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The newspaper Al Hayat in its issue published today shed light on the difficulties faced by divorced women in Lebanon, pointing out that despite social changes and general openness of the society, divorced women are still exposed to harsh and humiliating conditions. The newspaper stated that women returning to their parents’ home in most cases are re-subjected to the authority of the father and the brother after escaping the patriarchy of the husband. Consequently, divorced women do not find the needed supportive environment to assist her to reintegrate life. Al Hayat went on to indicate that whereas the specific conditions of divorced women vary according to economic and social factors, their suffering has a lot in common. The newspaper article added that after divorce, women come to realize that what was expected from them was never to complain and always to bear their husband’s mistakes, in order to preserve the family, and to never fail in carrying out their household duties and responsibilities. In comparison judgment towards divorced man is much lighter than that, the article noted. The newspaper interviewed ‘Sahar’ a divorced woman after years of physical and psychological violence, noted that society concocted untruthful rumors about her whilst throwing on her the responsibility for domestic violence to which she was subjected. Another woman asserted that after divorce, women have to accept to totally relinquish their independence. (Al Hayat, January 26, 2017)

 

The General Directorate of Technical and Vocational Training signed yesterday a partnership agreement with the European Institute for Cooperation and Development entitled ‘Training and Employment of the More Marginalized Groups’ in an event held at the office of the Directorate in Dekwane, under the patronage of the French Ambassador in Lebanon Emmanuel Bonne. The agreement valued at €5 million aims at creating opportunities for young women and men to enroll in vocational training, while providing technical and material assistance for all vocational and technical training institutes, and at all VT levels, according to Alexi Beigin, the Director General of the European Institute for Cooperation and Development DG DEVCO. For her part, the Regional Director of the French Agency for Development, Marie Elaine Loison, emphasized that this agreement addresses young women and men by providing them with the necessary education in order to build their professional careers. In his turn, the General Director of Technical and Vocational Training, Ahmad Al-Diab, stated that vocational training in Lebanon includes one hundred thousand female and male students, 50% of who are enrolled in governmental vocational training.  Of these, some 35 thousand female and male students in advanced ages are enrolled in vocational and technical training to help them directly access work opportunities. (Al-Mustaqbal, January 25, 2017)

 

The Minister of Information, Melhem Al-Riachi, discussed last Monday, with the Ambassador of Spain, Milagros Hernando Echevarría, media cooperation between the two countries. During the meeting, Echevarría addressed the parliamentary elections in Lebanon where she emphasized the importance of holding it on schedule in order to reinvigorate the life of government institutions. On women’s quota, Echevarría indicated that the participation of women in parliament should become stronger. She also emphasized the need to assist women in claiming their rights through UN development projects or European Union missions. (An-Nahar & Al-Diyar, January, 25, 2017)

 

Legal Agenda revealed in a news published last Friday, what happened during the legislative session last week with regards to the legislative proposal entitled ‘Urgent Act aiming at criminalizing sexual harassment and racist abuse”, presented by Member of Parliament Ghassan Mukhaiber on 14/5/2014”. According to the discussions, contempt and patriarchy prevailed and MPs succeeded eventually in postponing approval of the law to a later date. In the details, and when Mukhaiber was presenting his proposal and reasons for regarding it as urgent, stating that it is a serious law and is categorized within acts of violence against women and girls at a time when there is no law in Lebanon that protects [them] with any relevant provisions’, this was accompanied by sarcastic comments and loud laughs. One of the parliamentarians broke those shouts addressing Moukhaiber saying: “I envy you, Ghassan, you have nothing to worry about”. Direct support to the proposed legislation came through the parliamentarians from the bloc ‘wafaa lilmuqawama’, who demanded an amendment to add “abuse based on racist reasons”. Consequently, Berri asked Mukhaiber and Minister of State for Women’s Affairs Jean Ogassapian to deliberate on the side and merge the two proposals and present them to a vote. Amendments [in Arabic] can be reviewed on the following link:http://legal-agenda.com/article.php?id=3408). However, and according to the Legal Agenda, the proposed new law was not to the taste of the parliamentarians who continued to exchange sarcastic comments being such as one saying: “What if a female employee wanted revenge from her manager, and went ahead and filed a complaint against him charging him with sexual harassment?” Another one asked “Does every whatsapp message allow [anyone] to file a complaint for sexual harassment?” In view of the prevailing general atmosphere, the law was finally retracted, and discussions resumed on the mechanism of ascertaining a woman’s allegations.  In conclusion some of the members of parliament suggested the withdrawal of the law proposal and its referral to the committees for further review. The text of the law proposed by Ghassan Mukhaiber can be accessed on the following link: http://bit.ly/2j8AWV9). (Legal Agenda January, 20, 2018)

 

Following last week visit to the president of the Democratic Gathering, MP Walid Jumblat, and in the framework of visits conducted by women NGOs of the Druze Unitarian Sect to the political parties, in order to ask for support in adopting a legislative proposal that aims at amending several articles of the Personal Status Law of the Druze Unitarian Sect, especially those pertaining to family relations (c.f: http://bit.ly/2kcbjVj ), the women delegation, visited on Saturday,  the president of the “Democratic Lebanese Party”, Minister of the Displaced Talal Arslan, to inform him of these demands. During the meeting, Arslan noted that such an activity implemented by women’s organizations and women [activists] of the Druze Sect, is a social, educational, and cultural action to develop and contribute to the growth of the Druze family, which is seriously in need of diligent work to preserve children and their future. Arslan added that ‘it is true that we have to maintain customs, traditions, and norms that distinguished the Druze Sect across its history in raising their children, but we have to keep up with the times and their developments’. Arslan also stated that he familiarized himself with the Law [proposal] noting that he does not have comments and there is no substitute to that system. He concluded by saying:’’from this place, I tell you that if you have had now the final draft of the law now, I would have signed it this instant”. (Al Diyar January 22, 2017

 

The Association “Nisaa Raedat” [Pioneer Women], in cooperation with the United Nations Program- Lebanese Electoral Assistance Program [LEAP], organised last Friday the first of a series of awareness raising workshops entitled “ Become a Candidate - Parliament 2017”, at Issam Faris Hall at the municipality building of Halba. The workshop addressed the importance of running for elections, while focusing on the self assessment of candidates, the various logistical steps of the process, and finally the importance of supporting women candidacy and of networking. It is noteworthy that the project is expected to extend for a period of six months and consists of several awareness raising workshops that aim at encouraging women to run for the parliamentary elections of spring 2017. During the awareness raising workshop, the head of the municipality of Halba, Abdel Hamid el Halabi, underscored the importance of project while the representative of the United Nations program, Nora Murad, addressed several topics such as:  women’s participation in political life temporary special measures such as the representation quota, the international and Arab ranking of Lebanon regarding women’s participation in political life, ways to increase the number of women and support them during the election process. For her part, trainer Vicky Zuwayn explained how to prepare for the candidacy, assess the various phases, as well as run within electoral lists. (Al Mustaqbal January, 22, 2017)

 

 

New in the case of the victim Manal Assi,  Mohammad Al Nu7haili, the husband accused of the murder, was present yesterday to appear before the Criminal Court of Cassation presided by Judge Suhair Al Harakeh, noting that this is the first time he appears before that court since the date the murder was committed on February 2014. Al Nu7haili repeated the same preliminary statement he gave at the internal security forces platoon center in ‘Tareek Jdeedeh’ and at the Criminal Court in Beirut, about how the crime was committed, that is, when he discovered that his wife has a relationship with another man, he ‘hit her three or four slaps’ before he went to his work then to went her house to transport her to the hospital where she drew her last breath, Al Nu7haili insisted on denying what was revealed by the coroner who spoke about ‘several bruises visible on her body in addition to wounds’, and repeated the statement that he did not kick her or beat her with any sharp instrument, also that he did not lock the door of the house when leaving, where he left her with her mother and her brother who came upon a call he made, insisting that when he left she did not suffer from anything. Based on that, the court decided to adjourn till the second of next March, to hear witnesses including the two daughters of the accused, noting that the victim’s family has dropped personal charges against the accused and the statements of her mother and her brother will be heard as witnesses. It is worth noting that by next November Al Nu7haili would have finished his first sentence of five years and will be released even if the Court of Cassation did not finish his trial.  (Annahar, Al Mustaqbal, January 20, 2017)

 

Previous related news: 

Judiciary delays ruling in murder cases of Manal Assi and Ella Tannus child

http://www.weeportal-lb.org/news/judiciary-delays-ruling-murder-cases-manal-assi-and-ella-tannus-child

Public Prosecutor appeals decision of mitigated sentence to killer of wife Manal Assi

http://www.weeportal-lb.org/news/public-prosecutor-appeals-decision-mitigated-sentence-killer-wife-manal-assi

Court of Cassation repeals decision in the case of Manal Assi

http://www.weeportal-lb.org/news/court-cassation-repeals-decision-case-manal-assi

Justice fails Manal Assi while last hope resides in the Discriminatory Prosecution

http://www.weeportal-lb.org/news/justice-fails-manal-assi-while-last-hope-resides-discriminatory-prosecution

 

Deputy Elie Kairuz (from Lebanese Forces) posed via the head of parliament president Nabih Berri, yesterday, a question to the government, and specifically to the Minister of Interior and Municipalities, Mr. Nuhad Al-Mashnuq, about the circumstances of the action of the General Security to deport the member of the syndicate of domestic workers, the Nepalese worker Sushila Rana known as Sujana Rana, and the continuing detention of the member of the syndicate and the general council and general assembly, the Nepalese worker Roja Maya Limbo known as Rosi Limbo, and denial of permission to assign defense lawyers to the aforementioned workers. Keyrouz also questioned the lack of disclosure of any information regarding those two measures, and about the charges of those two workers who are both activists and members of a trade union, despite the submitting a petition to that effect according to procedure by some human right associations and activists in the field of trade union issues, freedoms, and human rights. Keyrouz hoped that the question would prompt the government to conduct the necessary legal action to respond to the question through the concerned Minister and within the time period specified by article 124 of the bylaws of the Parliament, warning that he will be forced to transform his question into a hearing. (Annahar, Al Mustaqbal, January 18, 2017)

 

Previous related news:

Judicial decision halts the deportation of activist, Rosi

Weak mobilization in favor of Sujana and Rosi

Appeal in favour of two detained MWDW unionists

 

Guardian Council spokesman in Iran, Abbas Ali Kadkhoda'i , announced in a press conference held last Saturday that there are no objections for women to submit their candidacy for the presidential elections.  He noted that the said Council which is entrusted with reviewing the eligibility of candidates as well as interpreting controversial clauses, will review this matter and will give an informed opinion.  To be noted that the Council had rejected women's presidential candidacy before and since the coming to power of the Islamic revolution of 1979.  To be noted,Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, the president of Discernment Council of the System, who  died in 8 January, had announced last November that Clause 115 of the Constitution which states that the president has to be a political man, also includes women in this position.  He added that when the Constitution was written in 1979, this clause was left obscure because the situation back then did not allow women to take on the role of president.  However, he added, this clause does not forbid women from becoming President of the Republic. (Al- Diyar, 16 January 2017)

 

According to media reports of the past two days, Kfarshima was shaken by the discovery of a dead baby girl of no more than 2 years old. The baby girl was found by local workers near the rubbish bin with her body covered with bruises and hidden with a blanket.  Following the investigations carried out by the Baabda police station, it was revealed that the mother is from Bangladesh.  Her husband had stolen her money and fled to Tripoli which, according to her, prompted her to kill her daughter since she had no means to raise her and especially since the child suffers from blood and respiratory diseases.  Further interrogation revealed that the mother does little cleaning work which hardly provides her with enough money to pay her rent.  She allegedly felt desperate and thus conspired with her roommates to kill her daughter by strangulation.  The police arrested the mother and her two roommates.  To be noted that L'Orient le Jour also indicated that the mother was also planning to sell her daughter. (Al-Mustaqbal, Daily Star and L'Orient le Jour 16 January 2017)