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The minister of state for women’s affairs, Jean Ogassapian, called yesterday for reconsidering the reality of women in light of a humanitarian approach. Ogassapian was speaking during a conference in the Jordanian capital, Amman, on the economic and social empowerment of women under the headline ‘Breaking Obstacles’. In his address to men, the minister said they should be bold enough to work for change as women are the requisite and catalyst for moving society to a better place. Empowering women socially and economically stimulates the growth and development of society and enhances living standards, prosperity and peace, Ogassapian stated. “The Lebanese woman, with the acknowledgement of big bankers, is the element that empowers the banking and financial sectors in Lebanon as she plays a vital role in the success of the services and business sectors,” Ogassapian maintained, (noting a 47% input by women in this industry, the largest in the region). Yet, despite the considerable contributions and sacrifices made by women, their conditions remain unsatisfactory, Ogassapian grieved. He mentioned the immense discrimination and injustice against them particularly in legislations and in employment, pointing to “domestic violence, sexual harassment, early marriages and the impact of the unfair personal status laws which persistently deny women their sacred right to motherhood”. In conclusion, Ogassapian said that women who struggled and succeeded in establishing themselves will remain a model for their peers who lag behind inhibited by obstacles, urging them to keep going always armed with “commitment, ingenuity and transparency”, as he put it. (Al Mustaqbal, March 31, 2017)

 

In cooperation with the American University of Beirut (AUB), Liban Post honored yesterday six women pioneers under the theme “They are the First”. During the ceremony attended by the minister of state for women’s affairs, Jean Ogassapian, the ministry of telecommunications and in coordination with the national postal operator in Lebanon, issued the first edition of commemorative stamps in recognition of the honorees’ achievements. Ogassapian stressed the presence of women as an essential partner in decision making in decision making positions within all constitutional spaces similar to men, stating that obstacles preventing women from demonstrating their capacities and potentials should be destroyed. For his part, AUB President, Fadlo Khury, pointed out that the six women honorees have largely contributed to the advancement of the Lebanese society and to bringing together its constituents. “Were it not for the prominent role of women, the impact of civil war would have been more devastating,” Khury maintained. The honorees are: Mirna Bustani (being the first MP), Leila Solh Hamadeh and Wafaa Dika Hamzeh (first female ministers), Nina Trad (first lawyer), Adma Elias Abu Shdid (first female graduate of the Faculty of Medicine at AUB in 1931) and Saniya Zeitun (the first female member of the Order of Engineers and Architects in Lebanon in 1945). (Al Mustaqbal, March 30, 2017)

 

 

Al Hayat daily brought to light yesterday the subject of harassment in Egypt which has become a normal trend facing Egyptian girls and women who grew to deal with it as an inevitable evil. According to Al Hayt, the appalling findings of surveys on the subject (100% rates) are not surprising anymore, recording one form or another of harassment on a daily basis and sometimes recurrently in one day. In this respect, the newspaper highlighted a recent study by psychology professor at the American University of Cairo, Dr. Hani Henri, entitled, ‘sexual harassment in Egyptian streets: reconsidering feminist theory’. The survey covered diverse categories of society, including, students, accountants, shop owners, workers, managers and others. As for the justifications given by the harassers, they came as such: normal behavior, everyone harasses in his own way, harassment does not infringe on anyone, the harassed girl deserves it, it is the mistake of the woman or girl, girls are legitimate sex tools, it is the consequence of female’s presence in the labor market, a punishment by God to a religiously uncommitted girl or woman who brings it upon on herself. Henri in his study pressed the need for an all-inclusive reform and revision of the current religious rhetoric which sanctions molding gender roles and promotes gender-based violence. He pointed out that challenging harassment starts with compassion and empathy on the part of the harasser towards his potential victims as a humanitarian gesture. Eradicating harassment is an arduous and long journey, Henri noted, presenting a solution focused on the following: proper education and upbringing to better understand the opposite sex, spreading community awareness on the consequences of harassment and obliteration of all forms of discrimination which inspire and expand gender gaps. (Al Hayat, March 28, 2017)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Criminal Court of Beirut closed yesterday the hearing in the case of the killing of child Celine Rakan in 2014 under mysterious circumstances and which charged the Ethiopian migrant domestic worker, Bozai, with her death (c.f: http://bit.ly/2gG7hFh). The session, to recall, is the last before the projected pleading on May 23 after which the verdict will be announced. The closing session which lasted an hour and a half was assigned to hear testimonies which shed further ambiguity on the case. The victim’s father insisted on accusing the MWDW with the murder, in what seemed to be a contradiction to an earlier confession on aired by a TV program stating that his child died from a vaccine administered by her doctor. Meanwhile, the Ethiopian worker still denies charges, and the statement of the forensic doctor appeared to be undecisive, especially that he mentioned more than a possibility of a natural death. Thereafter, Bozai’s attorney Hassna Abdel Rida asked Judge Hajjar to designate a special hearing for a committee of doctors to listen to what they have to say. Towards the end of the session, Yassir Rakan, Celine’s father, approached one of the journalists covering the case and verbally assaulted him accusing him of receiving bribes and attacking all the media for allegedly not supporting him. On the other hand, following the appeal for cassation by the State Commissioner to the Military Court, Judge Sakr Sakr, against the ruling in the murder of Eliane Saftali, and his demanding to revoke the verdict and retry the accused Hassan Hamiyeh (c.f: http://bit.ly/2nfVwVI), the head of the military court of cassation, Judge Toni Latuf, agreed yesterday to retry the three suspects in the killing of the young woman, and decided to adjourn the meeting until April 25. (Al Mustaqbal, March 29, 2017)

 

  

 

 

The minister of agriculture, Ghazi Z3ayter, sponsored yesterday the closing day of the ‘Enhance the Livelihood and Food Security of Vulnerable Lebanese Women through Improving their Dairy Production Practices and Supporting their Dairy Processing Activities’ project at the premises of the Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture in Saida and the South. During the ceremony, the chair of the Chamber, Mohammad Saleh, underlined the importance of supporting working rural women as the domestic economy relies basically on small and medium enterprises, especially in the agro-food sector, which in turn comprises a high proportion of the women labor force. Saleh lauded the spirit of innovation and initiative of Lebanese women, particularly southern women, boasts. He reiterated the Chamber’s commitment to this effect, pointing to the success accomplished so far through a number of schemes aimed at development of rural economy, which mainly target women and building their capacities to better perform in the agriculture, artisan, trade and rural areas. Saleh estimated the rate of women workforce in said fields at 60%. For his part, Dr. Mohammad Farran, representing the agriculture minister emphasized the significance of the project in supporting Lebanese women to become partners in providing for the household and supporting their community and in protecting food security. To note, the project is funded by the Italian Embassy and implemented by the Agriculture Ministry in cooperation with FAO. (An Nahar, March 29, 2017)

 

Under the sponsorship of the UN Information Center in Beirut (UNIC), and in partnership with the International Debate Education Association (IDEA), SMART Center organized yesterday a debate on ‘women’s quota in Lebanon’. Participants included women who had previously partook in parliamentary, municipal and mukhtar elections, candidates for upcoming elections, as well as representatives of women’s associations, civil society groups and media figures. The debate coincided with the launch of so-called Debate Club Association aimed at endorsing consensus and exchanging viewpoints among people. On the occasion, UNIC director, Margot Helou, underlined the vitality of women’s participation in political decision making as it contributes to reducing the gender gap at all levels, as she said. For her part, the CEO of SMART, Randa Yassir, pointed out that the Center has been implementing a training on public debates project since 2012 with the aim to promote the notions of citizenship, democracy and community building in Lebanon and the Middle East. IDEA deputy director in the MENA region, Malek Msahel, announced the launch of a debate incubator in Lebanon that brings together debate organizations and active clubs in Jordan, Lebanon, Tunisia, Egypt and Morocco. The purpose is to support and coordinate debate initiatives, merge debate skills as tools of expressing one’s opinion in a civilized way and bring about social change among the youth. (Al Hayat, March 28, 2017)

 

 

On the occasion of Mother’s Day, and under the umbrella of My Nationality is My Dignity Campaign, the Association of Individual Initiative for Human Rights (Massir) staged on Sunday a symbolic sit-in on Ain Mreisseh Corniche in Beirut. Protestors wanted to remind officials of the rights of Lebanese mothers to grant nationality to their children, wondering about the reasons behind intentional violation of the Constitution which guarantees them these rights. Mona Dahabe, the media coordinator of the Campaign, said injustice is still forced on women as a result of mounting restrictions in this regard. “Year after year, the troubles facing Lebanese mothers are snowballing and promises to resolve them are going up as well,”Dahabe stated. Similarly, Mustafa Shaar, coordinator of the Campaign, said mothers cannot celebrate until discrimination is lifted and violation of international conventions cramped. “When you want to impose taxes, you meet, but when it comes to observing the Constitution and allowing mothers to pass the nationality to their children, no one is to be found,” Shaar lamented. He called on women (who represent nearly 56% of voter) to cast an empty vote and to not elect those who discriminate against them in the upcoming parliamentary elections. (Al Hayat, L’Orient Le Jour, March 27 and 28, 2017)

 

 

The Syndicate of Owners of Recruitment Agencies for Migrant Domestic Workers (MWDW) held its monthly meeting on March 22nd to discuss conditions in the sector and ways to confront challenges. One major challenge is in following up with the labor ministry the various memorandums of understanding signed with embassies of sending countries. Participants in the meeting asked the labor minister, Mohammad Kabbara, to speed up procedures in order to close this file and work seriously in disciplining offices or brokers violating the laws regulating the sector. The Syndicate also appealed to citizens willing to employ migrant domestic workers to make sure the recruiting office is legitimate, certified and member of the Syndicate to safeguard their rights and the rights of MWDWs. On the other hand, Kabbara met with the ambassador of Bangladesh, Abdel Mutalib Sarker, who grieved the difficulties Bengali nationals in Lebanon are facing, calling for cooperation to this end, and announcing that his country has started a training programme for its nationals who wish to work in Lebanon. (L’Orient Le Jour, March 22, 2017)

 

 

The minister of information, Melhem Riyachi handed yesterday the human rights activist Antoinette Shahine an honorary shield in recognition of her resilience in serving her country. Riyachi on the occasion said he is privileged to honor what he termed as the “iron lady” who has fought and resisted challenges throughout generations. Ogassapian lauded the natural qualities of freedom, democracy and human dignity Shahine boasts which made her a model in Lebanon and abroad. The honoree for her part, expressed pride in receiving the shield of the “fourth authority”, and which, as she said, can do the impossible. Shahine said that as proud as she is to be the daughter of an ordinary fisherfolk and a baker, she is honored to be appointed as the ambassador of human rights and to be granted the French citizenship. “When I was first arrested, injustice was prevailing, but now, I pledge to carry on determinedly and unflaggingly,” Shahine said. To be noted, Shahine was imprisoned for 5 years on charges of involvement in bombing Sayyidat al Najat Church and was sentenced to death but appealed her case. The ceremony was held yesterday in the presence of the minister of state for women’s affairs, Jean Ogassapian, and a number of MPs and dignitaries. (Al Mustaqbal, An Nahar, March 28, 2017)

While the Parliamentary Commission on Women and Children's Affairs was tackling the issue of raising the age of marriage, and has to this end, formed a sub-committee to discuss the matter with involved religious circles, in his address on the occasion of the Muslim Woman day on March 18, the secretary general of Hezbollah, Sayyid Hassan Nasrallah, described early marriage as ‘divine’, and warned that whoever fights it is an accomplice to the devil. Nasrallah accused media channels and some organizations of serving the interests and objectives of those seeking to undermine Arab families. In this respect, the General Secretariat of the Lebanese Parliament organized a round table on March 23 in collaboration with UNDP under the title, ‘banning child marriage’. Partaking in the discussion, were some of women rights groups, notably Kafa Enough Violence and Exploitation and the Lebanese Women Democratic Gathering (RDFL) who denounced the Personal Status Law for infringing on the rights of the child under the disguise of religion. To note, however, and according to L’Orient Le Jour newspaper, all the political blocs agreed in principle to eliminate early marriage, except Hezbollah MPs. On the subject, UNDP representative to Lebanon, Philippe Lazzarini, reminded of the country’s participation in the sustainable plan adopted by the United Nations, which includes the issue of marriage of children. Lazzarini drew attention to the numbers of early marriage contracts during 2016, pointing to an increase brought about by a corresponding increase in the number of Syrian and Palestinian refugees from Syria. According to Lazzarini, the rate of marriage (among minors from 15 and 19 years of age), has risen by 8% to 10%, particularly in the regions of Akkar and Beqaa. The parliamentary session also discussed a draft legislation to protect children from forced child marriage which was prepared by RDFL and with the contribution of Judge Jean Azzi and Dr. Omar Nashabeh. For more on the draft bill, kindly visit the following link: : http://nna-leb.gov.lb/ar/show-news/275797/ (An Nahar, L’Orient Le Jour, March 23 and 24, 2017)