Subscribe to newsletter

Custom Search 1

You are here

Home

News updates

Feminist activists in Iraqi uprising

17-2-2020

Hundreds of Iraqi women marched in the streets of the Iraqi capital, Baghdad, on Thursday to stress the role of women in the ongoing anti-government protests. This comes in the wake of a Twitter call on February 8 by Shiite leader Moqtada Sadr demanding no mixing between the sexes at protest squares and junctions. Demonstrators marched through the Saadoun Tunnel up to the Tahrir Square carrying signs which read: ‘I am the revolution which blasphemed masculinity’ and ‘Freedom, feminist revolution’. Women shouted slogans endorsing the role of women in rallies calling for the ousting of corrupt politicians and regime. Meanwhile, scores of young men formed a human shield to protect women from both sides. Pharmacist student, Zeinab Ahmed, told AFP that an undefined party has sparked a hostility campaign against us a few days ago. They are counting on bringing women back to their homes and silencing them. But we took to the streets today to prove to them that their maneuvering will be of no use. “We want to guard the role of women in revolts just like men,” she maintained. For her part, Raya Assi, said: “They want to turn us into another Iran, but the Iraqi woman was not brought up to be dictated by man. They have to accept us as we are.” )An Nahar, February 13, 2020(

Share on

Theatre performance by Dima Matta on identity and gender

12-2-2020

In its issue of today, Al Akhbar newspaper spotlighted the monodrama written and performed by Dima Matta at Zoukak, the Studio in Beirut, and directed by Yara Bou Nassar. The script is an autobiography of a lesbian young woman living in Beirut which tries to understand gender, identity and memory. Matta recounted the breakdown, uncertainties and inconsistencies which she sustained by living in the Lebanese capital, reminiscing memories of her life there. She narrated the first time she fearlessly held the hand of another woman in New York City, the family history overshadowed by the civil war and her mental breakdown. Matta unfolded on the stage all her conflicts involving gender identity and desire, as well as the relationship with the body. Matta also focused on the daily struggle of being gay in a city like Beirut, considering it to be the primary conflict, with all the associated psychological, mental and physical corollaries a woman experiences. Al Akhbar wrote that the performance has succeeded in drifting from one story to another and favored the personal narrative. The newspaper pleaded for a more eveloped approach that can reach the audience. (Al Akhbar, February 8, 2020)

Share on

Lebanese Abla Sibai’ among UNESCO 2020 award winners

12-2-2020

On the occasion of the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, L’Oreal UNESCO Foundation announced yesterday the names of winners of the 22nd Women in Science Awards from different regions of the world. This year’s prize went to five exceptional women scientists in the fields of biotechnology, ecology, epigenetics, epidemiology and infectiology. Each laureate will receive 100,000 euros during a ceremony to be held on March 12 at UNESCO Paris headquarters, in addition to 15 Rising Talents, young women scientists from around the globe. The laureate for Africa and Arab States is Lebanese, Abla Mehio Sibai’, professor of epidemiology, faculty of health sciences, AUB. Noting, that this is the second consecutive award for a Lebanese after Dr. Najat Saliba, also from AUB, laureate for 2019. Also, researcher from USJ, Dr. Laura Joy Boulus, Neuroscience, who won for the category of Rising Talents. The names of all the laureates appear on : https://bit.ly/2He9jIz. (An Nahar, February 12, 2020)

Share on

Switzerland criminalises public homophobia

11-2-2020

In a referendum on February 9, Swiss electorates agreed to penalize public homophobia with 63% votes in favor, noting that the current Penal Code criminalizes discrimination based on race, ethnicity and religion. But as of now, the amended antidiscrimination law will criminalize discrimination based on sexual orientation penalizing discrimination against LGBTQs. Recalling, that a minor Christian conservative group, the Federal Democratic Union, has managed to gather enough signatures to hold a national referendum in order to repeal the draft criminalizing discrimination based on sexual orientation but has failed to do so as indicated by the outcomes of the latest vote. Opponents to the amendment allege that LGBTQs do not need special legal protection, and claim that current legislations are enough to deter defamation, verbal abuse and other forms of violence. (Al Diyar, February 11, 2020)

Share on

Claudine Aoun from Riyadh highlights women’s political participation

11-2-2020

NCLW president, Claudine Aoun Rukuz participated in the 39th session of the Arab Women’s Committee in Riyadh (February 9 – 10) organized by the General Secretariat of the Arab League-Social Affairs Sector, under the slogan, ‘Empowering Women … Development of Society’. During the meeting, Rukuz called for the advancement of Arab countries and societies saying, “it is not realistic to talk about the development of our societies when we continue to marginalize the role of women.” And, she added, “It is no longer acceptable for the Arab world to rank poorly among world countries.” The Lebanese government has set 5 priorities in the field of women’s rights and pledged to achieve them over 4 years and they are: protection of women against violence, especially during conflicts, the empowerment and rehabilitation of women to engage in conflict resolution, increasing the rate of women’s political and economic participation, the provision of aid and ensuring that women and girls can pull through hardships resulting from natural disasters and armed conflicts, the provision of a legislative framework that safeguards the rights of women and girls and protects them from all forms of violence, discrimination or exploitation. Rukuz also mentioned the rate of participation of women in several areas, notably: pharmacy nearly (70%), liberal occupations like the judiciary, law and university education (50%), first class ambassadors (30%) and finally, 25% in the medical field. (An Nahar, February 10, 2020)

Share on

Egyptian teacher banned for harassing 120 female students

11-2-2020

The Supreme Administrate Court in Egypt on Sunday pronounced its final verdict banning a teacher from practicing teaching after convicting him of harassing 120 female elementary students in the governorate of Iskandariyeh. Commenting, the undersecretary of the ministry of education, Youssef Deeb, explained to AFP that the incident goes back to 2013, and confirmed that the above educator has been dismissed in the same year by the school administration. The decision was further corroborated by the Administrative Court, Deeb said, adding, that the convict appealed but his request was rejected. For his part, the minister of education, Tarek Shawki, stressed that his ministry is fighting harassment but without disclosing all the measures taken to this effect for reasons of confidentiality. (An Nahar, February 10, 2020)

Share on

EU promotes the paintings of woman artist from the South

7-2-2020

The National News Agency (NNA) yesterday spotlighted the journey of Hamah Yahiya, a southern farmer and artist in her sixties, living in the Nabatiyeh town of Adshit. Hamdah planted and sold tobacco to provide for her family while enjoying her scarce free time in painting, NNA reported. Boasting a passion for drawing since childhood, Yahya said she passed most of her time in nature drawing trees, water springs, the threshing floor, the thresher machine and the hand mill. In the beginning, Hamdah said, she could not afford to buy the tools that accentuate the colors of the natural scenery. Whereas, her husband made a point that the precision of her work has attracted many artists who encouraged her to display her pieces of art in exhibitions. EU officials, who lauded her work, also provided her with the necessary painting and art supplies. Hamdah’s daughter bragged that her mother could have become an internationally renowned artist if she enrolled in a fine arts school. Instead, she chose farming, which is a source of pride for her family. For his part, the painter and art critic, Nizar Faour, said he saw in Yayha’s paintings an original and lofty art laden with messages. She depicts the simplicity of living and the backdrop of a rural artist who kept an almost annihilated lifestyle, Faour expounded. He described some of her paintings which communicated village customs and traditions, like for example the women who gather the tobacco leaves or carry water jars on their heads or bake bread on saj (baking tin). (NNA, February 6, 2020)

Share on

Sale of a Tunisian girl on website sparks anger

7-2-2020

An advertisement published by a Tunisian citizen announcing the sale of a girl child (3 years) on a famous online shopping portal has sparked extreme rage and resentment on social media and mainstream media. In the details, a Tunisian person posted an ad for selling a girl for 3500 Dinar (1100 euros) under the item ‘girls for sale’. He attached photos and a caption which read: “A child girl for sale. Anyone interested in buying, please call me on the following number. My daughter is good mannered. She is three.” Commenting, the head of Tunisia Youth Organization, Ayman Katri, posted the following on Facebook, “How can a licensed ecommerce business be allowed to publish a ‘child girl for sale’ ad under the sale item ‘girls for sale’. Katri warned: “We should not sit back and do nothing until a day comes when we see hypes promoting terrorism, sales of weapons or sex trade after this appalling one.” The Youth Organization, he maintained, will struggle by all available means to restrain electronic crimes, saying it will report to relevant authorities what has been published. (Al Diyar, February 7, 2020)

Share on

American female astronaut breaks record for longest time in space

7-2-2020

American astronaut Christina Kock, 42, returned to earth yesterday after 328 consecutive days, nearly 11 months, at the international space station, breaking the previous record of 289 days set by Peggy Whitson. Two days before her landing, Kock told NBC on Tuesday that she is going to miss the ‘zero gravity’. “There is a real pleasure in living in a place where you can jump from floor to ceiling whenever you like,” she boasted. Kock mentioned that Whitson, 59, who completed three space missions, remains her hero and role model, irrespective of the newly set record. Kock, an American engineer, to recall, has participated in the first all-female spacewalk alongside American marine biologist, Jessica Meir, in October 2019. (An Nahar, February 7, 2020)

Share on

Promoting social and solidarity economy with EU assistance

5-2-2020

Under the patronage of the labor ministry and the General Labor Union, BCTS (Business Consultancy and Training Services) launched yesterday the ‘Reinforcing Social and Solidarity Economy for the Unemployed, Uneducated and Refugees’ project, known as ‘MoreThanAJob’ project. To recall, this initiative is funded by the European Union under the ENI CBC MED program. BCTS managing partner, Wafaa Haidamus, pointed out that the 3-year undertaking aims at boosting the social inclusion of the most vulnerable, unemployed populations. The project, Haidamus explained, is different from similar initiatives as it seeks to address the key issue through studying the policies and systems of public institutions operating in the field of labor and training, like for example, ministries of labor, education and social affairs. It will seek to develop the present structures to target groups of unemployed and uneducated people as well as refugees. Haidamus stressed that MoreThanAJob project seeks to mobilise the capacities of concerned organizations with the aim of creating new jobs. (An Nahar, February 5, 2020)
 

Share on

Pages


Subscribe to RSS - News updates