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BLC bank and the Alumni Central organized yesterday joint seminars at the Beirut Four Seasons Hotel, including a workshop for women entrepreneurs in Lebanon. The session tackled challenges women in business usually face, in addition to highlights of the opportunities at hand. Participants were also introduced to applied mechanisms that help empower women and secure their presence in various fields, notably in the domains of science, technology, engineering and mathematics. On the occasion, BLC assistant general director, Tania Msallam, pointed out that Lebanon’s national resources owe much to women’s efficient contribution in society at all levels, but lamented the under-representation of women in most sectors of the economy which, in fact, hinders the country’s prosperity. (Al Diyar, Al Akhbar, November 11, 2016)

A delegation of the Women in Parliament coalition handed Prime Minister Designate Saad Hariri yesterday a memorandum asking him to promote women’s participation in politics and endorse their positions in all other sectors. “We are fully confident that your upcoming cabinet will commit to the implementation of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women and to the recommendations of Beijing Platform of Action in everything related to women’s participation in political life,” the memo said. It also reminded Hariri to help secure a women’s representation quota of not less than 30% of the Parliamentary seats in the projected electoral law, as well as the involvement of women in the upcoming government. The delegation concluded by saying, “We are hopeful that you will seek to change Lebanon’s abysmal position among world countries in terms of women participation in politics.” (Al Mustaqbal, November 10, 2016)

 

In less than a week after the uncovering of a prostitution ring north of the capital, the General Directorate of Security Forces announced in a statement yesterday, the uncovering of a new prostitution network based in the Beqaa. According to the released details, a group of persons luring girls from Syria to come to work in Taalbaya and the environs (Beqaa) were identified and the house used for prostitution (located in the town of Jlala) raided. Suspects, including three Syrians and one Lebanese, were also arrested. Meanwhile, the girl victim who managed to flee the house disclosed that she has been subjected to systematic beating and forced into prostitution, the statement said. Under interrogation and investigation, the members of the ring confessed to facilitating prostitution for a number of Syrian girls. One of the detained person admitted that he sold one girl for LBP one million. The four suspects were taken into custody along with the wife of one of them, Syrian national, wanted for charges of human trafficking. The Syrian girl victim was handed over to her family. (Al Diyar, An Nahar, Al Mustaqbal, November 9, 2016)

 

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Prostitution ring, victims mainly Syrian girls, busted north east of Beirut

 

The Beirut International Exhibition Center, BIEL, is hosting the 6th edition of the Beirut Cooking Festival and Salon du Chocolat from November 17 to 19, with the participation of some 40 chefs and cooking consultants. The event encompasses a lineup of activities and workshops on the latest in culinary arts and hospitality tips, in addition to wine tasting sessions. This year will receive, and for the first time, the celebrated Pop-Up Restaurant in support of Tamanna association which works with persons with autism and special needs. The restaurant will offer visitors the opportunity to enjoy mouthwatering delicacies prepared by talented chefs for a symbolic fee. The ChefXChange community will be represented by the famous Maxime Le Van who will prepare a dinner banquet on Friday, November 18. The event organizer, Hospitality Services, general director, Joumana Damous Salameh, said that “food brings people together under one roof,” adding that this year will be exceptional for the art of Lebanese cooking, after Beirut was chosen as the best global city for food. “Through this festival and the Salon du Chocolat, we seek to highlight the distinctive features of the Lebanese cuisine and its achievements,” Salameh said. (Al Mustaqbal, November 9, 2016)

 

Following angry protests against the detention of Fatmeh Hamzeh who refused to relinquish the custody of her child, (http://bit.ly/2fzk9e2), the mother of the 3-year-old toddler was released upon a decision of the Jaafari Court Sharia Judge, Jaafar Kawtharani, to suspend until further notice the ruling which awarded custody of the boy to her estranged husband. Immediately after her release, Fatmeh stressed her determination to pursue her right in practicing  motherhood until the very end. She also spoke of many mothers out there who share the same predicaments as a result of the discriminatory laws that “must be amended” as she said. “Women should not remain silent after today,” she maintained. In his comment on the decision, Kawtharani said he withdrew upon pressure by Hamzeh’s legal team, but refused to hold any responsibility for her imprisonment. Kawtharani noted that the Jaafari sharia judiciary is an essential part of the state judiciary, as it bases its verdicts on Islamic jurisprudence of the Shia Imamah while observing the prevalent laws and legal jurisprudence of the country. Al Akhbar daily, on the other hand, attributed the judge’s latest decision to the intervention of Parliament Speaker, Nabih Berri and the Deputy Chair of the Higher Islamic Shia Council at the Jaafari Court. Meanwhile, the ‘National Campaign to Increase the Age of Custody for the Shiite Sect’ considered in a statement yesterday that Fatmeh’s release is not a victory, but rather a natural outcome of popular pressure, stressing that victory is achieved when the age of custody changes for the Shiite sect. The Campaign vowed to keep to the streets, calling for a demonstration this coming Saturday, 4 pm, in front of the Higher Shiite Council. In the same vein, Maya Ammar, from Kafa Enough Violence and Exploitation, described the prison sentence as unjust to many women like Fatmeh. (As Safir, Al Diyar, Al Akhbar, Al Mustaqbal, November 8, 2016)

 

 

Al Azm Forum for Heritage concluded last Friday a special session for the orientation of local tourist guides at its premises in Tripoli, the North, aimed at inspiring interest in the archeological legacy of the northern capital. Organized under the theme, ‘local tourist usher’, the 3-month-long workshop included first aid and communication techniques, in addition to field trips to the Old City. During the graduation event, Maram Ma3aliqi, speaking on behalf of the Forum, stressed the role of similar activities in the development of the diversity of historic culture as well as in building the personal skills of beneficiaries. At the end of the workshop, al Azm director, Mostafa Agha, handed certificates to participants. (Al Diyar, November 5, 2016)

 

The Hariri Foundation signed a partnership agreement with Souk el Tayeb to kick off a new restaurant ‘Tawlet Saida’ aimed at promoting traditional foods as well as developing the skills of housewives in all Lebanese regions. The signing comes as part of the Sustainable Civil Development Strategy for Saida, and within the framework of the ‘Hariri Foundation Programs for Sustainable Human Development in Old Saida’ planned to promote the southern capital as a lively historic and heritage hub and develop the social and economic conditions of its inhabitants. The project involves the training of a group of Lebanese, Palestinian and Syrian women in catering for traditional food and will result in the launch of a traditional eatery. The significance of the above initiative lies in its impact on the sustainable development of the Old City quarter through supporting the potentials of the most vulnerable women and revival of the city’s heritage, and in its contribution to the growth of local tourism. It should be noted, that the ‘Tawlet Saida’ restaurant is located at a heritage house on the Old City’s water front, and that it has received the support of UNDP/Ministry of Social Affairs Lebanon Host Communities Support Project, as well as of ‘Create a Community Kitchen and Restaurant in Old Saida’ project funded by Norway. (Al Mustaqbal, Al Diyar, November 8, 2016)

 

Fatmeh Hamzeh, a proud Lebanese woman victim of the chauvinistic religious laws, was thrown in a Beirut Southern Suburb jail since Thursday. Refusing to relinquish the custody of her child, Fatmeh, was sentenced to jail by the Shiite Jaafari religious court who granted her estranged husband, married to another woman, custody over their 3-1/2 year old toddler. It should be noted, that according to Jaafari spiritual courts, the husband has the right to the custody of his boy once he turns two and his girl when she is seven. Fatmeh’s case has won public and social media sympathy with a trending hashtag, ‘with Fatmeh against the Jaafari Court’ https://www.facebook.com/events/1108787035895167 . Organizers of the ‘National Campaign to Increase the Age of Custody for the Shiite Sect’ staged a sit-in last Saturday in front of the Supreme Islamic Shiite Council and Gobeiri Police Station in support of Fatmeh and other mothers sharing the same predicament. Demonstrators demanded the ratification of a unified personal status law and gave the authorities an ultimatum (ending today) to release Fatmeh, otherwise they will resume their protests. In a show of solidarity with Fatmeh, the Progressive Youth Organization, Al Shaab Movement, ‘Say No to Violence’ Association and the National Coalition on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women called for a solidarity meeting today at 4:00 pm at the Beirut premises of the League for Lebanese Women’s Rights. Fatmeh’s detention has been the focus of spiritual jurists. In this context, and while Sheikh Jaafar Kawtharani, judge at the Mount Lebanon Jaafari Court, who pronounced the decision on Fatmeh’s case, said the sentence is an implementation of the laws in effect (for more on his position: http://m.assafir.com/Article/176/516513 ) . The Jaafari Mufti, Sheikh Ahmad Taleb, on the other hand, described the verdict as unjust, maintaining that Sharia courts should handle each case separately and not according to the religious texts only. For his part, the Premier Jaafari Mufti, Sheikh Ahmad Qabalan, revealed in a statement that he has begun a campaign to free the detained mother, making clear that the “Jaafari court is the competent authority in charge of resolving personal status conflicts within the Shiite sect and not the Shiite Council,” as he said.  Meanwhile, Parliament Speaker, Nabih Berri, has started negotiations with the concerned parties calling for Fathmeh’s immediate release. It is a shame, Berri told As Safir newspaper, that “a mother is arrested for the charge of being attached to her son,” and described the incident as offensive by all standards.. (Al Akhbar, As Safir, The Daily Star, November 5 and 7, 2016)

 

On the occasion of the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, the Center for Women at the Economic and Social Committee for West Asia (ESCWA) is planning a series of activities in cooperation with the Institute for Women’s Studies in the Arab World at the Lebanese American University, LAU, the Resource Center for Gender Equality, Abaad, and the UN Entity for Gender Equality-the Regional Office for Arab Countries. The first activity includes a best video competition for young men and women (up to 25 years). Contestants should submit a video log not longer than 30 seconds which answers the question: ‘how can we end violence against women?’ The winner will be hosted on a live program in honor of his/her work. Those wishing to participate are asked to send a link of the video to the IWSAW email: iwsaw@lau.edu.lb by November 25, 2016 the latest. (Al Mustaqbal, November 5, 2016)

 

Mada Association organized yesterday an exhibition under the theme ‘Akkar Day’ at the campus of the Lebanese International University LIU in Halba, in the North, with the aim to strengthen relations between consumers and producers. The activity, which is part of the EU-funded ‘Improved Livelihood for Small-Scale Farmers in Akkar’ project, represents a platform for promoting locally produced goods and for tasting food prepared by rural women, as said by Mada president, Nadim Zakhia. The latter stressed that his association has become part of Akkar with the permanent presence of representatives from the area at the administrative committee, and disclosed that Mada will start the implementation of a new strategic plan as of next year. For his part, the head of the Agriculture Department in the North, Mohammad Taleb, representing minister Akram Shehayeb, said the above project will encourage the contribution of rural women in family income. This, Taleb added, constitutes a progress in the social and economic life of those women and will increase employment opportunities, hence, reducing the rate of urban migration. He noted that the promotion of traditional food ‘mouneh’ revives the economic cycle of the agrarian rural communities. Similarly, MP Khaled Zahraman drew attention to government’s neglect of Akkar, underlining the need for a clear development plan to revive the local agricultural sector. (Al Mustaqbal, November 7, 2016)

 

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