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Marriage of underage girls in Syria between law and enforcement

9-8-2019

In its issue of today, Al Akhbar newspaper published a feature on the marriage of underage girls in Syria, noting that under the guise of norms and the sidestepping of laws, the marriage of underage girls prevails and grows. On the subject, Al Akhbar spoke to the head of the Nour Foundation for Relief and Development (NFRD) in Damascus, Abdel Latif Bunni, who pointed to the expanding phenomenon of the marriage of underage girls in Al Tal area and environs. Despite the ratification of laws that forbid the marriage of girls under 18, many sheikhs and spiritual mentors skip the registration of similar marriage contracts sticking to an oral contract in the presence of witnesses from the immediate family and relatives. Bunni stressed that restraining this phenomenon requires raising awareness and law enforcement. “We are not aware of any arrest of a sheikh or guardian who has conducted a marriage contract contrary to the law,” Bunni stated. Likewise, Syrian Arab Red Crescent psychologist, Alia Chamat, explained that the parents’ exploitation of the possibility of contracting a marriage without officially registering it in the competent official department, allows further evasion of laws that can prevent this from happening. This in fact pushes for an all-encompassing review of the proposed solutions to the impasse, through the enactment of relevant legislation and spreading awareness on the risks of early marriage, Chamat maintained. (The feature can be found on the following link: : https://bit.ly/2GXuzCI). (Al Akhbar, August 9, 2019)

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Husband interrogated over suspected muder of wife Rana Beaino

9-8-2019

The investigative judge of Mount Lebanon, Ziad Makneh, began Wednesday his investigation with Sh.H, the detained suspect in killing wife, customs officer, Rana Beaino on July 28 who died in a moving car in Bhamdoun area (https://bit.ly/2MFNTrJ). The first investigative judge has reviewed the preliminary file and referred it to judge Nadim Nashef who voluntarily stepped aside returning the file to Judge Mansour. The latter asked the Appeals Prosecution in Mount Lebanon to appoint a new investigative judge to this effect. Recalling, that the report of coroner, Hassan Mokdad, has shown that the cause of death is repeated incidences of violence before fall from the car. (Al Diyar, August 8, 2019)

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… while MWDWs ordeal continues: suicidal attempt in Tyre, falling “accident” in Saida

8-8-2019

On August 6, Al Mustaqbal daily reported that a Sri Lankan domestic worker attempted to kill herself by drinking bleach at her employer’s house in Ain B’al town, Tyre. She was later transferred by an ambulance to hospital for treatment. On August 7, the newspaper brought about the news of an Ethiopian MWDW who fell from the fifth floor of her employer’s residence in the southern city of Saida causing her injuries and fractures. The worker was carried to hospital but is still in critical condition. A security squad started investigation into the incident. According to our portal, the total number of deceased MWDWs has reached 7 since the beginning of this year. (Al Mustaqbal, July 19, 2019)

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Lebanon is reconsidering MWDW sponsorship system

8-8-2019

The minister of labor, Kamil Abu Sleiman, on July 26 visited ILO offices in Beirut to follow up discussions on the kafala (sponsorship) system in Lebanon. Noting, that under the kafala system, the legal residence of migrant women domestic workers is restrictively subject to a contracted relationship with the employer giving him almost complete control over the life and mobility of the MWDW. Abu Sleiman chaired a meeting which included ILO Regional Director for Arab States, Ruba Jradat, as well as representatives of a number of concerned local and international organizations. Meetings to this effect have been underway to submit proposals aimed to modify the sponsorship system in the country, which is tantamount to modern slavery, as Abu Sleiman described it. During the meeting, the labor minister reiterated his rejection of the continued inhuman treatment of many migrant domestic workers, stressing that he will continue to take immediate measures in the event of any assault against an MWDW. (Al Diyar, July 28, 2019)

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Empowering women globally to improve the food situation

8-8-2019

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has prepared a report which concluded that women are the most important victims of climate change, yet, they stand in the front line to combat its after effects due to their important participation in agriculture. To note, that delegates of 195 member countries in IPCC have been in closed meetings in Geneva since August 2 discussing the report expected to be out today. According to Hindou Omar Ibrahim, the coordinator of the Association of Indigenous Peul Women and Peoples of Chad, men traditionally own the land, and when the time comes to distribute it, they pass it on to males and not to females. Likewise, Greenpeace researcher, Reyes Terrado, stated that in many developing countries and rural communities, women play an active role in household consumption food agriculture. Women and girls are directly affected when climate warming makes access to water harder, Terrado maintained. The above report also noted that women working in agriculture face other challenges as well. In this regard, FAO found that women have fewer opportunities compared to men in the acquisition of real estate or livestock, the use of novel technologies, access to loans or similar financial services or training. Should they get access to the same production resources like men, women are bound to increase the labor productivity by 20% to 30%, FAO said, adding, that increasing production can reduce by 17% the number of poor around the world. (An Nahar, August 8, 2019)

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Law amendment preventing jailing of mother rejected

7-8-2019

The Parliamentary Administration and Justice Committee chaired by MP George Adwan, rejected yesterday the draft law to amend Article 1003 of the Code of Civil Procedure, preventing the imprisonment of the mother sentenced to hand over her underge child. The Committee, after reviewing the explanatory statements and the justice ministry’s standpoint, noticed that enactment of the proposal, as per equality standards, requires that the father not be jailed for violating relevant provisions as well as the alimony provisos, which could undermine the implementation of similar judiciary rulings. Recalling, that the above draft bill was submitted on November 13, 2018, by lawmaker Paula Yacoubian. (https://bit.ly/2T9Q0FC). (An Nahar, August 7, 2019)

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Graduation of female makeup trainees in Mreijat, Beqaa

7-8-2019

Nahda Women Gathering, Zahleh- Central Beqaa, celebrated on August 5 the graduation of women who completed a beauty and makeup workshop in Mreijat, in the presence of mayor Michel Mechalani, the head of the Gathering Mona Fares, and officer for Zahleh and Central Beqaa, Adele Ashkar. On the occasion, Ashkar stressed support for women and families and their key role societal reform through targeted educational and training courses. Mechalani, for his part, confirmed his readiness to support any initiative that strengthens and spreads the Gathering and its work, pointing to his constant cooperation to this effect. Recalling, that the mayor has provided the municipal hall for the above training session. Likewise, Fares said Nahda’s main goal is to sustain rural activities and empower rural communities to become productive and stay steadfast in order to reduce migration to urban areas. Fares underlined the importance of training workshops in enabling beneficiaries to produce rather than providing them with the end-product. Training on a productive profession generates economic benefit to the beneficiary, Fares concluded. (NNA, August 5, 2019)

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Beirut mural for promoting women in leadership

7-8-2019

The Lebanese Association for Democratic Elections (LADE), uncovered a large mural in the Hamra neighborhood of Madkessi under the slogan, ‘You are a natural leader’. The mural is part of ‘Activating the role of women in leadership’ project supported by Hivos International in coordination with ‘Art for Change’ project. During the launch, LADE secretary general, Yara Nassar, said the association wanted to communicate a message in a creative style to serve as a muse for inspiration and strength. Every person can interpret the mural from his/her own viewpoint, Nassar maintained, hoping it will become a symbol and model for Lebanese women. She stressed that the natural place for women is leadership, the leadership of demonstrations and protests, the leadership of parties and the nation. Nassar reiterated her call to break the stereotypes against women and their roles, refusing to tolerate any political party that will not recruit women on their electoral lists in the upcoming parliamentary elections 2022, or any party that abstains from voting in favor of a bill that endorses women’s rights.(NNA, L’Orient Le Jour, August 3, 6, 2019)

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Abeer Shbaro: Feminist and advisor to PM on women’s affairs

6-8-2019

In its issue of August 5, L’Orient Le Jour spotlighted the life and career of activist, NCLW vice president and advisor to prime minister for women’s affairs, Abeer Shbaro. Shbaro stressed that her main goal is to bring about equality between men and women and eliminate all discriminatory laws against women. As part of her work, Shbaro maintained, she witnesses the daily predicaments of Lebanese women incurred as a result of the predominant patriarchal system. She mentioned women victims of domestic violence and sexual harassment, divorced women deprived of their children, and women denied inheritance which naturally goes to their brothers, or women disallowed to confer nationality to their children, among other injustice. Shbaro told L’Orient Le Jour correspondent that she wanted to become a doctor but chose public health upon the persistence of her parents who argued that medicine conflicts with marital life and parenthood. She said she worked at a hospital before she met NCLW executive board member, Afifa Sayyid, and became tied up in the feminist movement. After 10 years in the field, she was chosen by prime minister Saad Hariri to help in the establishment of the ministry of women’s affairs, where she became advisor to former minister, Jean Ogassapian, when focus was on fighting sexual harassment. Shbaro said it is important to get the backing of politicians in order to press for women’s rights. (L’Orient Le Jour, August 6, 2019)

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Sudanese women’s struggle for gender equality

6-8-2019

In its issue of August 5, Al Diyar daily published an article by Agence France Presse featuring Sudanese women’s struggle for equality. AFP interviewed a number of Sudanese women activists who while lamenting the many restrictions enforced on them in the name of religion, stressed that women led the protests which toppled former president Omar Hassan Bashir on April 11, 2019 after 30 years in power. Sudanese woman lawyer and human rights activist, Amani Uthman, who was detained for 7 hours in refrigerated solitary confinement for demonstrating against the regime, said Sudanese women shall continue to fight to achieve gender equality. She said her arrest was in blatant violation of all laws and moral standards because of her advocacy for her unrepresented compatriots. Uthman warned that women will not wait to be granted their rights, we will fight for them. Sudanese women demand 40% of seats in the next parliament, she said, adding, that the coalition Forces of Freedom and Change (FFC), which leads the protests, has included the demand in the agreement signed with the ruling military council. For her part, Amira Tijani, English professor at Ahfad University for Girls in Om Durman, said the movement is an opportunity for women to be heard. Likewise, Salwa Mohamad, 21, said she was present daily at the April rallies in front of the army headquarters in the Sudanese capital in April to make women’s voices heard. Women in Sudan cannot go out alone or study abroad or dress as they like, she complained. (Al Diyar, August 5, 2019)

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