News updates

The Merci Corps organization (MCO) distributed 270 certificates to men and women participants who completed training and empowerment courses within the framework of the Improved Networks, Training and Jobs program (INTAJ) supported by the UK Department for International Development (DFID), and which were implemented in partnership with the Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture for Tripoli and the North. The graduation ceremony included the screening of a documentary film which carried live testimonies of a number of INTAJ beneficiaries across Lebanon. On the occasion, Merci Corps Regional Director, George Antione, while pointing that INTAJ concluded its planned activities, pledged the renewal of the program for an additional two years. For his part, the Tripoli Chamber Chief, Tawfik Daboosi, stressed the importance of continuous cooperation with the international organization in order to meet the needs for professional workforce by the domestic and Arab labor market. Likewise, the mayor (Qaimaqam) of Zgharta, Iman Rafi’I, said that above initiative addresses the development requirements of local communities, including notably, the creation of jobs and stimulating a sustainable employment growth, especially amidst a close to disaster economic situation in the country. (Al Mustaqbal, Al Diyar, March 25, 2016)

 

The Labor Minister Saj3aan Azzi revealed yesterday a of 40% in the level of contract renewal for migrant domestic workers, as the majority of such contracts were either illegal or politically or approved for political reasons. Azzi's statement came after a meeting which was held with the Syndicate of the Owners of Recruitment Agencies of MWDWs in Lebanon to introduce the computerized procedure system launched by the ministry. Azzi claimed that the drop in the number of foreign workforce will eventually improve the employment prospects for Lebanese nationals. The minister stressed that data indicated that recruitment agencies have not exceeded their set individual quota which is of 300 work applications per year. He warned that as of today, permits shall not be given to any non-operational office. Azzi clarified that Lebanon used to host some 627 recruitment agencies, but this number has now dropped to 573 offices, while in fact only 250 offices are needed .

In the same vein, the Labor Ministry’s Inspection Department completed its investigation into the abusive publicity released last year by an operating woman manager of a recruitment office, in which it sells housemaids as presents for mothers on their day. The investigation confirmed that the said woman was operating illegally, hence, the office was closed and the owner referred to the Public Prosecutor. (Al Diyar, An Nahar, March 23 and 24, 2016)

 

On International Women’s Day and in collaboration with the French Cultural Mission in Lebanon and the Francophone University Agency, the Linguistics Department at the Lebanese University held a full Francophone day under the title, ‘The Voice of Women in a Turbulent World’. The event which comes as part of the francophone month organized by the state-run university, included interventions by Lebanese women authors who contributed to women struggles for their rights, with focus on domestic violence. In this respect, a round table was devoted to the discussion of a novel ‘Chez Nous C’etait Le Silence’ by the Lebanese-Canadian Rola Azar Douglas. The story portrays the tragic life of a young woman during the Lebanon war who is caught up between a cruel, violent and miser husband and her two children, added to them the war-related troubles. The author provides a detailed account of the relationship between the man and his wife and the physical violence and moral abuse by the husband over his wife and children. She points out to the powerlessness of battered women who are afraid to speak up about their terrible experiences because they are always hushed by what she termed as ‘obsolete’ social traditions. At the end, the main woman character has to leave her country as the only way to her salvage. Participants in the event praised the courage of Azar who succeeded in breaking up the silence and confronting social taboos. (L’Orient Le Jour, March 18, 2016)

 

The health minister Wael Abou Faoor announced yesterday during a joint press conference with Miss Lebanon, Valerie Abu Shaqra, a batch of health benefits for Mother and Child on their Day in response to the Beauty Queen’s initiative. The latter has appealed to every mother on the Lebanese territory to pay a visit to the nearest primary health care unit to do the necessary cardiovascular tests. She pointed out that her call comes as a gift for the children on their Day, March 19th, coinciding with the mothers’ medical tests. This includes the provision of free vaccines at above centers in the period between March 21-25. In the same vein, the head of the Primary Health Care Department at the Health Ministry, Randa Hamadeh, clarified that similar centers across Lebanon, with financial support from Miss Lebanon, shall receive mothers to the same effect. (Al Diyar, Al Mustaqbal, March 22, 2016)

 

Kafa Enough Violence Organization held a sit-in yesterday in solidarity with mothers of victims of domestic violence to urge the judiciary to expedite the trial of killers of their daughters. It should be noted that three of the convicts have been released, including the culprit accused of killing Roula Yaqoub who was reduced to a ‘nonsuit’ lawsuit with all proceedings stopped. During the protest, protesters carried banners reminiscing the lives of women killed in cold blood by their husbands. They called attention to the indecisive attitude of the relevant authorities in prosecuting the criminals who committed up to 21 crimes from 2013 to date. Kafa also handed a letter to the director general of the Justice Ministry, Maysam Noweiri, in the presence of the parents of victims. The letter said, “We chose the occasion of Mothers' Day to remember the mothers who were slain inside their homes and in front of their own children, and mothers who were denied the joy of celebrating this occasion because of the loss of their daughters as a result of the dominant patriarchal culture that always finds a way to commute felons.” (As Safir, Al Mustaqbal, March 22, 2016)

 

On the occasion of Mothers’ Day, “My Nationality is A Right for Me and My Family” campaign organized on Sunday a sit-in in Beirut central district to demand a speedy approval of the legislation granting Lebanese women the right to pass on their nationality to their family members. Over 2000 activists who came from all across Lebanon took part in the rally in support of Nabih Berri, Parliament Speaker’s, call to speed up the endorsement of the above law. Participants hoisted posters of deputies and ministers in favor of the law with a corresponding ‘like’ under their picture and a others with ‘dislike’ accompanied by negative comments so as to criticize the discriminatory attitudes of opposing officials. In this respect, many dislikes went to the foreign minister, Gebran Bassil, and MPs Hadi Hobeysh and Ne3mattallh Abi Nasr. During the protest, campaign advocate, Karima Chebbo, stated that this new action is part of the women’s ongoing struggle to press for the passing of the above law and to uphold women’s right to full citizenship and equality. And in her special addressed to House Speaker, Chebbo appealed to him to act for the endorsement of the proposed law without any discrimination. Similarly, the president of the Family Rights Network, Lawyer Iqbal Dughan, went further to call for stopping all Mothers’ Day celebrations until the adoption of the nationality law amendment, urging women to hold accountable all members of parliament in the upcoming elections according to their position towards the law amendment. The event closed with words from Kinda and Farah, two children of Lebanese women from a non-Lebanese father. Kinda and Farah demanded their rights and that of their follow citizens while crying out: “This is my right and that of my mother; enough racism.” (Al Akhbar, Al Diyar, An Nahar, Al Mustaqbal, As Safir, March 21, 2016)

 

The municipality of Khraybet al Jundi organized last week a graduation ceremony for women participants who completed training workshops in economic empowerment and societal mobilization and targeting women affected by the Syrian crisis. During the celebration, which took place at the town hall, and in the presence of concerned figures, Mayor and Future Movement Coordinator, Khaled Taha drew the attention to the clear gap which exists between women and their community. We traced the reasons for that gap to meager financial resources, the absence of clear plans and adequate rehabilitation and education programs, as well as the impact of traditions. For her part, the Director of the Social Services Center in Halba, Alia Shaaban, stated that the project involved courses in sewing, embroidery, crochet, production of accessories, and food processing. Likewise, the Director of the Regional Project for the Empowerment of Women, Faten Tibi, underlined the significance of the program as a constructive step in building the capacities of women providers in various professions and empowering them to find the right jobs. Besides, Tibi added, that the project also aims to strengthen women’s protection through the launching of awareness campaigns that will promote their right to a decent life free from discrimination or violence. (Al Mustaqbal 20 March 2016)

 

Despite the recurrence of suicide incidents among migrant women domestic workers (MWDW), local newspapers still take little notice of the news without questioning the causes behind such actions. In this respect, L’Orient Le Jour daily, in its issue of Saturday, briefly reported an attempt by an Ethiopian MWDW to throw herself from her employer’s balcony in Tripoli, North Lebanon. OLJ just noted in her security review section that the concerned woman was slightly injured and that she was being treated in hospital. (L’Orient Le Jour, March 19, 2016)

 

The Women Uprising group announced during a press conference held yesterday its adoption of a zero waste solution technology invented by engineer Ziad Abi Shaker, as the ideal environmental answer to the current waste management crisis in the country. The conference was also an occasion to declare the launching of the Beit Mery emergency center, under Abi Shaker’s supervision, which is the outcome of cooperation between the town’s municipality, Abi Shaker and the women’s group. In this respect, the founder of Women Uprising, Coreen Shidrawi, stressed the significant role of women emanating from their status as mothers and community partners, who struggle to find a viable way out of the garbage-related disaster that has become a source for all kinds of diseases and epidemics threatening the lives of the Lebanese people. For his part, Beit Mery mayor, Toni Maroun, clarified the rationale behind the municipality’s decision to adopt the zero waste option, praising the role of the above women group in spreading ecological awareness. (Al Diyar, Al Mustaqbal, March 18, 2016)

 

In commemoration of IWD, L’Orient Le Jour daily yesterday highlighted the sad story of ‘Dina’ who, because of harsh living conditions, had to sell herself in order to sustain her only daughter. Dina, 30 years, from South Lebanon, admitted in an interview with the newspaper, that her father had forced her to marry a foreigner in exchange for some USD15 thousand when she was only 14 years old. When she turned 19, she had to flee her marital house after being constantly beaten by her violent husband and move with her daughter to her father’s place. Dina went on to describe the humiliating treatment  by her father and her step mother where they had to sleep out on the balcony and feed on leftovers. To carry on, Dina said she had to leave again and work in housekeeping at a hotel. There she met someone and married him by signing a customary contract (zawaj urfi), but not yet divorced from her first marriage. The second spouse, Dina grieved, was not better, and forced her to work as a prostitute for money before terminating the marriage contract. Today, L’Orient Le Jour wrote, Dina is homeless and lives on the streets of the capital selling her body for meagre money. Her daughter is now 14 and lives at the Lebanese Association of SOS Children’s Villages outside Beirut where she visits her once in a month. Finally, while Dina expressed hope to find a decent job with a decent but steady wage, she told the newspaper that she shall rest only when she knows that her father, the cause of her misery, has passed away. (L’Orient Le Jour, March 16, 2016)