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Growing Syrian women domestic work force in Lebanon

30-12-2019

In its issue of December 27, Al Akhbar daily featured the growing phenomenon of domestic service in Syria. This phenomenon is not unusual, the newspaper said, but has expanded lately as a result of the war in the neighboring country and the ensuing economic and social changes. For more insight on the subject, Al Akhbar spoke to Umm Samer who dropped her job as a lawyer to work as a domestic worker. “I have children, and things have been horrible after the death of my husband. My salary was not enough to carry on so I decided to work in housekeeping. I travelled to Latakia for this reason where I am incognito; besides, living costs there are much lower,” Umm Samer recounted. Al Akhbar reported that the increasing number of local domestic workers and the larger demand on them by well-off households, amid the high costs of foreign labor, has forced a group of ‘established’ domestic workers to regulate the profession. The newspaper mentioned Umm Anas, a woman in her sixties, who could no longer work in domestic service and chose to be a broker providing work for other women seeking this kind of profession. Umm Mamduh, for her part, said this job does not often secure a stable income, with many women forced to work at more than one employer during a short period of time. Others told Al Akhbar’s reporter that this work is ‘unsafe’, lamenting sexual harassment and assault attempts against some domestic workers. (more on the feature in Arabic: https://bit.ly/2SEOjBM). (Al Akhbar, December 27, 2019)

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World female football players demand gender equality

27-12-2019

The Women’s World Cup 2019 hosted by France has turned into a platform to call for gender equality in all areas of life, An Nahar reported today. It has also contributed to raising the level of the game and changing its laws in several countries, like Italy and Australia. On this, US Megan Rapinoe who led her country to its consecutive Women’s World Cup title and claimed the Golden Ball’s top player, explained: “In our case, victory will allow the female soccer, not in the US only, to make a big stride forward.” "The world title has moved our struggle for equality to another dimension,” Rapinoe added. In conclusion, An Nahar wrote that the best example of what Rapinoe has said is clearly seen in the accomplishment achieved by the Australian women’s national soccer team after the round of 16 in the World Cup. Australia introduced equal pay for men and women’s national team footballers in line with an agreement between Professional Footballers Australia and Football Federation Australia (FFA) to this effect. Similarly, the success by Italy’s National Football Team in reaching the quarterfinals was a stage to denounce the discriminatory laws which don’t allow women to make a living out of football. (An Nahar, December 27, 2019)

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Syrian, Rasha Sheikh, weightlifting champion of persons with special needs

27-12-2019

In its issue of today, Al Akhbar newspaper spotlighted Syrian athlete Rasha Sheikh from Deir Zor, the champion of the Special Weightlifting competition of the 73 kg category for athletes with special needs. Sheikh, Al Akhbar wrote, has scored several achievements in the Arab and international championships, including third place at the international championship for 2006 and the first place at the MENA championship in 2003. She also won the gold medal in the West Asia Special Weightlifting Championship. In an interview with Al Akhbar, Sheikh said her debility did not prevent her from realizing her ambition. “I chose weightlifting as a lifestyle, rather than a sport I have passion for,” she stated. “What persons with special needs require is inspiration and stimulation to overcome the hindrances impeding their accomplishments,” she said, adding, “there is no such thing as disability, but a handicapped society.” She said she plans to develop her capabilities to qualify for the World Olympics in Tokyo (2020) and hit another record. In conclusion, the Syrian champ encouraged everyone to practice a sport he/she loves, noting that one of many lessons she learned during her training and in winning is the uncovering of the tremendous ability that lies within. (Al Akhbar, December 27, 2019)

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Lebanese Marriane Abi Fadel, member of French academy of pharmacy

27-12-2019

Professor Marriane Abi Fadel, dean of the faculty of pharmacy at USJ, has been elected as an active member of the National Academy of Pharmacy (of France) after being nominated by French professors in the biology department. Earlier in June, Abi Fadel was invited to France to the meeting of the third section (biology) in the Academy to present the research work she conducted between Lebanon and France related to the discovery of the PCSK9 gene responsible for the hypercholesterolemia. The breakthrough, to recall, has allowed to develop two medications to treat cholesterol related diseases and cardiovascular complications. Abi Fadel received the ‘Hygia Salus’ Medal from the president of the Academy and from its permanent secretary with the newly elected national and international members. (An Nahar, December 27, 2019)

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Crisis in Lebanon provokes MWDWs’ deportation

24-12-2019

In its issue of today, Al Akhbar highlighted the current economic crisis and its impact on the fate of scores of migrant domestic workers who are being deported by their sponsors. Citing concerned NGO sources, the newspaper revealed that many contracts have been canceled and MWDWs deported in the past few weeks. Several reasons are behind this, Al Akhbar wrote. Employers are unable to pay the wages in US dollars as stipulated in the work contract and the MWDW refuses to be paid in the Lebanese lira. Other workers opt to leave for being unable to transfer their salary to their families abroad for financial restrictions. On the subject, the newspaper spoke to the lawyer at Kafa, Enough Violence and Exploitation, Mohana Isaac, who explained that the dire economic conditions could exacerbate the employer-worker relationship, leading sometimes to forms of violence. The present status quo in the country may contribute to an increasing number of MWDWs without legal residency papers. On the other hand, the head of the Syndicate of Owners of Recruitment Offices in Lebanon, Ali Amin, pointed out that the dilemma started in early 2019 due to the delay on the part of the labor ministry in signing relevant agreements. And with the beginning of the depreciation of the local currency three months ago, the sector is actually clinically dead, Amin added, pointing to the closure of some 17 (out of 600) offices since two months. (AL Akhbar, December 24, 2019)

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Co-operative for food industries in Qubai’

24-12-2019

Women from the Uppen Matn town of Qubai’ inaugurated yesterday the main center of the Qubai’ Cooperative for Food Industries under the slogan, ‘Hand in hand for a productive community’. The event was held under the patronage of the member of the Democratic Gathering Bloc, Hadi Abul Hosson, who toured an exhibition organized to this end at the center which included elaborately handcrafted foodies, like traditional mouneh, sweets, gadgets, chocolates and artisan items. On the occasion, Aboulhosson hailed the efforts and achievements of members of the coop during a short period of time, lauding their perseverance in work and production which, he said, indicates a steadfastness and ambition to build a productive society. He also praised the revolutionary step taken by the youth of Qubai’ and neighboring Qrayeh in insisting to kick off a back to roots initiative through promoting local agriculture. (Al Diyar, December 24, 2019)

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Creating a new entity for women victims of violence

23-12-2019

In its issue of December 13, Al Akhbar daily analyzed two approaches to violence by author Hanna Arendt, from a Jewish family, who fled from Germany to France after the Nazis invaded the country, and another by the professor of philosophy at Princeton University, Susan J. Brison. Arendt, in her book, ‘On Violence’ (1970) draws a line between historical violence and the violence of modern society, which as she said, is not aimed at absolute victory but at conquering the contender through various means of suppression, Al Akhbar wrote. On the other hand, Brison, in her book, ‘Aftermath: Violence and the Remaking of a Self’ (2002), analyzed violence from her personal perspective. She was kidnapped and raped during her pregnancy and carried on a long journey to reclaim a self she lost with the trauma, Al Akhbar went on to say. Brison, unlike Arendt, does not start off from an authoratitave perspective, but rather from the self a person loses after an unpleasant episode leaving him utterly helpless in the face of an intimidating, life threatening, force. She explains, that from a personal experience, she went through stages to rebuild herself. She viewed the victim of violence not from an attitude of pity, but from a philosophical outlook of contemplation and support to rebuild the self. In conclusion, Al Akhbar cited Brison as saying that the key requisite to remake the self of any victim of violence or abuse is through creating a narrative of their own describing what happened and find a compassionate and understanding recipient of that narrative. For more info: kindly refer to the link below: https://bit.ly/2PPr868. (Al Akhbar, December 19, 2019)

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VAW: Blackmailing women in Baabda, Tripoli

20-12-2019

The ISF Directorate General announced in a statement yesterday that the CyberCrime and Intellectual Property Protection Bureau received two complaints filed to the Beirut Public Prosecutor by a Palestinian woman against an unknown for charges of sexual extortion. The statement went on to say, that upon surveillance, the suspect’s whereabouts were detected and he was arrested on 17-12-2019 in the Hadat neighborhood of Baabda. In the details, the suspect (Y. A, Egyptian, born in 1990) had installed a camera in the plaintiff’s (his roommate) room to take intimate snapshots which he used for sexual and financial blackmailing. The second complaint, the ISF statement said, was filed by the father of a girl (born in 2005) against an unidentified person for charges of the blackmailing and seduction of a minor. The identity of the suspect was revealed (F.A, Lebanese, born in 1996) and he was arrested in Abi Samra- Tripoli on 16-12-2019 where he admitted his actions. He confessed that he impersonated a woman and contacted underage girls via whatsapp luring them into taking nude pictures. And in the case of refusal, he threatened to publish his stock of photos and videos, or report to their parents. (Al Mustaqbal, December 19, 2019)
 

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Feminist amateur photography expo in Cairo

20-12-2019

Within the framework of 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, Elles for Publishing in Cairo inaugurated a feminist exhibition for amateur photographers under the slogan, ‘For the Sake of Feminist Writing’. Elles’ editor, Rajaai Moussa, said the event is dedicated to the first female Arab Palestinian photographer, Karima Abboud who took her first successful snapshot in 1913. Aboud opened her own studio in Beit Lahm to take pictures of women and created her photographic career on the streets, homes and workplaces. Elles publisher, Hind Salem, for her part, maintained that feminist photography does not portray women only, but depicts that which is exclusive of women in a world of sharp and subtle details. Salem explained that feminism is better understood through its male counterpart referring to a photo of a man and a woman displayed by one participant. The man, as is illustrated, is smoking hookah in the front while the woman is the backdrop. The female presence in the picture, Salem said, is a vital factor in viewing this art of photography which is gaining acceptance. (Al Akhbar, December 19, 2019)

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Lebanese Rana Nicola, finalist of space journey

19-12-2019

In its issue of today, An Nahar spotlighted Rana Nicolas, a physician and lecturer at LAU, as well as a researcher in the Atomic Energy Authority in France, who was chosen among the finalists to the ‘Astronaut’ program. Indeed, and among 500 participants of academics and pilots, 12 persons, including Nicolas, were shortlisted to partake in the program aired on Dubai TV show. Speaking to the newspaper, Nicolas said she did not expect to reach the finals, “Yet I tried to do everything in my power to promote the image of Lebanon, specifically the image of the strong, ambitious, impulsive and successful woman.” I always felt exhausted but persevered until I made it to the finals, she boasted. (An Nahar, December 19, 2019)
 

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