News updates

With the upcoming municipal elections, the Lebanese Welfare Association for the Handicapped (LWAH) organized last Friday a workshop entitled ‘Supporting Women in Municipal Elections’ under the auspices of Randa Berri, LWAH President and vice president of the Lebanese Women Association. During the event, Dr. Rabab Aoun, head of the Women Association, pointed out to the low percentage of women (4.7%) in municipalities, and a rare representation at the level of electoral boards.” To this effect, Berri proposed some measures to adjust the present situation: firstly, formation of a follow-up committee from the above association and the women’s offices at the various political factions, with the aim to contact concerned circles, particularly, political parties and pressure them to adopt a women’s quota. Secondly, formation of sub-committees that will work to raise awareness among women about the importance of participation in elections, both as candidates and voters, and thirdly, asking media campaigners supportive of women issues to contribute to the electoral experience. In this context, and as part of the ‘Lebanese Women for Municipalities’ program, the United Nations, the National Democratic Institute and Women in Front organization organized last Saturday a training session in preparation for the municipal and mayoral elections. During the workshop, which was held at the YWCA in Beirut, the organization’s executive director, Samira Maasri, emphasized the need to develop leadership in women, who, she said, have outstanding potentials but need assistance to develop. In the same vein, Al Diyar newspaper reported in its issue of today, that the civil society in the North, led by the head of the Engineering Department at the Mina municipality in Tripoli, Amer Hadda, is finalizing a list of women, in collaboration with activist Huda Sabagh to promote their municipal role. (Al Diyar, April 16 and 18, 2016)

 

During its quarterly conference yesterday at the Bristol Hotel in Beirut, Data and Investment Consult-Lebanon launched the BePlan, a virtual business incubator and a network of support sites to bolster small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Lebanon. The event which took place under the auspices of the minister of economy and trade, represented by his media consultant Raya Kik, also saw the launching of the periodic training group, in addition to a program that provides students with unlimited creativity opportunities. The latter, it should be noted, was designed to serve as an economic and commercial venture in the life of students. Discussions during the conference mainly tackled: finding ways to improve the working environment of SMEs after the assessment and comparison between Lebanese and the Arab situations; reviewing SME saving and the credit systems and addressing the difficulties of SME financing. Participants also examined the role and empowerment of women in said enterprises. At the end of the conference, the following recommendations were issued calling for: developing a comprehensive vision and work plan for business incubators; legalizing the status of SMEs which eases taxes imposed on them, and facilitating the entry of these enterprises to secondary markets operating under the Beirut Stock Exchange market under the terms of international exchange. The conferees also pressed for the accession to a number of agreements, notably, the technical regulations draft law, conformity assessment procedures, the draft bill for the specifications of free trade between Lebanon and members of the European Free Trade Association, in addition to developing the specialized capacities of SMEs. (As Safir, An Nahar, April 15, 2016)

 

The Syndicate of Nurseries Owners in Lebanon organized yesterday a conference on ‘early childhood’ under the auspices of the Health Minister Wael Abu Faoor, and the presence of daycare owners from across the country and the Arab world. On the occasion, the Syndicate’s President Hana Huhu stressed the need to resolve the challenges faced by the daycares and develop their capacities and skills. She warned that the “mother who cannot find a proper and safe nursery for her child, ought to keep him/her at home rather than leave him/her at an illegal center that does not observe the basic required standards.” Huhu also emphasized the importance of nursery hunting on part of the parents in order to choose the right one. Parents should sometimes overlook the price factor in deciding, Huhu explained, because higher costs are associated with quality of services offered, adding:: “There are professional places that require an expensive operational cost which means their prices would be higher compared to nurseries that are illegitimate with poor conditions”. The subject of daycares in Lebanon has a special significance for the Lebanese. After finishing their maternity leave, working mothers starts looking for an alternative support system namely day-care centres in the case of absence of support from the extended family. It should be noted, that according to the ministry of health 2015 figures, there are some 304 operating nurseries, out of which 205 are illegal, thus prompting the ministry to launch a campaign for their closure. (Al Mustaqbal, Al Hayat, April 14, 2016)

 

In collaboration with L’Orient Le Jour newspaper and Commerce Du Levant magazine, the Middle East Office of the Francophone University Agency (AUF) organized yesterday a meeting under the title ‘the Francophone Women Initiative 2016’. The meeting was devoted to discuss the latest developments related to the empowerment of women entrepreneurs and supporting their businesses. On the occasion, AUF director Ervet Saboran announced the launch of the fifth edition of the francophone women initiative which aims to encourage innovations and ventures in a francophone framework in order to make the voice of women heard. For her part, Christel Abi Khalil representing Berytech technological development center pointed out that her institution seeks to support initiatives in general and to create a proper work environment that assists women entrepreneurs in kicking off their businesses. Also, Abi Khalil added, Berytech contributes to the management and orientation of economic projects. For those who wish to participate in the competition, please visit the websites below before May 15: http://www.berytech.org and http://www.auf.org/bmo. (An Nahar, April 13, 2016)

 

The Lebanese American University (LAU) held a ceremony early this week to honor a number of influential women in different fields of life.  These included Carmen Lebos (actor), Pascale Saqr (singer), Rabia Zayat (media figure), Paula Yakoubian (talk show host), Eva Makdesi (fashion and beauty consultant), Roula Chamiyeh (comedian) and Claudia Marshalian (writer for television drama series). In the health sector, the honored women were, Dr Zenat Hijazi (LAU medical school dean), Dr. Soula Aoun (deputy dean), Dr. Zena Tanous (head of dermatology department) and Gladys Moro (deputy CEO of LAU Medical Center). (As Safir, April 13, 2016)

 

Some 25 Arab women journalists from Lebanon, Jordan, Palestine and Egypt took part in the ‘women in the news’ forum for the year 2016 which is financially supported by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA). The congress it should be noted is managed by the World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers (WAN-IFRA), an umbrella for over 18000 newspapers and 15000 electronic news portals in over 20 countries.  The forum which took place in Alexandria, Egypt, from April 4 to April 8 tackled the following topics: principles of management and leadership, theglobal trends of the media industry business environment, gender-based concerns inside the news rooms, human resources management, marketing and the use of modern technology, in addition to the challenges of innovations. The participants are journalists working at Al Akhbar daily newspaper, Al Modon online newspaper, Al Arabi Al Jadid electronic news portal, Al Jadid TV channel, the Lebanese Forces website, Now Media and Daily Star newspaper. (The Daily Star, April 13, 2016)

 

In the framework of the monthly ‘Rendez-vous at the Serail’ initiative, Ms. Lama Tammam Salam honored last week a number of talented young men and women for their international achievements. Salam stressed in her words that the genuine wealth of the country lies in the capacities, education and innovative minds of its young generation.  Salam then handed Lyn Hayek, winner of The Voice Kids TV program, an appreciation certificate. Salam also presented two awards for brothers Jaafar and Mohamad Rammal who came in the first and fourth places at the Castor Informatique championship, in addition to their winning in local chess and other mental games competitions back in 2014. Salam honored as well a 5-student team from Jamhour School who won the gold medal at the 67th Nuremberg (Germany) Industrial Exhibition in November, 2015. The winning project “Follow Me Suitcase” which was selected among some 750 inventions, is about a smart suitcase equipped with a robot and GPS system which mechanically tracks the traveler’s moves. (An Nahar, April 11, 2016)

 

In cooperation with the National Commission for Lebanese Women (NCLW), MP Ghassan ‎Mkheiber submitted to the Parliament yesterday a draft law that gives married woman the right ‎to run for elections at her place of birth before marriage. The NCLW has prepared the text of the ‎bill, which is an adjustment of the current municipality bill, and which ends the discrimination ‎against married women in this respect. To note, that by virtue of the provisions of the law in ‎effect, the membership of a woman at the municipal board ends with her relocation, and ‎therefore, the transfer of her registry, to her husband’s birthplace upon her marriage. Therefore, ‎the proposed draft considers that the current law is in contradiction with the Lebanese ‎Constitution which states full equality between citizens, as well as with the International ‎Declaration of the Human Rights and relevant UN agreements and conventions to which ‎Lebanon is a party. It calls for the elimination of the “provision that requires mentioning the name ‎of the candidate who wishes to become a member of the municipal board on the electoral list ‎because it is not in the interest of married women candidates whose names have been removed ‎from the list after moving their registry outside the constituency as a result of marriage.” (Al ‎Mustaqbal, April 12, 2016)‎

 

The Office of Women Affairs at the Phalangist Party Batroon District in the North honored last Sunday women from the local community during a ceremony held at the Holy Family University-Batroun, in the presence of Joyce Amin Gemayel, MP Samer Saadeh, the head of the Phalangist Batroon District, Arz Fadous and a number of local figures. Addressing the honored women, Fadous praised their capacities and pledged to support them and to step up efforts to pressure the civil society and youth organizations, in particular, to increase the number of women candidates in the upcoming municipal elections. He called for the formation of alliances with the various political and family groups to this effect. For his part, Saadeh, describing the woman as the “pillar of society”, said he shares and backs her demands and rights, “particularly in the wake of the horrific corruption scandals infecting our communities.” Among the honored women, are the director general of Petroleum Resources, Aura Feghali, the National News Agency director, Laure Sleiman Saab, the mother of the martyr pilot Samer Hanna, Yvette Saba Hanna, the president of the Holy Family University, Marie Basbous, the president of the Lebanese Red Cross in Batroun, Claude Darazi and mothers of martyrs. (Al Mustaqbal, April 12, 2016)

 

The so-called ‘Nis Binnis’ gathering (equal share) launched last Friday the ‘Sit el Baladiyeh’ campaign to promote the effective participation of women in the upcoming municipal elections for 2016. The National Committee for Following Up Women’s Issues is responsible for the implementation of the initiative with the support of the British Council in Beirut, and in partnership with the National Commission for Lebanese Women, SMART Center, Future Movement’s Women’s Sector, Beirut Association for Social Development, ABAAD, Shabab el Balad and CREADEL. During the launching ceremony, the Nis Binnis gathering submitted a study it implemented over the past three years and which addresses  the status of women in elections and political participation. The above study has shown that the participation of women in decision making remains a social problem, noting a decline in the rate of participation in Parliament from 4.6% in 2005 to nearly 3.13% in 2009, and not more than 2% in the Cabinet. This, the study went on to indicate, despite the progress in the level of women nominees for the municipal elections. While it pointed out to an increase in the number of women candidates from 550 women in the year 2004 (out of which 215 women have won) to 1300 candidates in 2010 (526 have won), the figure remains below the anticipated level. Analyzing the impact of a higher proportion of women candidates on the distribution of quota in municipal boards, the survey showed that about 95.3% of board members are males against 4.7% females only.

(As-Safir 9 April 2016)