News updates

The head of the Indian UNIFIL contingent Sajesh B J, and the president of the union of municipalities of Arkoub Mohammad Saab inaugurated a sewing training workshop for women in Habbaryeh (Hasbayya).  The workshop is funded by the UNIFIL and aims at improving the livelihood condition of the local community through promoting women’s role and empowerment.
Source: Al-Mustaqbal 1 July 2013

The Beirut Association for Social Development (BASD) organised its eleventh exhibition entitled “Afkart” to support traditional Lebanese art and crafts, small and medium enterprises and to help them in their marketing efforts.  The exhibition took place over fifteen consecutive days and was held in downtown Beirut.  It included various products such as paintings, traditional clothes, accessories, home utensils, handbags and food.  Some of the exhibitors spoke to the Al Mustakbal newspaper and noted the importance of this exhibition which is a source of income to many people.  
Source: Al-Mustaqbal 27 June 2013

Made at Home concluded its training workshop focusing on producing homemade food based in international health and safety standards.  The workshops were organised in Tripoli, Akaar, Hasbaya, Rachaya, Aley and Chouf, and was part of the organization’s project entitled “Economic Empowerment for Women in Rural Areas” and which is funded by the American Embassy in Beirut.  The activities were closed with a ceremony which was held last week in Beirut during which Wafa Abed, the president of the organization, spoke of the initial objectives of this initiative namely to encourage rural communities to hold on to their land and help women and girls in securing the livelihoods of their families.  She noted that the success of the programme lies in its effort to strengthen local heritage and local know how in food making as well as develop production standards and encourage creative ideas and initiatives.
Source: Al-Mustaqbal 27 June 2013
 

Al 3azem Wa Sa3adeh organised yesterday a graduation ceremony for more than 100 women who attended and completed its diverse training programmes including sewing, embroidery, candle making, dress making, ICT and food processing.  The event was held at the organization’s conference hall in Bab el Raml in Tripoli with the attendance of the head of its central administration, Mr. Ezzeddine Ghandour, as well as the human resources director Iman Dannaoui.
Source: Al-Safir 21 June 2013

Migrant women domestic workers who took part in a meeting organised at the premises of the National Union of Workers and Employees Syndicates in Lebanon, submitted demands to their respective countries, Lebanon as a host country, employment agencies and employers aiming at ensuring decent work environment, protection for their children, the safeguarding of their welfare, social and economic rights.  The MWDW also demanded safety from violence, neglect and exploitation and the adoption by Lebanon of the ILO convention of standards for decent work for domestic workers (number 189 dated 16 June 2011), which they commemorated.  They also addressed the Lebanese State asking it to improve the living conditions of detention centers, to ensure that deportation procedures are implemented whilst safeguarding the dignity of the workers, in addition to monitoring the conditions of sick migrant workers in hospitals.  Finally, the MWDW called for the reform of the current legal framework to allow workers to sue individuals who abuse them physically and sexually, in addition to the right of their children to free schooling and health care in Lebanon, and the halting of all forms of racial discrimination especially in accessing touristic venues.
Source: Al-Diyar, Al-Mustaqbal 18 June 2013

As Safir newspaper published a report in the struggles of Palestinian women and men in Ain el Helweh in order to secure decent work in the context of stringent Lebanese Labour Law which makes it difficult for Palestinians to find work outside their refugee camp.  The report includes stories of women who have fought to secure the livelihoods of their families and good education of their children in schools and universities.  A case in point is that of Fatmeh who is mother of 4 girls and one boy.  Fatmeh is the sole breadwinner as her husband is ill and unable to work.  She learned to be a seamstress in 1984 and was sewing clothes at home.  With the increasing demands of her family, sewing from home was no longer sufficient.  As such, she thought of starting a project which would meet the needs of her family.  She was able to borrow USD 1500 from a lending programme funded by the EU, bought sewing machines and rented a small shop in Ain el Helweh.  She now considers herself to be quite a success as her clients come from outside the camp to order wedding dresses.
Source: Al-Safir 17 June 2013

General Security has taken some steps towards regulating the migrant workers department through issuing a multi lingual booklet including information on the rights of migrant workers in Lebanon as well as the series of hotline numbers to be used in cases of emergency including abuse.  The booklet is being distributed to migrant workers residing in Lebanon as well as to new comers through the Beirut International Airport.  In addition, the waiting rooms allocated to migrant workers have been spruced up and have become clean and equipped with seats and air conditioning.  General Security is working on ensuring that waiting time does not exceed 10 minutes.
Source: Al-Diyar 13 June 2013

DOT-Lebanon organised in partnership with the Akkar Network for Development the graduation of 136 trainees from its project entitled mobilising local communities by means of technology and innovation in North Lebanon (ACTION) which is being financed by the American Embassy in Beirut.  The celebration was organised at Minyara municipality with the participation of a number of municipal heads and representatives from the educational and social sectors.  The celebration included the viewing of a documentary on the project and on its various implementation phases followed by the distribution of certificates to the trainees whose ages ranged between 15 to 25 years and drawn from the villages of Berqayel, Akroum, Koubayyat, and Wadi Khaled.  The project aimed at empowering young people and women in the area of Akkar, through providing them with skills, experience in IT, leadership and entrepreneurship so that they can integrate public life and create new opportunities to contribute to local community development through the set up of small projects.  During the next phase of the project, the graduate trainees will implement small projects in collaboration with selected municipalities.
Source: Al-Mustaqbal 14 June 2013