took office was and will remain to promote conditions of Lebanese women and set up a proper slogan and social media website for his ministry. The Minister was speaking at a dinner hosted by the Friends Heart Association of Mansouriyeh under the auspicious of the Qaim Maqam of North Matn, Marlene Hadad. (Al Mustaqbal, L’Orient Le Jour, April 8, 2017)

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The journey of Rabab Sadr, president of Imam el Sadr Institutions

10-4-2017

In a special feature today, L’Orient Le Jour highlighted the life of the president of Imam Mousa el Sadr Institutions, and sister of disappeared Imam Moussa Sadr. Speaking to the reporter, Raba Sadr revealed that she is seeking to carry on the mission and vision of her elder brother who brought her up and inspired her actions. His disappearance, she said, was the main motivation for her work with families of missing persons who were abducted during the country’s civil war, regardless of their religious affiliations. Sadr mediated with heads of various political parties whom she barely knew in an attempt to save the lives of many, she noted. On her social and professional life, Sadr, a grandmother to 11 grandchildren, said she started her career life with fashion design and later received a scholarship to study drawing and painting in Italy. Not forgetting to mention her passion for poetry, she told L’Orient Le Jour reporter that she has recently earned her doctorate degree in philosophy. During her leisure time, Sadr said she likes to watch good movies or indulge in knitting and handicraft hobbies. And despite that she comes from a family of committed believers, she added that she never was prevented from doing what she loved, and was encouraged by her imam brother and his wife to follow her ambitions. Even the laws were never an obstacle to her ventures, particularly in field of human rights, mentioning she did not feel any inferior treatment for wearing the ‘hijab’ or for being a woman. Rabab Sadr pointed out that she feels at ease in Christian communities, especially when she visits churches, where she recites religious texts and sermons. Sadr finally said that women do not have to protest in order to claim their natural rights; but rather they should practice those rights in their daily lives and impose on society their realities. (L’Orient Le Jour, April 10, 2017)

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Policy dialogue at AUB to curb mortality rates among refugees

7-4-2017

The Knowledge to Policy (K2P) Center at the Faculty of Health Sciences at the AUB, organized jointly with the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) a Policy Dialogue in collaboration with the Ministry of Health to tackle the issue of preventable preterm deliveries among Syrian refugee women in Lebanon. UNHCR representative, Michael Woodman, said that the primary cause of deaths among Syrian refugees is due to complications with newborns, noting that there is a pressing need to take evidence-informed decisions with the partners to address the situation. For his part, the director of the Center, Fadi Jardali, pointed out that the current conditions are putting heavy burden on Syrian refugees and on the local healthcare system. “Presenting the refugee plan to Brussels Conference on Syria is very important in order to engage the international community,” Jaradli said, hoping the outcomes will not be limited to financial support but extend to sharing the burden and political commitment to resolve the crisis. Dialogue participants highlighted factors that should be taken into consideration to reduce preterm deliveries, like for example the educational background, and agreed to set future plans to be adopted by the Lebanese health ministry and concerned UN agencies and NGOs. The director general of the ministry, Walid Ammar, said the dialogue succeeded in linking evidence, scientific data and the feasibility of application on the ground in Lebanon. (Al Mustaqbal, Al Hayat, April 7, 2017)
 

 

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Sheikh Kassem warns against meddling with personal status laws and promoting

7-4-2017

The Deputy Secretary General of Hizbullah, Sheikh Naim Kassem, said yesterday that he rejected any infringement on the personal status laws in effect in the Lebanese courts and replacing them with civil laws under any title or name. Kassem who was speaking during a conference held by Lebanese Cultural League Association said return to Shari’ and the jurists is required to inspire solutions for problems and later amend the personal status laws in the shari’a courts based on the jurists’ commendations with reference to religious sources, as he put it. Kassem maintained that he will not accept any maneuvering in the form of infiltrating a civil law to resolve a separate case or cases that will transgress against religious personal status laws. “Recently, a seemingly misguided group of people launched a campaign in the media to forge an amendment of the laws. A previous attempt which failed, thank God, sought to impose a law on marital rape under the title of domestic violence,” Kassem claimed. “This is totally in contradiction with the spirit of marriage,” he stated. “It is true, at the end of the day, when domestic violence is related to beating a woman or child, it is considered civil law because it has to do with physical beating,” Qassem expounded, but warned that any “tampering with the laws is unacceptable”. As to homosexuality Kassem said: “Dealing with homosexuality as a moral and educational deviance or perversion requires reform, and those who promote or encourage it should be punished. As for the sufferer, he must receive help to get rid of his malaise. Homosexuality will never be a natural tendency as it is contrary to nature, and the opposite leads to the decadence of the family,” he concluded. (Al Diyar, An Nahar, April 7, 2017)
 
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Marked Kataeb participation in a seminar to promote gender equality

7-4-2017

A round table was organized yesterday by the Euromed Feminist Initiative, the Lebanese Women Democratic Gathering and Association Najdeh under the title ‘from ministerial decisions to promoting gender equality policies in the Euro-Mediterranean region’. The event was held under the auspices of the minister of state for women’s affairs, Jean Ogassapian, and the attendance of the President of the Phalangist Party (Kataeb), Sami Gemayel, former minister Wafaa Hamzeh Dika and a crowd of dignitaries. Ogassapian pointed out to the countless discriminations and infringements on the rights of women, warning that recommendations issued by similar congregations should be implemented on the ground and a pressure group be formed to force politicians to fight the bigoted practices and crimes against women, otherwise they remain void and futile. Similarly, Gemayel demanded the eradication of all forms of discrimination against Lebanese women and their effective participation in political life of the country, pledging that his party will set proposals and vote for any draft law that supports gender equality. And while the head of the political section at the EU in Lebanon, Julia Koch, emphasized that the women’s quota is a preamble for women’s political engagement, Dika pressed for revoking all discriminatory legislations and narrow minds and souls as well. She called for introducing a clear and explicit text on gender equality to the Lebanese Constitution similar to many Arab countries and enacting a civil personal status law, stressing that women’s rights are indivisible. (Al Mustaqbal, April 7, 2017)

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