News updates

In cooperation with the Institute of Progressive Women (IPW) in Iqleem Al Kharoob, the SMART Center for Media and Advocacy organized a gathering yesterday to discuss reform of the laws and regulations of the social security system. The event was held at the Mazbud social unit under the patronage of the Federation of Municipalities of the Northern Iqlim Al Kharoob and was organised as part of ‘Your Right is a Guarantee for Your Family’ Campaign launched by ‘Search for Common Ground’ and ALEF Lebanon- Act for Human Rights. On the occasion, Mohamad Bahij Mansur, President of the above Federation stressed the need to develop legislations that promote gender equality and justice at the level of the nation. Similarly, Sawsan Abu Hamzeh, IPW secretary, highlighted the role of the association in “empowering and building the skills of women to enable them to be socially, economically and politically active and participate in effecting change and gaining decision making,” adding that “Women can achieve the highest positions guided by their ambition.” For her part, SMART Center director, Randa Yaseer, outlined the demands, goals and strategies of the Campaign which aims to combat gender discrimination particularly that financial contributions by men and women to the social security fund are equal and they pay them evenly, but benefits from the Fund are not the same for both. (Al Mustaqbal, An Nahar, January 13, 2016) 

 

In its issue of today, As Safir daily newspaper published interviews with a number of single women in Lebanon following a controversial infographic depicting celibacy rates in the Arab region, with Lebanon topping the list at 85% of single women. According to As Safir, some women talked down the seriousness of the post on Russia Today site a few weeks ago, noting that it lacked scientific evidence, particularly that it has been copied from another yet shadowy site ‘Here is Instagram’- on Holland Radio back in 2013. When asked by the newspaper about the credibility of the information, Dr. Dima Dabbous media professor and former director of the Institute for Women Studies at the Lebanese American University said they were not credible, especially that the research did not specify the sample or the adopted methodology. She went on to say that on the contrary if the age group of respondents was for example between 20 and 29-years, this would be a positive sign that Lebanese girls are becoming more educated and are planning a career life ahead of marriage. Furthermore, Dabbous objected to the use of the term "spinster"by the infographic, calling it pure male chauvinism and far from being objective.

Similarly, Dr. Michael Khury, psychiatrist and expert on mental health, told As Safir that the phenomenon of late marriage among the Lebanese women has its socio-demographic and psychological factors, and it is also subject to changing gender roles. Missan Leissi Satu7hi (single, 34), a lecturer at Sharja University in the United Arab Emirate, pointed out that while some married couples believe that single women are “pathetic”, others “envy the freedom we enjoy,” she added. She said women in Lebanon are now more ready to give up the traditional gender roles and are more focused on pursuing their academic and career objectives. Again, Maria Abdel Rahman (32), the regional director of Heartland Alliance NGO, stated that she will refuse to be interviewed should the report contribute to portraying single women as miserable persons.

As Safir, January 12, 2016

 

The General Directorate of the Internal Security Forces- Public Relations Division announced in a statement issued last Saturday the death of a Bangladeshi migrant woman domestic worker adding that investigation is underway with the supervision of the competent authorities. The statement disclosed the following: On 10/21/2015, the decomposed body of a Bangladeshi woman in her forties was found in Beirut area on the Hariri Airport Road near Al Sahel Hospital. After close inspection and enquiries, the statement went on to say, the Southern Suburbs Litigation Squad at the Judicial Police Unit, was able to identify the identity of the murdered woman, Nazma. J, (1976, from Bangladesh) and the suspect’s identity A.D (1961, Palestinian) who was arrested on 8/1/2016 and confessed to strangling the victim to death for personal motives. (Al Mustaqbal, January 10, 2016)

 

The Constitutional Court rejected yesterday the appeal filed by the ‘Democratic Gathering’ bloc related to reinstatement of nationality to Lebanese emigrants and which was passed by the Parliament on November 12, 2015. (for full news: http://www.lkdg.org/ar/node/14340). Meanwhile, Parliamentary Progressive Socialist Party (PSP) sources preferred not to comment until after issuance of an official statement by the Party. On the same note,  Deputy House Speaker, Farid Makari, expressed to Al Akhbar his regret over the repeal and preferred to wait for what the Court has to say. On the other hand, Foreign Ministry and the Association of the Maronite Council welcomed in a statement the Council’s rejection of the appeal. The statement expressed their satisfaction towards CC’s decision which in their opinion have blocked a political attempt to deny Lebanese expatriates their rights to reclaim their nationality, at a time “when there are hundreds of non-Lebanese people, refugees and displaced, threatening the country’s freedom and identity” Finally, the ministry urged a rapid implementation of the said law. 

With their decision the Constitutional Court has actually aborted any attempt to challenge the new nationality law from a human and women right perspective, particularly in terms of its clear discrimination against women. On this matter the Court member Sala7h Mokhayber argued that the Court was “looking into an appeal in a law for reinstatement and not granting a nationality.” He told Al Akbar that “in terms of gender equality the nationality law does not treat men and women in the same way”. “And since the new law is founded on the present state of legislation (the core of which is denying women their rights to grant nationality to their families), therefore, the issue of gender inequality was not a subject for deliberation,” Mokhayber concluded. (Al Akhbar, Al Mustaqbal, An Nahar, January 8, 2016)

 

 

A study published recently by the Arab Institute for Freedoms and Equality on societal attitudes regarding gender issues and identities, reflected a lack of awareness among the Lebanese with respect to understanding gender and sexual issues and related gender rights. Entitled ‘As long as they stay away from me’, the survey revealed that a significant portion of respondents were against the use of violence, punitive measures or imprisonment of homosexuals and transsexuals. It showed that 64.4% of those interviewed  rejected the integration of same sex persons in society; 66.3% maintained they were a source of social threat and 82.2% said they  jeopardize the traditional family institution. The study pointed out that while around 72% of respondents described homosexuality as a mental disorder and 79% said it reflected a hormonal disease,  61.7% were opposed to providing any form of protection against discrimination to those persons. Regarding transsexuals, the survey indicated that nearly 97.5% of respondents appeared to be tolerable and ready to help trans-sex individuals as opposed to homosexuals.

The above study also showed that discrimination against homosexuality is not confined to individuals, but is a public attitude and practices supported by prejudiced legislations, namely Article 534 of the Penal Code. The latter states that any intercourse "against nature" is punishable with imprisonment from one month to one year and a fine ranging between LBP 200 thousand and a LBP one million. According to above survey, nearly 50% of respondents agreed to the terms of punishment against 40% who opposed, and 10% were undecided. (Al Akhbar, January 5, 2016)

 

In its issue of today, Al-Nahar newspaper interviewed the lawyer and activist in ‘My Nationality is a Right for Me and My Family’ Campaign, Dr. Iqbal Doughan, to shed light on the upcoming activities after the adoption last November by the Parliament of the law governing the reinstatement of Lebanese nationality to Lebanese emigrants. Doughan indicated that the approval of the law has unveiled the lightly founded excuses put forward by officials to deprive Lebanese women from the right to grant citizenship to their families, while stressing the male chauvinist mindset of officials and pure racist attitude particularly in denying Lebanese women married to Palestinians from their right to grant nationality to their family.

On future of the Campaign, Doughan revealed that it intends to carry out visits to heads of political blocs, namely the Future party, which earlier proposed a draft law that allows Lebanese women residents and emigrants to grant nationality to their children, but which was utterly rejected. The following step, Doughan added is taking action back to the streets through sit-ins and demonstrations. Expressing hope in a successful election of women who will seek change from within the political system, Doughan emphasised that Lebanese women shall not forsake their cause, neither their rights. She finally described as unfair the present nationality law that infringes on the national Constitution, while regretfully acknowledging that presently ordinary citizens still have no legal basis to appeal in this case to the Constitutional Court. (An Nahar, January 5, 2016)

 

In a ceremony held yesterday at Abu Nawas Restaurant in Tripoli, the head of the Federation of Municipalities of Diniyeh, Mohamad Saadiyeh, honored the Qayemaqam of Minyyeh -Danniyeh, Rola Ba3yeh in the presence of mayors of Danniyeh, the President of the Federation of Municipalities of Minyyeh, Mustafa Akl, and Bahnin Mayor, Mostafa Wehbi. In his speech, Saadiyeh pointed out that while “the newly-introduced district borough (qaim maqamieh) has faced numerous challenges, notably scarce resources and potentials, it kicked off in a few days seeking to achieve its planned objectives”, as he said. Similarly, Bayeh underlined the importance of proper networking between various municipalities and the district borough to this effect. She said she was pleased with the size of accomplishments made by Danniyeh district (Qayemaqamiyyah) despite the difficulties it confronted at its onset, noting that operations are divided along two sub-administrative units in Minyyeh and Danniyeh. In conclusion, Bayeh stated that last year has set the foundations for a new round of constructive projects and undertakings. (Al Mustaqbal, Al Diyar, January 4, 2016)

 

The Lebanese Organization for Studies and Training, (LOST), issued yesterday a number of recommendations at the end of its conference entitled ‘Development of Women’s Participation in Politics’ (http://bit.ly/1PyeQJ3). These can be summarized as follows: Design empowerment programs for women inside their households; form women groups to raise awareness on the importance of women participation in public affairs; overcome difficulties that may impede women’s development; demand from the ministry of education to review the national curricula so as to promote the role of women in society; solicit the media to provide more space for promoting the role of women in political life; educate men and raise their awareness on women’s role in community; support the involvement of women and their participation in associations and community groups, create more projects aimed at the development of women’s skills; urge political parties to promote the access of women in public employment, particularly in senior posts, to train women on their rights and responsibilities , and finally to adopt the women’s representation quota in all electoral bodies and within the Cabinet. (Al Mustaqbal, December 31, 2015)

 

In collaboration with the German KAS foundation, the Lebanese Organization for Studies and Training (LOST) held yesterday a conference entitled ‘Development of Women’s Participation in Politics’ at the July Hall in Baalbaq. Some 125 women of all ages, from various towns and of different social and political views took part in the conference, including 11 winners in the latest municipal elections.  Dr. Rami Laqis, head of LOST, pointed out that the conference was not an ordinary lecture, but rather an interactive and reflective platform for women’s issues that will produce recommendations to be implemented at a later stage. In the same vein, former minister, Wafaa Dika, described the problematic situation of women right in Lebanon, noting that “participation is a right that should not be forsaken no matter what the difficulties,” and should  be transformed into a solid and practical force. “Women in Lebanon have not achieved their rights in (political) participation because of certain laws, like the Personal Status and Nationality laws and the Penal Code,” Dika said, adding that the main requisite for political reform is the adoption of a modern municipal and electoral law that could redress the present situation and that will include a women’s representation quota as a temporary equity measure. (As Safir, December 29, 2015)

 

In its issue of today, the Daily Star shed light on a unique experience by a Lebanese woman from Bayssarieh, Saida, who is presently recycling her household waste into useful items. Bahiya Qoteish explained that the idea of undertaking recycling came to her after completing a training workshop organized by the Center for Development Services run by the Ministry of Social Affairs. Qoteish told the newspaper that instead of throwing away carton, like egg cartons for example, she is recycling them into handy tools that can be used at home. She even showcased her creations at several local fairs with the support of the Bayssarieh Center for Development Services. Qoteish said she was pleased with what she was doing; especially that it has given her the opportunity to become an active and productive member of her community, promising to work hard to develop her skills and artistic talents. (Daily Star, December 29, 2015)