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In an attempt to revive reading and books, be it on paper or electronically, a number of women in Saida created a literary salon to operate as a regular monthly book club. On the subject, Al Mustaqbal newspaper talked to a member of the above salon, Safaa Makawi, who disclosed that the idea originated back in 2010 among educated women who chose a book to read every month. The idea then developed into a regular book club when these women started to read from the abode of their homes and meet to discuss the novel or book they read, Makawi boasted. She said a facebook page https://www.facebook.com/Bookclubsaida/?hc_ref=SEARCH was launched with a hashtag literary salon and another one on twitter bearing the name ‘together we read’. Readers and book lovers use these e-platforms to communicate and exchange views on every new book release, Makawi said, noting that the literary salon has become the inspiration for many similar projects in the southern city. The purpose of the initiative, she explained, is not recreational, but rather a conduit of the passion for reading. Members, she noted, are mostly professional women, including dentists, lab specialists, business women, trainers, pharmacists, as well as housewives or retired employees. (Al Mustaqbal, March 14, 2017)

  

 

 

 

Last weekend witnessed further activities in celebration of the International Woman’s Day. Under heavy rain, a civil march was organized on Saturday in Beirut with the participation of nearly 2000 feminist and young activists, demanding the endorsement of a number of laws for fostering women’s rights. In the same vein, Kataeb Party launched its first day forum for woman under the banner ‘rights, partnership, parity’ during which Kataeb President Sami Gemayel announced that his party submitted a law proposal to exempt all Lebanese women wishing to run for elections from candidacy fees. The exemption, which includes as well the electoral insurance, should cover the Parliamentary, municipal and mukhtar elections for 2 rounds of fees. Moreover, Haigazian University organized a ceremony in honor of 4 women pioneers in social and professional areas, while Bank of Beirut and the Arab World (BBAC), and for the third successive year, offered a special package of banking services targeting women . Similarly, the Arab Women’s Council, held the Arab Woman Festival to honor a number of outstanding female entrepreneurs, while The American University for Science and Technology (AUST) in Halat, launched the first meeting hub for women of society. For its part, the Lebanese Council for Women (LCW) opened its 9th conference entitled, ‘one stop on the road of a long struggle for the elimination of all forms of discrimination against women: a political, social and economic reform, building the civil democratic state’. Similar events, included a ceremony by Ramgafar Party under the patronage of minister of state for administrative development, Inaya Ezzideen, who hailed efforts by Armenian women to bring up active and skilled (men) artisans, professionals and innovators! Finally, the Bsharri-branch of the Lebanese Forces organised a seminar on the occasion entitled “a new step towards social justice”. (Annahar, Al Mustaqbal, Al Diyar, Al Hayat, L’Orient le Jour, 11,12,13 March 2017)

 

A mother of three from Tripoli joined on Friday the unfortunate convoy of victims of domestic violence. Rayan Iaali was hit by her husband with a rock on her head and died after 30 days in coma at the Nini Hospital in the northern capital. (the news: http://bit.ly/2mi21Xs). To note, the culprit is still in detention and has been referred on 5/2/2017 to the Appellate Prosecutor awaiting his trial.  (An Nahar, Al Akhbar, March 11, 2017)

 

 

In the first step of its kind, and in concurrence with the International Women’s Day, Iceland announced that it will apply an equal pay law on all private and public sector companies across the nation in a pledge to close wage gap by the year 2022. The Icelandic government reasserted that it will be submitting a draft legislation to the Parliament this moth requiring all companies with more than 25 employees to prove they pay equally for employees for the same work, regardless of the color, race and gender. The projected law will come into effect early next year. Commenting on the above move, Iceland’s social affairs and equality minister, Thorsteinn Viglundsson disclosed that companies rejected the law at all levels, yet they called it a matter of necessity to close the gender gap at the workplace. “Equality is a fundamental human right,” said Viglundsson. It should be noted, that Iceland imposes a 40% women representation quota at the level of boards of directors on companies with more than 50 employees. This Nordic country is on top of world countries for gender equality according to the World Economic Forum Wage Gap Index. Nevertheless, Icelandic women still earn 14% to 18% less than men. (The Huffington post Canada 8 March 2017) 

 

Previous related news: 

Government’s gift to Lebanese women: Bill criminalizing sexual harassment approved

Flamboyant political declarations on the occasion of IWD

Civil society celebrations on the International Women’s Day continued unabated. The latest was a ceremony held yesterday at Bassel Fleihan Institute of Finance and Economy ending the training program on ‘Mechanisms for the Empowerment and Promotion of Development Role of Women’. The said program, to note, was organized by the Arab Planning Institute under the theme  ‘closing the gender gap’. On the occasion, the president of the Institute, Lamia Bssat, pointed out that helping women access decision making posts starts with an anticipatory planning for jobs and facilitation of prospects of promotion for women though the adoption of a “gender diversity quota in senior positions,” as she said. Similarly, the Young Women’s Christian Association (YWCA) held yesterday a celebration for honoring some 20 female directors in the public departments in the presence of the minister of state for women’s affairs, Jean Ogassapian. The minister reiterated the need to promote women to become key partners in the making of political decisions at the national level. (For the full names of the honorees, kindly visit the following link: : http://nna-leb.gov.lb/ar/show-news/273058/20). 

Furthermore, the Lebanese Council for Women staged a symbolic sit-in in front of the Grand Serail in Riad el Solh with the participation of several civil society organizations. Participants hoisted banners calling for the involvement of women in the discussion of elections laws, the inclusion of the women’s quota and introduction of an optional civil personal status law. In the same spirit, the National Commission for Lebanese Women (NCLW), in cooperation with the United Nations Population Fund, organized a seminar yesterday on ‘ways to help women access leadership positions’ and during which Abeer Shbaro, NCLW officer, outlined a key suggestions. In the same context, the Maronite Patriarch, Besharah Al Rai held a celebration in Bkerki on Wednesday carrying the title ‘I am a woman, present and ready’ that was organized by the Pastoral Office of Women in the Patriarchate. Al Rai stressed the essential presence of women in every household, hailing the role of female Church pioneers and their good impact on schools, hospitals, and on the humanitarian and social fronts. (Al Diyar, Al Mustaqbal, An Nahar, March 9 and 10, 2017 )

 

Greenpeace environmental organization launched on Wednesday a solar power supply project to help the women’s cooperative in the southern town of Deir Qanoon al Nahr-Ras, Tyre, increase production while rationalizing the use of electricity and diesel. The said initiative targeting Mawassim el Dai’aa coop run by women gives female workers more time with their families. During the launch event, campaign officer, Julian Greisati, disclosed that the project was funded collectively, at USD 12,000, as part of Greenpeace Mediterranean- Arab World’s ongoing work in the fields of energy and climate in the region. The chief of the Women’s Cooperative Association in Deir Qanoon al Nahr, Daad Ismail, pointed out that there were only 12 women working with minimal resources when the coop opened in 2005, but that now their number has doubled. She underlined the shortages of electric power faced by the cooperative and resulting in extra production cost. Sometime, women had to work manually to run the machinery, which meant a drain of time and effort and lower production, Ismail said. “Today we celebrate a progressive change that is projected to continue and reflect positively on our lives and on our community,” Ismail added, noting that the project shall contribute to a sustainable production and extra profits, while creating new job prospects for more women. (Al Mustaqbal, L’Orient Le Jour, March 10, 2017)

 

 

 

Lebanese climber, Joyce Azzam, has made it to one of the highest 7 peaks in the world, Aconcagua (6962m) located in the Andes Mountains of Argentina, thus scoring a record of 21 most known mountaintops across the globe. Azzam has reportedly faced big psychological and nature caused pressures associated with mountaineering, but has decided to conquer the peak and raise the Lebanese flag up on the highest crest of Latin America. Joyce’s mission is considered one of the toughest accomplishments in mountaineering which makes her the first in Lebanon and the Middle East to achieve this. Only 51 climbers in the history of this risky sport, including 12 women, have been able to make it. To note, this escapade is part of a series of mountain climbing adventures called ‘Explorers Grand Slam’ project.  Azzam disclosed that her next destinations for 2017 are the highest peak in North America, Denali in Alaska, and Kilimanjaro in Africa. Through her achievements, Azzam is seeking to become an inspiration for all the Lebanese girls and women, she said. (Al Mustaqbal, March 9, 2017)

 

Previous related news: 

BLC supports a Lebanese woman in reaching Mount Aconcagua

 

 

Coinciding with the International Women’s Day, the Lebanese Cabinet approved yesterday a draft law proposed by the ministry of state for women’s affairs to criminalize sexual harassment, and referred it to Parliament for ratification. Minister Jean Ogassapian said that the move was a gift to women on their day, expressing his gratitude for a remarkable accomplishment after only 2 months from his appointment. He pledged to take bolder and positive steps that strengthen the status of women in society. On Women’s Day, statements from officials continued. To this effect, President Michel Aoun praised women’s perseverance saying he supports the eradication of all inconsistencies between men and women in the law, and promised to continue to work to achieve that. Aoun was speaking yesterday in front of a delegation of a delegation of the Lebanese Council of Women led by Iqbal Dughan. Similarly, Prime Minister Saad Hariri held a brunch in honor of the women employees at the Grand Serail, stressing his commitment to introducing the women’s quota, because as he said, “society will not accept the idea unless it is enforced on it.” For her part, the president of the National Commission of Lebanese Women, Randa Berri, reiterated on the occasion her demands for inclusion of the quota with not less than 30% in any upcoming electoral law. To note, that despite the endorsement of the above law yesterday, An Nahar newspaper mentioned today three proposals related to women that are still pending between the parliamentary committees and the Parliament’s General Committee. These are respectively related to regulating the marriage of minors, abolishment of Penal Code Article 522 and the amendment of Provision C of Article 14 of the Social Security Law on the right of women to grant National Social Security insurance, An Nahar reported. (An Nahar, Al Mustaqbal, March 8 and 9, 2017)

In a tribute to the International Women’s Day, L’Orient Le Jour highlighted the serious low participation rates of women in the labor market in Lebanon influenced by stereotypes and discrimination factors. Citing the Global Gender Gap Index 2016 published by the World Economic Forum, L’Orient Le Jour said Lebanon came 135 among the 144 countries covered by the survey, with only 24% of working females in 2014. And according to a number of women interviewed by the newspaper, the first discrimination they face is in the stage of recruitment. Dima Jamali, a professor at Suliman Olayan School of Business- AUB attributed this to the stereotypical images of women portraying them as less loyal or less engaged in work given their family commitments, or the long pregnancy and maternity leaves they boast. And if they got the job, the post will be mediocre with a basic salary, Jamali expounded. While pointing that discrimination hits as well other sectors with an outstanding presence of women, L’Orient Le Jour talked to Randa Bdeir, head of card services department at Bank Audi to know more. Bdeir suggested that the government should enforce the appointment of one or two women in the corporate boards of directors in companies. However, the matter is problematic and sensitive and hence, requires a change of the prevalent culture which, also needs time, Bdeir maintained. In another feature, L’Orient Le Jour shed light on startups in Lebanon particularly those led and owned by women and the challenges they face. The chief of the Lebanese Businessmen Association, Fuad Zmokhal, told the newspaper that despite the growth of and the increasing interest of women in the sector, yet their representation is still shy. The enterprises founded by women are small, as they opt out of borrowing and prefer to be on top of their projects and manage them personally. (L’Orient Le Jour, March 3 and 7, 2017)

 

Notwithstanding the critical conditions caused by the war in Syria, women presence is remarkable and strong, while showing progress at the level of striving to protect themselves and their children against domestic violence. In this respect, that an annual conference in Damascus for the Association of Construction and Wood Workers has revealed that out of the 9598 workers in the private and public building industries, there are some 1598 women, according to daily Al Akhbar. The members of the association called for better direct health services, away from the insurance companies, while stressing the urgent need to amend the government decree concerning the housing of workers, so that it also covers rural citizens, and therefore decreases the financial burden of workers. On a related matter, and coinciding with the International Women’s Day, the Syrian Committee for Family and Population Affairs launched yesterday the so-called ‘family protection unit’ in the northern Damascus suburb of Qadsiyeh. The said unit is expected to provide temporary housing for women and children subject to domestic violence, as well as legal, medical, psychiatric and social support, as well as rehabilitation and training services. On the subject, the unit chief, Hadil Asmar, told Al Akhbar reporter, that the place is almost ready with a capacity of up to 96 persons. Each of the 8 apartments of the building, she explained, can house around 7 people in the first phase, as it is not advised for psychosomatic persons to stay in densely populated spaces. Asmar also pointed out that the building is equipped with a number of halls for exhibition, technology, training and sewing works. Finally, she revealed the existence of a plan to open another unit in Aleppo in light of the success of the first. (Al Akhbar, March 9, 2017)