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Developing “Al Moasat” catering unit in Saida and in support of charitable work

27-12-2016

The president of the Social Relief and Welfare Association in Saida, Arab Kalash, announced the complete high-standard renovation of the catering kitchen unit with the help of a donation from Al Waleed Bin Talal Humanitarian Foundation. Kalash pointed out that the proceeds from the catering service will be used to cover the expenditures of the charity association, and to close the gap in the health, education or social areas. She said that after earning the trust of the inhabitants of Saida and surroundings, the association decided to renovate its 10 years old catering unit which was previously set up with MP Bahiya Hariri’s financial support, and now has received the support of former minister, Leila Solh Hamadeh. Kalash was speaking during a tour organized by the association for media representatives last week of the top notch kitchen sections. The kitchen, one of the largest in the South (delivering some 2000 meals daily), Kalash mentioned, caters to weddings and to funeral wakes, and operates as per international ISO standards. (Al Mustaqbal, December 24, 2016)
 
 

 

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Minister Izzidine in favor of a women's quota and newly appointed Minister for Women gets ready for action

23-12-2016

A just women representation quota has become unavoidable after women have proved their aptness in all sectors of life, tweeted Inaya Izzidine, the only woman minister of state for administrative development in a 30-minister cabinet. Amal Movement, Izzidine said, supports the quota demand and will seek to mobilise others to approve it. “We hoped to see more women in the new government, yet, we, in Amal Movement, have smashed that glass ceiling and hope that other political parties act the same” ,” Izzidine said. In the same vein, Al Akhbar newspaper highlighted in a special feature the continuing marginalization of women in the newly formed cabinet, criticizing the abstention of political parties, except for Amal and Hizbullah, from nominating women ministers. The newspaper, while alluding to the Future Movement, describing it as the pragmatic, and to the Socialist Progressive Party with its “enlightened and educated” head, as well as to the main Christian parties, asked “if there were educated and intellectual women amongst them, and if there are, where are they.” On the other hand, L’Orient Le Jour newspaper published today an interview with the newly appointed minister for women’s affairs, Jean Ogassapian, who confirmed that the new portfolio is a real challenge. He acknowledged the hegemony of the patriarchal mentality in society, while reiterating his intention to follow up on women’s issues aided by a specialized and dedicated team he plans to set up. (Al Akhbar, Al Diyar, L’Orient Le Jour, December 22, 2016)
 
 

 

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Handicrafts fair in support of Katermaya women

23-12-2016

Civil society women activists organized yesterday a handicrafts fair under the theme, ‘creativity of a woman’ at the premises of the Awareness and Consolation Association in Katermaya in the presence of concerned parties. The event comes as part of an initiative by INTERSOS Lebanon humanitarian aid organization, in cooperation with the ministry of social affairs and with the sponsorship of the president of the Federation of Municipalities of the Northern Iqlim al Kharub, Ziad Hajjar. On the occasion, Katermaya mayor, Mohamamd Najeeb Hassan, representing Ziad Hajjar, hailed the consistent efforts by craftswomen, stressing the Federation’s tireless use of resources at hand to support projects by women. (Mustaqbal, December 23, 2016)
 

 

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Finding a job is the greatest challenge facing female ex-convicts

22-12-2016

In a special feature today, The Daily Star brought to light the difficulties facing former female inmates and their struggle to integrate in society and find a job after their release to freedom.  Asma, an ex-convict who was jailed for six weeks on charges of fraud, told the newspaper that her prison experience has drastically changed her life. She had a public driving license before she was arrested but now she is threatened with losing it due to her criminal record or what the newspaper termed as stigma. According to prevalent laws, convicts charged with a minor offense, like Asma, have to wait 3 years before their criminal record is cleared, unlike convicts with felonies who have to wait at least 7 years. In the meantime, finding a job is a tough task for them. In this context, The Daily Star spoke to a number of persons concerned, including the director of Dar al Amal, Huda Kara, who assists female inmates inside their prison cells and in their post-prison life. Kara stated that her association currently works as an intermediary between ex-convicts and business owners, drawing attention to the painstaking job of convincing employers to hire them. Kara also revealed that Dar al- Amal is organizing training workshops in collaboration with the Chamber of Commerce, to inspire businesses to recruit ex-convicts from both sexes. For her part, Sawsan Jabri, member of the board of the Chamber of Commerce Beirut, and owner of Diet Center in Beirut, maintained that a clean record should not be a condition for employment as stipulated by the Government. This condition, she lamented, has prevented her from hiring three women like Asma. Likewise, Sarah Beydun, owner of Sarah’s Bag fashion house that designs women’s bags and accessories with the help of women convicts, said she does not give much importance to the criminal record because a jail sentence, she explained, is a result of poor economic and social circumstances. (The Daily Star, December 22, 2016)

 

 

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Women in seminary schools transcend the stereotype image of the cleric

21-12-2016

In a special feature today, As Safir newspaper highlighted the intricacy of identifying the term ‘Hawzawiyat’ or women in Hawzat (Shiia seminary schools) if they are considered to be religious women, scholars or messengers. It downplayed the significance of such notions as long as they are preoccupied with the spirit and essence of religion, hence transcending all labels and geographic borders and, in a way, rising above the stereotypical image of the traditional cleric. As such and unlike men, they do not wear the traditional jilbab (dress) or turbans, grow their beards or shave their moustache or speak in the authoritative voice of the imam or preacher, the newspaper analyzed, adding that they are simply ordinary down-to-earth women. On the subject, As Safir interviewed Rula Shuaib, the registrar at Al Zahraa Hawzat (affiliate of al Mustafa International University) who clarified that students are required to study the proper aspects of Islamic knowledge and preach them in universities, municipalities and prisons, through tutoring, articles and funeral wakes (majlis aza’a). Shuaib pointed out that the Hawzat has contributed to promoting the leadership capacity of women, a good example are media figures, researchers and writers who graduated from similar seminaries (hawzat). And about the criteria for accepting women students, Shuaib said they should fulfil certain conditions, including that high school level, below 28 years of age, pass an oral exam and multiple intelligence tests in language and logic, in addition to compliance with religious dress code during their study and secure the approvals from their immediate family. For her part, Fatmeh Abdallah, now pursuing her masters in philosophy and theology at the Hawzat, told As Safir reporter that her seminary study has given her greater responsibility in representing the Hawzat and its students, and has become a reference for queriers on religious and ethical questions. (As Safir, December 21, 2016)
 

 

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Women field police squad in Burj Hamud

21-12-2016

Despite the general marginalization of women in the public and political spheres, the municipality of Burj Hammood, located in Metn caza, in an unprecedented move by its newly elected mayor, Mardig Boghossian, has integrated some 30 women into its municipal police force to join the 130-man municipal squad. This step, said retired Sergeant Major, Fadi Muawad, chief of Burj Hamud’s police and guards department, aims to engage women, not only in administration but also on the ground. His previous work in the general security, Muawad explained, brought him closer to his women colleagues and he wanted to repeat the positive experience. Women integrated in the municipal police have proved to be qualified and apt for the job, Muawad maintained, noting that their presence on the streets diffused the tension between the municipal police and local residents. He said that it was not easy at the beginning with the narrow and congested streets of Burj Hamud. To get a clearer picture, The Daily Star newspaper spoke to a number of municipal police women. Talar Kiomijian, 24-year old (holder of a degree in accounting), and the first to join the police, said it was tough for her when she was first deployed on the streets. People who were not used to seeing police women picked on her. But Talar’s colleagues boasted that they have gone beyond the rough period and that people are now accustomed to their field presence.  (The Daily Star, December 21, 201
 

 

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Youth empowerment for accessing the job market in Tripoli

21-12-2016

The Business Incubator affiliated with the Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture for Tripoli and the North celebrated yesterday the completion of YES TRIPOLI program aimed at facilitating youth employment and support of owners of small and medium enterprises. The project, to be noted, is funded by the Regional Development and Protection Program managed by Denmark. On the occasion, the Tripoli Chamber President, Tawfiq Dabussi, hailed the success of the program which provided some 150 beneficiaries from around 73 enterprises with the required tools that will enhance their career life. The project which targeted both young men and young women included training workshops in the following vocations: audit, hospitality, mechatronics and electrical and sanitary extensions for buildings. In conclusion, and in addition to the needed work tools, graduates received certificates from the Directorate General of Vocational Education. (Al Mustaqbal, December 21, 2016) 
 

 

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Women organizations criticize the marginalization of women in new cabinet

20-12-2016

A number of women organisations expressed dismay yesterday over the marginalization of women in the newly-formed government and the naming of a male to run the women affairs portfolio, while totally disregarding the persistent demands in the representation quota and the right of women to grant nationality to their families. To note, one woman was appointed in the 30-minister cabinet but was excluded from key ministries (c.f http://bit.ly/2hVyEcp). In this respect, Kafa Enough Violence and Exploitation organization director, Zoya Ruhana, conveyed to An Nahar newspaper her dissatisfaction with the newly established ministry dubbing it as a ceremonial, powerless, budget less and vacuous portfolio. Kafa has pointed out in a statement yesterday that fear over the confessional distribution of seats is greater than the concern for women’s representation, describing it as a “purely patriarchal” government. In this context, Lina Abu Habib, executive director of the Collective for Research and Training on Development (CRTD.A) also criticized the idea of inventing a ministry for women’s affairs, stating that it was never one of the demands of women and feminist organizations that aim for equality in representation. Abu Habib drew attention to the fact that challenges facing women are inter-ministerial and cannot be downsized to one portfolio, noting that the National Commission for Lebanese Women set up since the Beijing Platform of Action has not had the opportunity to be productive. For her part, the Lebanese Women Democratic Gathering activist, lawyer Manar Zuaiter, decried the naming of a man for a women’s ministry, stressing that women issues cannot be approached in that way. Similarly, Women in Parliament Coalition said it remains resolute in its request to include the 30% quota in the ministers statement of the new government. On the other hand, the president of the Lebanese Council of Women, lawyer Iqbal Dughan, considered the women’s ministry as a progressive step if led by a woman or man involved with women’s issues. Nasawiya activist, Nadine Muawad, said the glitch lies in the ability of the man minister of women’s affairs to adopt and advocate women issues and rights. Meanwhile, the newly named minister of women’s affairs, Jean Ogassapian, exclaimed his respect and understanding for the supporters and antagonists of his appointment, stating that he is open to all suggestions. )L’Orient Le Jour, Al Diyar, Al Mustaqbal, An Nahar, Al Akhbar, December 20, 2016)
 

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New Lebanese cabinet: One woman minister and a women affairs portfolio

19-12-2016

Notwithstanding the various demands by civil and women organisations in Lebanon demanding the participation of women in political life with a minimum 30% quota, and despite intensive visits to political parties to this end, the birth of the government yesterday came contrary to all expectations. One woman, Inaya Izzidine, member of Amal Movement Political Bureau, was appointed as minister of State for Administrative Development among the 30-minister cabinet. Surprisingly, a minister from the “future” bloc, was named as minister for the newly established women’s affairs portfolio, a fact which further shows the withdrawal of political parties from supporting and nominating women to decision making positions (c.f. previous news below). Also, and within the context of repeated pledges, the new prime minister, Saad Hariri, made clear that his government has a specific task to prepare and implement the upcoming parliamentary elections and therefore, will be busy devising a new electoral law which will definitely press for women’s quota. On naming a man for the women’s affairs ministry, Hariri admittedly said: “We might have been careless,” but confirmed that the adoption of the quota shall be key demand for the forthcoming elections. “Should we wait for political parties to decide on the right women for ministers, this will not take us anywhere,” Hariri warned. Meanwhile, House Speaker, Nabih Berri, during his meeting with Women in Parliament coalition last Friday, described women’s quota as unavoidable, promising to involve the coalition in meetings of parliamentary committees studying the elections law. Berri said he supports the one third women share, which is 33%, adding that personally he would love to see 50% of parliamentary seats occupied by women. (As Safir, An Nahar, Al Mustaqbal, December 17 and 19, 2016)
 
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Academic fair for orientation of Palestinian youth in Lebanon

19-12-2016

The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) opened last Thursday its Fifth Annual Academic Fair to support young Palestinian refugees in their pursuit of educational and professional opportunities. The event took place at Hoops Club in Beirut, with the participation of some 26 universities, academic institutions and scholarship providers. The exhibition is funded by the EU Neighborhood and Partnership Instrument (ENPI) which secures education, training and employment support for Palestinian youth, in cooperation with the Lebanese Universities League, said a press release by UNRWA. The expo provides more than 650 Palestinian refugee 12th grade students with the needed information and assistance to help them plan their future careers, including advice on educational programs, disciplines and scholarships available at the private and public Lebanese and foreign institutes at the undergraduate and graduate levels as well as info on admission processes. On the occasion, UNRWA’s Acting Director in Lebanon, Hakam Shahwan, indicated that the event gives school students direct access to educational prospects allowing them to make their decisions accordingly, stressing the continuing support by the Agency and the EU to Palestinian youth to build and sustain this hope. (Al Mustaqbal, December 17, 2016)
 

 

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